{
  "family": "shezkrypt",
  "sample_count": 1,
  "category": "ransomware",
  "description": "<h3>Executive Summary</h3>\nShezkrypt is a destructive ransomware and cryptor family designed to extort financial payment from victims by irreparably encrypting their personal and corporate data. It targets Windows operating systems and is frequently deployed as the final payload in targeted, human-operated ransomware campaigns, following successful network penetration and lateral movement.\n\n<h3>Infection Vector and Technical Operations</h3>\nShezkrypt typically gains entry into a network via compromised Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) endpoints, exploitation of internet-facing vulnerabilities (e.g., in unpatched VPN appliances), or through initial access brokers (IABs) who sell compromised credentials.\n\nOnce executed with administrative privileges, Shezkrypt's operational flow includes:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Defense Impairment:</strong> It actively searches for and terminates processes associated with endpoint detection and response (EDR) agents, antivirus software, and database management systems (to unlock database files for encryption).</li>\n<li><strong>Shadow Copy Destruction:</strong> Utilizing Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) or native command-line tools (`vssadmin`), Shezkrypt deletes all Volume Shadow Copies and disables Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to thwart recovery efforts.</li>\n<li><strong>Data Encryption:</strong> The malware utilizes a robust hybrid encryption scheme (typically AES for files, with the AES keys encrypted by an embedded RSA public key). Encrypted files are appended with a Shezkrypt-specific extension.</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h3>Security and Operational Impact</h3>\nA Shezkrypt infection results in a critical loss of data availability. The encryption algorithms utilized are generally considered unbreakable without the attacker's corresponding private RSA key. This leads to massive operational downtime, financial loss, and potential regulatory fines for data breaches.\n\n<h3>Resilience and Incident Response</h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Air-Gapped Backups:</strong> Implement the 3-2-1 backup strategy. Ensure that critical data backups are completely isolated (air-gapped) from the production network to prevent the ransomware from encrypting the backup repositories.</li>\n<li><strong>RDP Hardening:</strong> Never expose RDP (Port 3389) to the public internet. Mandate the use of a secure VPN and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all remote administrative access.</li>\n<li><strong>Network Segmentation:</strong> Isolate critical servers and databases onto separate VLANs with strict firewall rules to impede the lateral movement of ransomware across the enterprise.</li>\n</ul>",
  "cta": "Published by the SystemHelpdesk team.",
  "aliases": [
    "Ransomware.Shezkrypt",
    "Trojan-Ransom.Shezkrypt",
    "Win32/Shezkrypt"
  ],
  "enrichment_level": "insufficient_information",
  "faq": [],
  "faq_count": 0,
  "mitre_attack": [
    "T1486",
    "T1490",
    "T1078",
    "T1562.001"
  ],
  "cisa_advisory": null,
  "last_updated": "2026-07-01T16:23:56Z",
  "type": "Ransomware",
  "target_industries": [
    "Global / Opportunistic"
  ],
  "motivation": "Opportunistic",
  "threat_actors": [
    "Unknown / Cybercriminal"
  ],
  "target_geographies": [
    "Global"
  ]
}