#threatreport #MediumCompleteness
Payload Ransomware: In-depth technical analysis | 05-05-2026
Source:
egfincirt.org.eg/payload-ran…
Key details below ↓
💀Threats:
Payload_ransomware, Disabling_eventtracing_technique, Shadow_copies_delete_technique,
🎯Victims: Healthcare, Telecommunications, Finance, Logistics, Middle east, Asia
🏭Industry: Entertainment, Telco, Financial, Healthcare, Logistic
🌐Geo: Asia, Middle east
📚TTPs:
⚔️Tactics: 1
🛠️Technics: 0
🤖LLM extracted TTPs:`
T1027, T1057, T1070.001, T1070.004, T1082, T1083, T1480.002, T1486, T1489, T1490, ...
🧨IOCs:
- File: 38
- Command: 1
- Hash: 2
- Domain: 2
💽Software: Linux, Event Tracing for Windows, DefWatch, QuickBooks, onenote, outlook, wordpad, thebat, steam, Opera, ...
🔢Algorithms: base64, rc4, chacha20, curve25519
🔠Functions: MakeAmericaGreatAgain
🗂️Win API: EvtOpenChannelEnum, EvtNextChannelPath, EvtClearLog, OpenServiceA, QueryServiceStatusEx, Process32FirstW, Process32NextW, CreateToolhelp32Snapshot, OpenProcess, TerminateProcess, ...
⚙️Win Services: VSNAPVSS, PDVFSService, YooBackup, YooIT, VeeamTransportSvc, VeeamDeploymentService, VeeamNFSSvc, BackupExecVSSProvider, BackupExecAgentAccelerator, BackupExecAgentBrowser, ...
💻Platforms: cross-platform
#threatreport:
Payload Ransomware, identified in February 2026, is a cross-platform threat primarily targeting mid-to-large-sized organizations in sectors such as healthcare, telecommunications, finance, and logistics, with notable activity observed in the Middle East and Asia. This ransomware family consists of both Windows and Linux variants, with the Windows version exhibiting sophisticated behavior and features.
The Windows variant operates as an executable that can be manually or remotely controlled using various command-line arguments that allow operators to tailor its functionality according to the target's environment. Key features include the ability to run in the background, bypass mutex checks to allow multiple instances, and disable crucial operational security measures like event log recording. The ransomware achieves self-obfuscation by renaming itself to an NTFS alternate data stream, effectively hiding its presence.
Payload employs robust anti-forensic techniques, such as clearing the Windows Event Logs and terminating critical system services before launching its encryption routine. Additionally, it eliminates all Volume Shadow Copies, hence blocking common recovery paths for victims. The malware also meticulously identifies and terminates specific processes known to interfere with its execution.
Its encryption process utilizes a hybrid scheme combining Curve25519 for key exchange and ChaCha20 for rapid file encryption. Files are encrypted with unique keys, and a structured metadata footer—containing encryption specifications—is appended to each file, marked with a .payload extension. This footer, designed for the attacker-side decryption, is obfuscated to hinder analysis.
For the Linux variant, designed primarily for VMware ESXi environments, the functionality is streamlined to focus exclusively on efficient encryption of hosted workloads. Although it lacks the robust anti-recovery mechanics seen in the Windows variant, it shares similar core design principles and cryptographic approaches.