Wadhrama

Category: ransomware · Aliases: Ransomware.Wadhrama, Win32/Wadhrama, Trojan-Ransom.Wadhrama · Sample count (EMBER 2018): 1 · Enrichment: insufficient_information · Updated: 2026-07-01T16:09:08Z

Category: RansomwareActor: Unknown / CybercriminalIndustry: Global / OpportunisticMotivation: Opportunistic

Overview

Executive Summary

Wadhrama is a sophisticated, highly disruptive variant of ransomware characterized by its use of robust encryption algorithms and its tendency to target specific, high-value file types (such as databases and server configurations). It is designed to extort cryptocurrency from individuals and organizations by holding their critical data hostage.

Infection Chain and Execution

Wadhrama is typically distributed via targeted spear-phishing campaigns containing malicious attachments or through the exploitation of vulnerable, internet-facing Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) servers. Upon gaining initial access, Wadhrama executes a rapid, automated attack sequence:

Privilege Escalation: It attempts to bypass User Account Control (UAC) or exploit local vulnerabilities to gain administrative or `SYSTEM` level privileges.
Defense Evasion: Before encrypting files, it actively attempts to terminate anti-malware processes and stops database services (e.g., MSSQL) to ensure database files are unlocked and available for encryption.
Encryption and Destruction: Wadhrama utilizes a combination of symmetric and asymmetric encryption (often AES and RSA) to lock files. It simultaneously executes commands (`vssadmin.exe delete shadows /all /quiet`) to destroy local volume shadow copies, preventing easy recovery.
Extortion: A ransom note is deposited in affected directories, instructing the victim on how to purchase the decryption key, usually demanding payment in Bitcoin.

Threat Impact

A Wadhrama infection results in a catastrophic denial of access to critical business data. Without secure, offline backups, organizations face massive operational downtime, financial loss, and severe reputational damage. Paying the ransom is discouraged, as it offers no guarantee of data recovery and funds further criminal activity.

Defense and Resilience Strategies

Offline, Immutable Backups: The only reliable defense against Wadhrama is a robust 3-2-1 backup strategy, ensuring that at least one copy of critical data is stored offline and is immutable (cannot be altered or deleted).
RDP Security: Secure all remote access points. RDP must be placed behind a VPN, secured with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), and restricted via strict IP whitelisting.
Behavioral EDR: Deploy EDR solutions tuned to immediately block processes attempting mass file modifications or the unauthorized deletion of volume shadow copies.

Known aliases

Threat reports may refer to this family under multiple names:

MITRE ATT&CK Techniques

This family has been observed using the following ATT&CK techniques: T1486 T1490 T1078 T1562.001

Generated Detections (Boilerplate)

These YARA and Sigma rules are auto-generated based on the family name and aliases. They must be heavily tuned before deployment in a production environment.

YARA Rule

rule MALWARE_WIN_WADHRAMA {
    meta:
        description = "Detects Wadhrama (ransomware)"
        author = "SystemHelpdesk Boilerplate Generator"
        date = "2026-07-06"
    strings:
        $s1 = "wadhrama" ascii wide nocase
        $s2 = "ransomware.wadhrama" ascii wide nocase
        $s3 = "win32/wadhrama" ascii wide nocase
        $s4 = "trojan-ransom.wadhrama" ascii wide nocase
    condition:
        uint16(0) == 0x5a4d and any of them
}

Sigma Rule

title: Suspicious Wadhrama Activity
id: fbe44b31eee81029111006dc7f95f52c
status: experimental
description: Detects generic indicators of the wadhrama malware family.
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith:
            - '\cmd.exe'
            - '\powershell.exe'
        CommandLine|contains:
            - "*wadhrama*"
            - "*ransomware.wadhrama*"
            - "*win32/wadhrama*"
            - "*trojan-ransom.wadhrama*"
    condition: selection
level: medium

References & External Analysis

Search "wadhrama" on VirusTotal (External Analysis)

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I remove the Wadhrama Ransomware from Windows?

Manual removal of Wadhrama 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 Wadhrama a virus or a Ransomware?

Wadhrama is classified as a Ransomware. Unlike traditional viruses that infect files, modern malware like Wadhrama typically operates as a standalone payload designed to compromise systems, steal data, or deploy secondary stage implants.

What are the main symptoms of a Wadhrama infection?

Symptoms of Wadhrama 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.

Related Families (Category: ransomware)

Explore other malware families in the same category:

Protect Your Network Against Ransomwares

Want to prevent Wadhrama and similar threats from compromising your organization? Read our comprehensive defensive guide: Ransomware Protection Guide.

Need help with an active incident? Published by the SystemHelpdesk team.

Machine-readable

Get this profile as JSON: https://jordan123234-malware-families-explorer.static.hf.space/api/wadhrama.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.