File name:

phobos.exe

Full analysis: https://app.any.run/tasks/fb8fa7fb-0c1b-4470-9cbf-65486f4f90fd
Verdict: Malicious activity
Threats:

Phobos is a ransomware that locks or encrypts files to demand a ransom. It uses AES encryption with different extensions, which leaves no chance to recover the infected files.

Malware Trends Tracker     >>>
Analysis date: April 28, 2025, 16:57:21
OS: Windows 10 Professional (build: 19044, 64 bit)
Tags:
phobos
ransomware
Indicators:
MIME: application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable
File info: PE32 executable (GUI) Intel 80386, for MS Windows, 5 sections
MD5:

4E93C194B641D9B849F270531EC14D20

SHA1:

8B5A21254A0C10E3CA2570EEBA490755197B544E

SHA256:

43F846C12C24A078EBE33F71E8EA3B4F75107AEB275E2C3CD9DC61617C9757FC

SSDEEP:

1536:kymNrLwC/WPYQ3CUXeXx35/bj3xLmPGDM3Q8wUx:kymdw49Q3teHDjhLmeDQNj

ANY.RUN is an interactive service which provides full access to the guest system. Information in this report could be distorted by user actions and is provided for user acknowledgement as it is. ANY.RUN does not guarantee maliciousness or safety of the content.

  • MALICIOUS

    • PHOBOS mutex has been found

      • phobos.exe (PID: 6436)
      • phobos.exe (PID: 4696)
      • phobos.exe (PID: 2096)

    • Changes the autorun value in the registry

      • phobos.exe (PID: 2096)
      • phobos.exe (PID: 6436)

    • Deletes shadow copies

      • cmd.exe (PID: 5960)

    • Create files in the Startup directory

      • phobos.exe (PID: 2096)

    • PHOBOS has been detected

      • phobos.exe (PID: 2096)

    • Renames files like ransomware

      • phobos.exe (PID: 2096)

    • Using BCDEDIT.EXE to modify recovery options

      • cmd.exe (PID: 5960)

  • SUSPICIOUS

    • Application launched itself

      • phobos.exe (PID: 4696)
      • phobos.exe (PID: 6436)

    • Reads security settings of Internet Explorer

      • phobos.exe (PID: 4696)

    • Starts CMD.EXE for commands execution

      • phobos.exe (PID: 2096)

    • Executable content was dropped or overwritten

      • phobos.exe (PID: 2096)

    • Executes as Windows Service

      • VSSVC.exe (PID: 1660)
      • wbengine.exe (PID: 6632)
      • vds.exe (PID: 4464)

    • Uses NETSH.EXE to change the status of the firewall

      • cmd.exe (PID: 516)

    • The process creates files with name similar to system file names

      • phobos.exe (PID: 2096)

    • Process drops legitimate windows executable

      • phobos.exe (PID: 2096)

  • INFO

    • Checks supported languages

      • phobos.exe (PID: 6436)
      • phobos.exe (PID: 4696)
      • phobos.exe (PID: 2096)

    • Process checks computer location settings

      • phobos.exe (PID: 4696)

    • Reads the computer name

      • phobos.exe (PID: 4696)
      • phobos.exe (PID: 2096)
      • phobos.exe (PID: 6436)

    • Creates files or folders in the user directory

      • phobos.exe (PID: 2096)

    • Reads security settings of Internet Explorer

      • WMIC.exe (PID: 5056)

    • Creates files in the program directory

      • phobos.exe (PID: 2096)

    • The sample compiled with english language support

      • phobos.exe (PID: 2096)
Find more information about signature artifacts and mapping to MITRE ATT&CK™ MATRIX at the full report
No Malware configuration.

TRiD

.exe | Win64 Executable (generic) (64.6)
.dll | Win32 Dynamic Link Library (generic) (15.4)
.exe | Win32 Executable (generic) (10.5)
.exe | Generic Win/DOS Executable (4.6)
.exe | DOS Executable Generic (4.6)

EXIF

EXE

MachineType: Intel 386 or later, and compatibles
TimeStamp: 2020:03:31 14:17:25+00:00
ImageFileCharacteristics: Executable, 32-bit
PEType: PE32
LinkerVersion: 10
CodeSize: 34304
InitializedDataSize: 15872
UninitializedDataSize: -
EntryPoint: 0x2fa7
OSVersion: 5.1
ImageVersion: -
SubsystemVersion: 5.1
Subsystem: Windows GUI
No data.
screenshotscreenshotscreenshotscreenshot
All screenshots are available in the full report
All screenshots are available in the full report
Total processes
151
Monitored processes
20
Malicious processes
4
Suspicious processes
0

Behavior graph

Click at the process to see the details
start #PHOBOS phobos.exe #PHOBOS phobos.exe no specs #PHOBOS phobos.exe cmd.exe no specs cmd.exe no specs conhost.exe no specs conhost.exe no specs netsh.exe no specs vssadmin.exe no specs vssvc.exe no specs netsh.exe no specs wmic.exe no specs sppextcomobj.exe no specs slui.exe no specs bcdedit.exe no specs bcdedit.exe no specs wbadmin.exe no specs wbengine.exe no specs vdsldr.exe no specs vds.exe no specs

Process information

PID
CMD
Path
Indicators
Parent process
516"C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe"C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe—phobos.exe
User:
admin
Company:
Microsoft Corporation
Integrity Level:
HIGH
Description:
Windows Command Processor
Exit code:
0
Version:
10.0.19041.1 (WinBuild.160101.0800)
Modules
Images
c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\apphelp.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
c:\windows\system32\combase.dll
c:\windows\system32\ucrtbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\rpcrt4.dll
c:\windows\system32\winbrand.dll
536C:\WINDOWS\System32\vdsldr.exe -EmbeddingC:\Windows\System32\vdsldr.exe—svchost.exe
User:
SYSTEM
Company:
Microsoft Corporation
Integrity Level:
SYSTEM
Description:
Virtual Disk Service Loader
Exit code:
0
Version:
10.0.19041.3636 (WinBuild.160101.0800)
Modules
Images
c:\windows\system32\vdsldr.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\advapi32.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
c:\windows\system32\sechost.dll
c:\windows\system32\rpcrt4.dll
c:\windows\system32\bcrypt.dll
c:\windows\system32\user32.dll
672vssadmin delete shadows /all /quietC:\Windows\System32\vssadmin.exe—cmd.exe
User:
admin
Company:
Microsoft Corporation
Integrity Level:
HIGH
Description:
Command Line Interface for Microsoft® Volume Shadow Copy Service
Exit code:
2
Version:
10.0.19041.1 (WinBuild.160101.0800)
Modules
Images
c:\windows\system32\vssadmin.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\apphelp.dll
c:\windows\system32\advapi32.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
c:\windows\system32\sechost.dll
c:\windows\system32\rpcrt4.dll
c:\windows\system32\bcrypt.dll
680bcdedit /set {default} bootstatuspolicy ignoreallfailuresC:\Windows\System32\bcdedit.exe—cmd.exe
User:
admin
Company:
Microsoft Corporation
Integrity Level:
HIGH
Description:
Boot Configuration Data Editor
Exit code:
0
Version:
10.0.19041.1 (WinBuild.160101.0800)
Modules
Images
c:\windows\system32\bcdedit.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\apphelp.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
c:\windows\system32\cryptsp.dll
1244netsh advfirewall set currentprofile state offC:\Windows\System32\netsh.exe—cmd.exe
User:
admin
Company:
Microsoft Corporation
Integrity Level:
HIGH
Description:
Network Command Shell
Exit code:
0
Version:
10.0.19041.1 (WinBuild.160101.0800)
Modules
Images
c:\windows\system32\netsh.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\apphelp.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
c:\windows\system32\oleaut32.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcp_win.dll
c:\windows\system32\ucrtbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\combase.dll
1660C:\WINDOWS\system32\vssvc.exeC:\Windows\System32\VSSVC.exe—services.exe
User:
SYSTEM
Company:
Microsoft Corporation
Integrity Level:
SYSTEM
Description:
Microsoft® Volume Shadow Copy Service
Version:
10.0.19041.1 (WinBuild.160101.0800)
Modules
Images
c:\windows\system32\vssvc.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
c:\windows\system32\oleaut32.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcp_win.dll
c:\windows\system32\ucrtbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\combase.dll
c:\windows\system32\rpcrt4.dll
2096"C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp\phobos.exe" C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp\phobos.exe
phobos.exe
User:
admin
Integrity Level:
HIGH
Modules
Images
c:\users\admin\appdata\local\temp\phobos.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\syswow64\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\wow64.dll
c:\windows\system32\wow64win.dll
c:\windows\system32\wow64cpu.dll
c:\windows\syswow64\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\syswow64\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\syswow64\apphelp.dll
c:\windows\syswow64\ws2_32.dll
4424wbadmin delete catalog -quietC:\Windows\System32\wbadmin.exe—cmd.exe
User:
admin
Company:
Microsoft Corporation
Integrity Level:
HIGH
Description:
Command Line Interface for Microsoft® BLB Backup
Exit code:
0
Version:
10.0.19041.1 (WinBuild.160101.0800)
Modules
Images
c:\windows\system32\wbadmin.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\apphelp.dll
c:\windows\system32\advapi32.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
c:\windows\system32\sechost.dll
c:\windows\system32\rpcrt4.dll
c:\windows\system32\bcrypt.dll
4436\??\C:\WINDOWS\system32\conhost.exe 0xffffffff -ForceV1C:\Windows\System32\conhost.exe—cmd.exe
User:
admin
Company:
Microsoft Corporation
Integrity Level:
HIGH
Description:
Console Window Host
Exit code:
0
Version:
10.0.19041.1 (WinBuild.160101.0800)
Modules
Images
c:\windows\system32\conhost.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcp_win.dll
c:\windows\system32\ucrtbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\shcore.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
c:\windows\system32\combase.dll
c:\windows\system32\rpcrt4.dll
4464C:\WINDOWS\System32\vds.exeC:\Windows\System32\vds.exe—services.exe
User:
SYSTEM
Company:
Microsoft Corporation
Integrity Level:
SYSTEM
Description:
Virtual Disk Service
Version:
10.0.19041.1 (WinBuild.160101.0800)
Modules
Images
c:\windows\system32\vds.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\user32.dll
c:\windows\system32\win32u.dll
c:\windows\system32\gdi32.dll
c:\windows\system32\gdi32full.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcp_win.dll
c:\windows\system32\ucrtbase.dll
Total events
2 144
Read events
2 106
Write events
20
Delete events
18

Modification events

(PID) Process:(2096) phobos.exeKey:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Operation:writeName:phobos
Value:
C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\phobos.exe
(PID) Process:(2096) phobos.exeKey:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Operation:writeName:phobos
Value:
C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\phobos.exe
(PID) Process:(6436) phobos.exeKey:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Operation:writeName:phobos
Value:
C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\phobos.exe
(PID) Process:(6436) phobos.exeKey:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Operation:writeName:phobos
Value:
C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\phobos.exe
(PID) Process:(680) bcdedit.exeKey:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\BCD00000000\Objects\{9dea862c-5cdd-4e70-acc1-f32b344d4795}\Elements\11000001
Operation:delete keyName:(default)
Value:
(PID) Process:(680) bcdedit.exeKey:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\BCD00000000\Objects\{9dea862c-5cdd-4e70-acc1-f32b344d4795}\Elements\11000001
Operation:writeName:Element
Value:
0000000000000000000000000000000006000000000000004800000000000000715E5C2FA985EB1190A89A9B763584210000000000000000745E5C2FA985EB1190A89A9B7635842100000000000000000000000000000000
(PID) Process:(680) bcdedit.exeKey:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\BCD00000000\Objects\{9dea862c-5cdd-4e70-acc1-f32b344d4795}\Elements\12000002
Operation:delete keyName:(default)
Value:
(PID) Process:(680) bcdedit.exeKey:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\BCD00000000\Objects\{9dea862c-5cdd-4e70-acc1-f32b344d4795}\Elements\12000002
Operation:writeName:Element
Value:
\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgfw.efi
(PID) Process:(680) bcdedit.exeKey:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\BCD00000000\Objects\{5b970157-8568-11eb-b45c-806e6f6e6963}\Elements\11000001
Operation:delete keyName:(default)
Value:
(PID) Process:(680) bcdedit.exeKey:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\BCD00000000\Objects\{5b970157-8568-11eb-b45c-806e6f6e6963}\Elements\11000001
Operation:writeName:Element
Value:
0000000000000000000000000000000006000000000000004800000000000000715E5C2FA985EB1190A89A9B763584210000000000000000745E5C2FA985EB1190A89A9B7635842100000000000000000000000000000000
Executable files
37
Suspicious files
1 313
Text files
1
Unknown types
0

Dropped files

PID
Process
Filename
Type
2096phobos.exeC:\$WinREAgent\Backup\Winre.wim.id[26B799FA-2822].[frankmoffit@aol.com].eight —
MD5:—
SHA256:—
2096phobos.exeC:\$WinREAgent\Scratch\update.wim.id[26B799FA-2822].[frankmoffit@aol.com].eight —
MD5:—
SHA256:—
2096phobos.exeC:\$WinREAgent\Rollback.xml.id[26B799FA-2822].[frankmoffit@aol.com].eightbinary
MD5:2F866929295A4C751C13AFF6C8CDBE6D
SHA256:4494D7ECAA8368B2D7C12BD3F4176DE0032D5B0453C36958222956C22850121C
2096phobos.exeC:\Users\admin\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\phobos.exeexecutable
MD5:4E93C194B641D9B849F270531EC14D20
SHA256:43F846C12C24A078EBE33F71E8EA3B4F75107AEB275E2C3CD9DC61617C9757FC
2096phobos.exeC:\$Recycle.Bin\S-1-5-21-1693682860-607145093-2874071422-1000\desktop.ini.id[26B799FA-2822].[frankmoffit@aol.com].eightbinary
MD5:DA1CFAD61C703DB8DC3B184654CEFB0C
SHA256:6D79AE99F0C698F835D9FD4D0B830659EA8D8AB69B9D1811489B5F9D07E4DA01
2096phobos.exeC:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\phobos.exeexecutable
MD5:4E93C194B641D9B849F270531EC14D20
SHA256:43F846C12C24A078EBE33F71E8EA3B4F75107AEB275E2C3CD9DC61617C9757FC
2096phobos.exeC:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp\phobos.exeexecutable
MD5:4E93C194B641D9B849F270531EC14D20
SHA256:43F846C12C24A078EBE33F71E8EA3B4F75107AEB275E2C3CD9DC61617C9757FC
2096phobos.exeC:\$WinREAgent\Backup\location.txt.id[26B799FA-2822].[frankmoffit@aol.com].eightbinary
MD5:F9302DA58CA5EE75C7D038FD2AA9DA52
SHA256:7B0B9B6AC6461174D07048A9AD88CBEE7B68CB58C4D8B9EF8A6FDB3CF4C93F5F
2096phobos.exeC:\$Recycle.Bin\S-1-5-18\desktop.ini.id[26B799FA-2822].[frankmoffit@aol.com].eightbinary
MD5:AE6CB89B83416B2EF228484C5960BDEE
SHA256:39C75F73EFCCB443357D2528E19E0BCF1B6C8DB38D2735743D2D1B0DC43B1741
2096phobos.exeC:\$WinREAgent\Backup\ReAgent.xml.id[26B799FA-2822].[frankmoffit@aol.com].eightbinary
MD5:997A775576220D7A6BB6CD0AC2DBFDAA
SHA256:2B2F3804B716B63E7F451526585ED67EAF685AFB13244D35C339D386F85EE982
Download PCAP, analyze network streams, HTTP content and a lot more at the full report
HTTP(S) requests
6
TCP/UDP connections
22
DNS requests
15
Threats
0

HTTP requests

PID
Process
Method
HTTP Code
IP
URL
CN
Type
Size
Reputation
5496
MoUsoCoreWorker.exe
GET
200
184.30.21.171:80
http://www.microsoft.com/pkiops/crl/MicSecSerCA2011_2011-10-18.crl
unknown
—
—
whitelisted
5496
MoUsoCoreWorker.exe
GET
200
23.48.23.193:80
http://crl.microsoft.com/pki/crl/products/MicRooCerAut2011_2011_03_22.crl
unknown
—
—
whitelisted
2924
SearchApp.exe
GET
200
2.23.77.188:80
http://ocsp.digicert.com/MFEwTzBNMEswSTAJBgUrDgMCGgUABBTrjrydRyt%2BApF3GSPypfHBxR5XtQQUs9tIpPmhxdiuNkHMEWNpYim8S8YCEAI5PUjXAkJafLQcAAsO18o%3D
unknown
—
—
whitelisted
6544
svchost.exe
GET
200
2.23.77.188:80
http://ocsp.digicert.com/MFEwTzBNMEswSTAJBgUrDgMCGgUABBSAUQYBMq2awn1Rh6Doh%2FsBYgFV7gQUA95QNVbRTLtm8KPiGxvDl7I90VUCEAJ0LqoXyo4hxxe7H%2Fz9DKA%3D
unknown
—
—
whitelisted
7228
SIHClient.exe
GET
200
95.101.149.131:80
http://www.microsoft.com/pkiops/crl/Microsoft%20ECC%20Update%20Secure%20Server%20CA%202.1.crl
unknown
—
—
whitelisted
7228
SIHClient.exe
GET
200
95.101.149.131:80
http://www.microsoft.com/pkiops/crl/Microsoft%20ECC%20Product%20Root%20Certificate%20Authority%202018.crl
unknown
—
—
whitelisted
Download PCAP, analyze network streams, HTTP content and a lot more at the full report

Connections

PID
Process
IP
Domain
ASN
CN
Reputation
4
System
192.168.100.255:138
—
—
—
whitelisted
—
—
51.124.78.146:443
settings-win.data.microsoft.com
MICROSOFT-CORP-MSN-AS-BLOCK
NL
whitelisted
5496
MoUsoCoreWorker.exe
23.48.23.193:80
crl.microsoft.com
Akamai International B.V.
DE
whitelisted
5496
MoUsoCoreWorker.exe
184.30.21.171:80
www.microsoft.com
AKAMAI-AS
DE
whitelisted
—
—
172.211.123.248:443
client.wns.windows.com
MICROSOFT-CORP-MSN-AS-BLOCK
FR
whitelisted
2292
svchost.exe
239.255.255.250:3702
—
—
—
whitelisted
3812
svchost.exe
239.255.255.250:1900
—
—
—
whitelisted
4
System
192.168.100.255:137
—
—
—
whitelisted
6544
svchost.exe
40.126.31.73:443
login.live.com
MICROSOFT-CORP-MSN-AS-BLOCK
IE
whitelisted
6544
svchost.exe
2.23.77.188:80
ocsp.digicert.com
AKAMAI-AS
DE
whitelisted

DNS requests

Domain
IP
Reputation
settings-win.data.microsoft.com
  • 51.124.78.146
  • 51.104.136.2
whitelisted
crl.microsoft.com
  • 23.48.23.193
  • 23.48.23.176
  • 23.48.23.140
  • 23.48.23.139
  • 23.48.23.177
  • 23.48.23.194
  • 23.48.23.190
  • 23.48.23.173
  • 23.48.23.141
whitelisted
google.com
  • 142.250.185.110
whitelisted
www.microsoft.com
  • 184.30.21.171
  • 95.101.149.131
whitelisted
client.wns.windows.com
  • 172.211.123.248
whitelisted
login.live.com
  • 40.126.31.73
  • 20.190.159.73
  • 40.126.31.0
  • 20.190.159.23
  • 20.190.159.0
  • 40.126.31.69
  • 20.190.159.130
  • 20.190.159.129
whitelisted
ocsp.digicert.com
  • 2.23.77.188
whitelisted
slscr.update.microsoft.com
  • 52.149.20.212
whitelisted
fe3cr.delivery.mp.microsoft.com
  • 13.85.23.206
whitelisted
www.bing.com
  • 2.23.227.208
  • 2.23.227.215
whitelisted

Threats

No threats detected
No debug info
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Reports
phobos.exe