Powzip

Overview

Powzip (classified in threat intelligence feeds as Ransom:Win32/Powzip and Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Powzip) is an unusual crypto-ransomware family that leverages PowerShell scripting and compressed ZIP archive encryption primitives to lock victim files. Propagated through weaponized macro documents and trojan loaders, Powzip executes PowerShell commands to enumerate user documents across local and network drives. Instead of compiling custom cryptographic binaries, Powzip packages discovered files into password-protected ZIP archives using randomly generated high-entropy passwords, deletes the original uncompressed files, and renames the archives with .powzip extensions. It drops ransom notes directing victims to contact the threat actor to obtain the ZIP archive decryption password.

Known aliases

Threat reports may refer to this family under multiple names:

• Ransom:Win32/Powzip
• Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Powzip
• Win32/Powzip
• Powzip Ransomware
• Ransom.Powzip

MITRE ATT&CK Techniques

Observed techniques used by this family, mapped to our technical analysis hubs and the official MITRE ATT&CK framework:

Tactical Mitigations

Based on the techniques used by this family, consider the following defensive strategies:

• T1105: Implement network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) and host-based firewalls to block unauthorized inbound or outbound file transfers.
• T1566.001: Scan email attachments for malicious macros, scripts, or suspicious archive files.

MITRE D3FEND™ Defensive Countermeasures

Defensive techniques mapped to counter the offensive tradecraft observed in this family (via the MITRE D3FEND matrix):

Tiered Detection Rules (Cisco CAIRN Model)

Modern threat detection requires multi-layered rule engineering. We classify detections into three operational tiers based on signal fidelity:

rule MALWARE_WIN_POWZIP_T1_ARTIFACT {
    meta:
        description = "Tier 1 Primitive Artifact: Raw string matches for Powzip"
        tier = "T1 - Primitive Artifact"
        confidence = "Low-Medium (Fast Triage)"
        author = "SystemHelpdesk Threat Research Desk"
        date = "2026-10-14"
    strings:
        $s1 = "powzip" ascii wide nocase
        $s2 = "ransom:win32/powzip" ascii wide nocase
        $s3 = "trojan-ransom.win32.powzip" ascii wide nocase
        $s4 = "win32/powzip" ascii wide nocase
        $s5 = "powzip ransomware" ascii wide nocase
        $s6 = "ransom.powzip" ascii wide nocase
    condition:
        uint16(0) == 0x5a4d and any of them
}

title: SystemHelpDesk Detection - Powzip (Ransomware) Execution & Triage
id: e2bd37d9-06fc-55e4-b03d-fa1849e64b30
status: production
description: Detects execution, defense evasion, and persistence behaviors associated
  with the Powzip malware family. Detects volume shadow copy deletion, boot status
  tampering, and recovery inhibition characteristic of modern ransomware operations.
references:
- https://malware-families-catalog.systemhelpdesk.com/families/powzip
- https://malware-families-catalog.systemhelpdesk.com/defensive/ransomware-protection
- https://malware-families-catalog.systemhelpdesk.com/
author: Ricky Jordan, Lead Threat Intelligence Analyst, SystemHelpDesk MSP
date: '2026-10-14'
modified: '2026-10-14'
tags:
- attack.ransomware
- author.ricky-jordan
- source.systemhelpdesk-mfc
- attack.t1059_001
- attack.t1486
- attack.t1490
- attack.t1083
- attack.t1070_004
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_process:
    Image|endswith:
    - \vssadmin.exe
    - \wmic.exe
    - \wbadmin.exe
    - \bcdedit.exe
    CommandLine|contains:
    - delete shadows
    - shadowcopy delete
    - resize shadowstorage
    - recoveryenabled no
    - ignoreallfailures
  condition: selection_process
falsepositives:
- Legitimate enterprise administrative scripts during approved change windows
- Authorized IT software deployment utilities and backup management agents
level: critical

rule MALWARE_WIN_POWZIP_T3_ATTRIBUTION {
    meta:
        description = "Tier 3 Attribution Fingerprint: Heuristic detection for Powzip tradecraft"
        tier = "T3 - Attribution Fingerprint"
        confidence = "High (Confirmed Family Signature)"
        author = "SystemHelpdesk Threat Research Desk"
        date = "2026-10-14"
    strings:
        // Core family identifier & heuristic payload signatures
        $attrib_str = "powzip" ascii wide nocase
        $pe_magic = "MZ" ascii
        $net_marker = "http" ascii nocase
    condition:
        uint16(0) == 0x5a4d and ($attrib_str and $net_marker) and filesize < 15MB
}

Containment & Response Steps

Ordered checklist for responders. Adapt to your environment and engage professional support for active incidents.

1. Isolate the endpoint immediately to prevent Powzip from downloading and executing its secondary payloads (e.g., ransomware).
2. Audit the Windows Task Scheduler and Registry Run keys to identify and remove the Powzip persistence mechanisms.
3. Review firewall and proxy logs to identify the C2 domains Powzip attempted to contact, and block them enterprise-wide.
4. Capture a live memory image (RAM dump) to extract the injected Powzip modules and identify the secondary payloads.

What to Avoid

Common mistakes during response to this family that can destroy evidence, spread the infection, or worsen recovery.

1. Do not close an incident simply because the initial Powzip dropper was quarantined; always verify if secondary payloads were downloaded.
2. Avoid relying solely on manual file deletion, as the injected processes will likely just recreate the dropped binaries.

References & External Analysis

• Microsoft Defender Threat Encyclopedia - Ransom:Win32/Powzip
• Kaspersky Threat Intelligence - Trojan-Ransom Overview
• MITRE ATT&CK - Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell (T1059.001)
• Search "powzip" on VirusTotal (External Analysis)
• Search "powzip" on Any.Run (Sandbox Sandbox)
• Search "powzip" on MalwareBazaar (Malware Samples)

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Threats (Category: Ransomware)

Explore other documented threats in the same operational category:

• Tyuimoi
• Hydracrypt
• Famvt
• Rostpay
• Genericrxft
• Bitcovar
• Meno
• Matrix

Machine-readable

Get this profile as JSON: https://malware-families-catalog.systemhelpdesk.com/api/powzip.json

Ecosystem & Interactive Environments

This profile is part of the Malware Families Catalog, a public dataset of 2,899 malware families. The catalog is also published across our ecosystem: Hugging Face, Kaggle, Zenodo, Replit, StackBlitz, CodeSandbox, and CodePen.