Satana
Table of Contents
Overview
Executive Summary
Satana is a highly destructive, hybrid ransomware variant that combines traditional file encryption with the catastrophic capabilities of a boot-locker. It not only encrypts the victim's valuable data files but also corrupts the Master Boot Record (MBR) of the hard drive, replacing the standard Windows boot sequence with a custom ransom note. This dual-pronged attack ensures the system is completely unbootable and the data is inaccessible until a ransom is paid.Infection Vector and Technical Capabilities
Satana typically infiltrates networks via malicious spam campaigns (malspam) containing weaponized attachments, or it is dropped silently via exploit kits targeting unpatched web browsers. Once executed, Satana performs a complex, multi-stage attack:- MBR Overwrite (Boot-Locker): The ransomware attempts to overwrite the MBR (sector 0 of the physical drive) with its own malicious bootloader. When the infected machine reboots, it will not load Windows; instead, it displays a red screen demanding a cryptocurrency payment.
- File Encryption: Simultaneously, Satana scans local drives and mapped network shares, utilizing strong cryptography (AES+RSA) to encrypt user files, databases, and documents, appending a specific extension to the locked files.
- Evasion and Persistence: To ensure its payload is delivered, Satana attempts to disable Windows User Account Control (UAC) and actively targets specific security processes for termination before initiating the MBR overwrite.
Threat Assessment
A Satana infection is a catastrophic security incident. By targeting both the file system and the fundamental boot sector, it causes immediate, total operational paralysis. Even if the encrypted files are restored from backup, the machine will not boot until the MBR is repaired.Incident Response and Remediation
- Immediate Network Segmentation: Instantly sever the network connection of all infected machines to halt lateral movement and prevent the ransomware from encrypting mapped network shares.
- MBR Repair (Offline): The machine cannot be booted normally. Incident responders must boot the system from a clean Windows Recovery USB/CD and utilize the `bootrec.exe /fixmbr` command to repair the Master Boot Record, which will remove the pre-boot ransom note and allow Windows to load.
- Eradication and Data Recovery: Once the system is bootable, the underlying file encryption remains. The machine must be wiped to bare metal and completely rebuilt from known-good, offline backups. Do not attempt to pay the ransom.
Known aliases
Threat reports may refer to this family under multiple names:
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
Observed techniques used by this family, mapped to our technical analysis hubs and the official MITRE ATT&CK framework:
| Technique | Name | Tactic | Official Spec |
|---|---|---|---|
T1486 | Data Encrypted for Impact | Impact | ATT&CK ↗ |
T1561.002 | Disk Wipe: Disk Structure Wipe | Impact | ATT&CK ↗ |
T1490 | Inhibit System Recovery (Behaviorally blocking the deletion of backups) | Impact | ATT&CK ↗ |
MITRE D3FEND™ Defensive Countermeasures
Defensive techniques mapped to counter the offensive tradecraft observed in this family (via the MITRE D3FEND matrix):
| D3FEND ID | Countermeasure Name | Tactic | Countered ATT&CK | Defensive Guidance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
D3-FAED | File Alteration Early Detection | Detect | T1486 | Deploy canary files and monitor mass rename/encryption I/O spikes to terminate ransomware threads immediately. |
D3-VSS | Volume Shadow & Snapshot Hardening | Harden | T1490 | Block execution of vssadmin.exe and wmic shadowcopy delete; maintain air-gapped immutable backup repositories. |
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:
Tier 1 Primitive Artifact Rule (Fast Triage)
Matches raw strings and file markers. Vulnerable to binary repacking and simple obfuscation.
rule MALWARE_WIN_SATANA_T1_ARTIFACT {
meta:
description = "Tier 1 Primitive Artifact: Raw string matches for Satana"
tier = "T1 - Primitive Artifact"
confidence = "Low-Medium (Fast Triage)"
author = "SystemHelpdesk Threat Research Desk"
date = "2026-10-14"
strings:
$s1 = "satana" ascii wide nocase
$s2 = "ransomware.satana" ascii wide nocase
$s3 = "trojan-ransom.win32.satana" ascii wide nocase
$s4 = "bootlocker.satana" ascii wide nocase
condition:
uint16(0) == 0x5a4d and any of them
}Tier 2 Behavioral Context Rule (Process Chains & Sigma)
Tracks parent-child process anomalies and suspicious scripting telemetry. Resilient against file renames.
title: SystemHelpDesk Detection - Satana (Ransomware) Execution & Triage
id: 6f36943a-03a5-57e0-b522-4d5fc23b2688
status: production
description: Detects execution, defense evasion, and persistence behaviors associated
with the Satana 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/satana
- 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.t1486
- attack.t1561_002
- attack.t1490
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: criticalTier 3 Attribution Fingerprint Rule (High Fidelity)
Deep signature matching distinctive operational fingerprints and payload characteristics.
rule MALWARE_WIN_SATANA_T3_ATTRIBUTION {
meta:
description = "Tier 3 Attribution Fingerprint: Heuristic detection for Satana 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 = "satana" 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.
- Immediately isolate affected host(s) from the internal network (disconnect physical Ethernet and disable Wi-Fi/Bluetooth) to prevent Satana from spreading laterally or encrypting network-attached storage (NAS) and shared SMB volumes.
- Preserve volatile system memory (RAM capture) on a representative endpoint before attempting a reboot or power-down, as Satana symmetric encryption keys or uncompiled payload components may still reside in memory.
- Audit process execution logs and terminate active scripting interpreters (e.g. PowerShell, CMD, WScript) or commands executing 'vssadmin.exe delete shadows' or 'wbadmin' used by Satana to inhibit recovery.
- Investigate the initial compromise vector (such as exposed RDP instances, spearphishing attachments, or vulnerable edge gateways) and enforce an immediate credential reset for all compromised Active Directory accounts.
- Restore critical assets and databases exclusively from verified, air-gapped, or immutable offline backups once the Satana binary and related persistence hooks are eradicated.
What to Avoid
Common mistakes during response to this family that can destroy evidence, spread the infection, or worsen recovery.
- Do not restart or power cycle infected systems prematurely; doing so destroys volatile RAM encryption keys and may trigger bootloader locking logic embedded in Satana.
- Avoid negotiating or paying the extortion demand without prior forensic evaluation and consultation with incident response specialists, as payment does not guarantee data recovery.
- Do not connect clean backup drives or external storage to the affected network until Satana eradication is completely verified.
References & External Analysis
- Search "satana" on VirusTotal (External Analysis)
- Search "satana" on Any.Run (Sandbox Sandbox)
- Search "satana" on MalwareBazaar (Malware Samples)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Satana and what threat category does it belong to?
Satana is classified as a Ransomware. Documented across security telemetry, it is engineered to execute unauthorized operations, establish persistent footholds on target endpoints, and facilitate malicious campaigns targeting enterprise and individual environments.
How does Satana establish persistence and evade defensive controls?
Satana typically establishes persistence through registry run keys, scheduled tasks, or service installations, while evading signature-based antivirus solutions through code obfuscation, memory injection, or anti-analysis sandbox checks.
What are the essential incident response steps for mitigating a Satana compromise?
Security teams responding to Satana should immediately isolate affected endpoints from the network, perform memory triage to capture volatile forensic artifacts, audit registry and startup persistence mechanisms, revoke exposed user credentials, and restore systems from verified, clean backups.
What cryptographic algorithms and file targeting techniques does Ransomware.Satana employ during execution?
Ransomware.Satana typically leverages hybrid cryptographic architectures combining symmetric stream or block ciphers (such as AES-256 or ChaCha20) for rapid file encryption with asymmetric algorithms (such as RSA-2048 or Curve25519) to securely protect the session keys. It aggressively targets sensitive file extensions including corporate documents, databases, virtual disks, and backups while systematically executing commands to delete Volume Shadow Copies (vssadmin delete shadows /all /quiet) and disable system recovery options.
Are decryptors available for Ransomware.Satana, and what is the recommended recovery procedure?
Decryption availability for Ransomware.Satana depends on whether security researchers or law enforcement (such as the No More Ransom initiative) have recovered the master private keys or discovered flaws in its key generation routines. Victims should never pay the extortion demand, as payment fuels criminal operations without guaranteeing file restoration. The recommended recovery procedure entails isolating infected hosts, conducting forensic disk imaging, identifying the root access vector, and restoring validated systems from immutable offline backups.
How do I remove the Satana Ransomware from Windows?
Manual removal of Satana is highly discouraged as it may leave persistence mechanisms intact. We recommend disconnecting the device from the internet and utilizing a professional incident response service or enterprise-grade EDR software to conduct a full forensic sweep.
Is Satana a virus or a Ransomware?
Satana is classified as a Ransomware. Unlike traditional viruses that infect files, modern malware like Satana typically operates as a standalone payload designed to compromise systems, steal data, or deploy secondary stage implants.
What are the main symptoms of a Satana infection?
Symptoms of Satana can include unexpected system slowness, unauthorized outbound network traffic to unknown IP addresses, disabled security software, and suspicious background processes running from AppData or Temp directories.
Protect Your Network Against Ransomwares
Want to prevent Satana and similar threats from compromising your organization? Read our comprehensive defensive guide: Ransomware Containment & Incident Response.
📣 Threat Intel Correction or Update?
Notice an outdated IOC, unlisted alias, or disputed attribution? Threat researchers are invited to propose an update on GitHub or contact the SystemHelpDesk research desk. All community revisions are credited in our public CHANGELOG.
Machine-readable
Get this profile as JSON: https://malware-families-catalog.systemhelpdesk.com/api/satana.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.