{
  "family": "rapid",
  "sample_count": 18,
  "category": "ransomware",
  "description": "Ransomware:Win32/Rapid is a devastating crypto-ransomware family designed to completely halt business operations by encrypting critical user and system files. Highly active in targeted attacks, Rapid is characterized by its speed of encryption and its aggressive mechanisms for disabling system recovery options before dropping its ransom demand.<br><br><b>Understanding Rapid</b><br>To the victim, a Rapid infection is a catastrophic event. Suddenly, all files are inaccessible, their extensions are changed (often to `.rapid`), and a ransom note (typically a `.txt` or `.html` file) is left on the desktop demanding cryptocurrency payment. For incident responders, Rapid signifies a severe failure in endpoint defenses or a compromised perimeter. Unlike stealthy espionage tools, Rapid's objective is loud, immediate, and destructive impact, relying on strong, unbreakable cryptography (typically AES combined with RSA) to lock the data.<br><br><b>Execution and Destructive Mechanics</b><br>Rapid is typically delivered via malicious email attachments (macros), exploit kits, or manual deployment by attackers who have compromised RDP credentials (`T1133`). Upon execution, the malware immediately attempts to elevate privileges. It aggressively executes commands to inhibit system recovery: it deletes Volume Shadow Copies (`vssadmin.exe Delete Shadows /All /Quiet`), disables Windows Startup Repair (`bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled No`), and clears Windows Event Logs to hinder forensics (`T1490`, `T1070.001`). It then iterates through all local and mapped network drives (`T1486`), encrypting files while specifically avoiding critical OS files to ensure the system can still boot and display the ransom note.<br><br><b>Indicators of Compromise & Impact</b><br>The impact is total data loss without a backup. EDR platforms must alert on the execution of `vssadmin.exe` or `wbadmin.exe` with deletion flags, which is a near-certain indicator of ransomware behavior. Network logs may show brief connections to C2 servers to exchange encryption keys. System logs will be conspicuously empty if the malware succeeded in clearing them.",
  "cta": "Published by the SystemHelpdesk team.",
  "aliases": [],
  "enrichment_level": "expert-seo",
  "faq": [],
  "faq_count": 0,
  "mitre_attack": [
    "T1490",
    "T1059",
    "T1133",
    "T1486",
    "T1070.001"
  ],
  "cisa_advisory": null,
  "last_updated": "2026-06-09",
  "mitre_attack_detail": [
    {
      "id": "T1486",
      "name": "Data Encrypted for Impact",
      "tactic": "Impact"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1490",
      "name": "Inhibit System Recovery",
      "tactic": "Impact"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1070.001",
      "name": "Indicator Removal on Host: Clear Windows Event Logs",
      "tactic": "Defense Evasion"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1059",
      "name": "Command and Scripting Interpreter",
      "tactic": "Execution"
    },
    {
      "id": "T1133",
      "name": "External Remote Services",
      "tactic": "Initial Access"
    }
  ],
  "containment_steps": [
    "Instantly sever the infected endpoint and any associated servers from the network to halt the lateral spread of the encryption process over SMB shares.",
    "Do NOT reboot the infected machines, as the encryption keys may still reside in volatile memory (RAM), which is critical for potential forensic recovery.",
    "Identify and immediately disable the compromised RDP accounts or VPN profiles that the attackers used for initial access.",
    "Initiate the disaster recovery plan, prioritizing the restoration of critical data from secure, offline backups."
  ],
  "what_to_avoid": [
    "Do not pay the ransom immediately; engage professional incident response and negotiation firms, as paying does not guarantee a decryptor.",
    "Avoid wiping the machines until forensic images have been captured; crucial evidence regarding the initial access vector is stored in the system."
  ],
  "target_industries": [
    "Global / Opportunistic"
  ],
  "motivation": "Opportunistic",
  "threat_actors": [
    "Unknown / Cybercriminal"
  ],
  "target_geographies": [
    "Global"
  ]
}