BLACK FRIDAY: 2-for-1 offer NOVEMBER 20 - 26 See details
72
Global rank
82 infographic chevron month
Month rank
62 infographic chevron week
Week rank
0
IOCs

Nemty is ransomware with an unusually complex encryption algorithm. This malware encrypts user files and demands money so that they can be unlocked again. It may be connected to other famous ransomware, but we don’t know for sure.

Ransomware
Type
ex-USSR territory
Origin
1 August, 2019
First seen
14 September, 2024
Last seen
Also known as
NEMTY PROJECT

How to analyze Nemty with ANY.RUN

Type
ex-USSR territory
Origin
1 August, 2019
First seen
14 September, 2024
Last seen

IOCs

IP addresses
169.159.105.25
Hashes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4760.webhop.me
nemty11.hk
buydecrypt.hk
farid19394.xyz
zjoxyw5mkacojk5ptn2iprkivg5clow72mjkyk5ttubzxprjjnwapkad.onion
nemty.hk
megabitcoin.life
marsdefenseandscience.com
mytele.ga
mandevelopm.org
nemty10.hk
workpc.biz
Last Seen at

Recent blog posts

post image
ANY.RUN Now Integrates with Splunk!
watchers 314
comments 0
post image
How to Analyze Malware in ANY.RUN Sandbox: Er...
watchers 363
comments 0
post image
Security Training Lab: Educational Program fo...
watchers 1160
comments 0

Nemty, also known as NEMTY PROJECT is a ransomware-type of malware. A virus that puts encryption on all files that are stored on infected machines and only allows to restore them if victims pay a certain ransom amount.

Nemty has surfaced not so long ago. It was first observed in the wild in August 2019. Due to some similarities in the code and behavior, researchers think that Nemty might be related to GandCrab and Sodinokibi, though direct correlation hasn’t been proved. In any case, it is safe to assume that this is very advanced malware.

Additionally, the malware’s code apparently includes an affiliate ID which may indicate that Nemty is available as a Ransomware as a Service. If this information is correct Nemty has the potential to become a very widespread malware due to its easy availability.

General description of Nemty ransomware

Nemty ransomware is being actively upgraded by its creators. In fact, several versions of the virus have already been released and nothing suggests that this development should stop anytime soon.

Among other upgrades, threat actors employed a very strong encryption algorithm. It is actually so strong that no malware before Nemty has used anything similar. The RSA-8192 used here is 8192-bit encryption which is considered to be an overkill for use in malware. Even though this encryption protocol makes data decryption more difficult it also presents its own complications. For example, it causes longer encryption and key generation times and only encrypts 1024 bytes at a time.

Despite this, researchers have been able to create decryptors that work with versions 1.4, 1.5 and 1.6 of the malware, for example, the Avast Nemty decryption tool. This means that victims that have been attacked by the version of the malware mentioned above can restore their information without having to pay the ransom to the attackers.

Without the decryptors like the Avast Nemty tool, victims would have to pay a ransom of about $1000 equivalent in Bitcoin to the attackers. The ransom can be paid through a payment portal that is hosted using the TOR network. And if not paid on time, the amount is doubled to a $2000 equivalent.

We don’t know for sure who the people behind Nemty are. The malware has code that checks if the victim is from one of the following countries: Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, or Ukraine.

However, victims from the countries mentioned above can still get attacked by the ransomware. This is strange since usually, viruses that check for the origins of victims terminate execution to avoid getting attention from local law enforcement structures.

In the case of Nemty, users from all over the world are in danger of being infected.

However, there are other interesting oddities in the code that point to a ex-USSR origin of the virus. The code contains a link to a similar picture that was linked in GandCrab’s code. Except, this time it contains on an overlay of the Russian president’s portrait. There are other weird things to be found in the code of this malware. For example, if you dig deep enough you will find a direct message to cybersecurity professionals telling them to, well, “mind their own business” in a less polite form.

More evidence suggesting the x-USSR origin of the malware creators is that the payment page is in the Russian language. Maybe the creators are in fact Russian or they are trying to plant a false lead and mislead researchers.

Malware analysis of Nemty ransomware

A video recorded in the ANY.RUN malware hunting service allows us to take a look at the execution of this malware in action.

nemty's ransom note

Figure 1: Nemty's ransom note

text report of the Nemty ransomware analysis

Figure 2: Shows a customizable text report generated by the ANY.RUN malware analysis service which allows diving deeper into the details of the Nemty execution process.

Nemty execution process

The execution process of the Nemty ransomware is relatively typical for this type of malware. After the executable file makes its way into an infected system and runs, the main malicious activity begins. Like many other ransomware families, Nemty deletes shadow copy files. It also stops and kills processes from the hardcoded list. The malware creates a text file with a ransom note in every folder with encrypted files.

The interesting thing is that Nemty, as well as Sodinokibi, creates a registry key in which it stores values such as a public key and a file extension for encrypted files.

Nemty Distribution

Initially, Nemty was using RIG and Radio EK exploit kits for distribution purposes. In addition to that, malware authors employed spam email campaigns to distribute the virus primarily in Korea and China. These two countries are where the bulk of all Nemty infections is happening.

However, with the newer versions of the malware coming out, threat actors started using new distribution methods. Possibly they were trying to expand the reach of the malware and gain the ability to infect more victims.

One of such methods is a fake PayPal website that promises to save money with an unusually high cashback. The website is designed to look identical to the genuine PayPal and prompts users to download a file called “cashback.exe”. Although unsuspecting victims might think that they are downloading a PayPal app, in reality, they are installing and executing the Nemty ransomware.

In addition, later versions of the malware are delivered using the Trik botnet. Apparently, the authors of Nemty have partnered up with people behind Trik to increase their range.

How to detect Nemty using ANY.RUN?

To determine whether the sample under review is Nemty or not, you can take a look at the changes that it made in the registry. To do so, open "Advanced details of process" of the malicious process and look at the "Registry changes" tab in the "Events" section. If a process has created values with the names "cfg", "pbkey" or "fid" into the key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\NEMTY, you can be sure that the given sample is Nemty.

changes in registry made by nemty ransomware

Figure 3: Changes in registry made by Nemty ransomware

Conclusion

The constant evolution of distribution methods, as well as regular updates, prove that this malware is at a stage of active development. First seen in 2019, Nemty is a young threat that already shows signs of sophisticated malware.

Coupled with the potential use of the Ransomware as a Service business model that makes this malware available to many threat actors around the globe, these factors demand that this threat is not taken lightly.

One of the primary dangers of this Ransomware lies in the delivery techniques chosen by the attackers. While mail spam helps to reach millions of potential victims easily, heavy use of exploit kits allows attackers to control every step of the infection.

Thus, it is especially important that security researchers can evaluate this ransomware and continue developing countermeasures and encryptors, like the Avast Nemty. One more tool that can help in this pursuit is the ANY.RUN malware hunting service that will allow studying samples of Nemty in a controlled and safe environment.

HAVE A LOOK AT

Adwind screenshot
Adwind
adwind trojan
Adwind RAT, sometimes also called Unrecom, Sockrat, Frutas, jRat, and JSocket, is a Malware As A Service Remote Access Trojan that attackers can use to collect information from infected machines. It was one of the most popular RATs in the market in 2015.
Read More
Agent Tesla screenshot
Agent Tesla
agenttesla trojan rat stealer
Agent Tesla is spyware that collects information about the actions of its victims by recording keystrokes and user interactions. It is falsely marketed as a legitimate software on the dedicated website where this malware is sold.
Read More
Amadey screenshot
Amadey
amadey
Amadey is a formidable Windows infostealer threat, characterized by its persistence mechanisms, modular design, and ability to execute various malicious tasks.
Read More
Arkei screenshot
Arkei
arkei stealer
Arkei is a stealer type malware capable of collecting passwords, autosaved forms, cryptocurrency wallet credentials, and files.
Read More
AsyncRAT screenshot
AsyncRAT
asyncrat
AsyncRAT is a RAT that can monitor and remotely control infected systems. This malware was introduced on Github as a legitimate open-source remote administration software, but hackers use it for its many powerful malicious functions.
Read More
WarZone screenshot
WarZone
warzone avemaria stealer trojan rat
WarZone RAT is a remote access trojan, which is written in C++ and offered as a malware-as-a-service. It packs a wide range of capabilities, from stealing victims’ files and passwords to capturing desktop activities. WarZone RAT is primarily distributed via phishing emails and receives regular updates from its C2.
Read More