VECT: Ransomware by design, Wiper by accident
Check Point Research discovered critical flaws in VECT 2.0 ransomware affecting Windows, Linux, and ESXi platforms. A fundamental encryption implementation error causes files larger than 128 KB to be permanently destroyed rather than encrypted. The malware uses ChaCha20-IETF cipher but only saves one of four decryption nonces required for large files, making recovery impossible even after ransom payment. VECT's encryption speed modes are non-functional, thread scheduling degrades performance, and anti-analysis code is unreachable. Despite partnerships with TeamPCP and BreachForums for distribution, the technical implementation demonstrates amateur execution behind a professional facade. The nonce-handling flaw exists across all platform variants since initial deployment, effectively transforming this ransomware into a wiper for enterprise assets including VM disks, databases, and backups.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
Check Point Research identified fundamental flaws in VECT 2.0 ransomware impacting multiple platforms including Windows, Linux, and ESXi. The ransomware uses the ChaCha20-IETF cipher but only saves one of the four required decryption nonces for files larger than 128 KB, causing permanent data loss instead of recoverable encryption. The encryption speed modes do not function, thread scheduling reduces performance, and anti-analysis code is unreachable. These issues have existed since the ransomware's initial deployment, effectively making it a wiper rather than a recoverable ransomware. The malware is associated with distribution partnerships with TeamPCP and BreachForums but demonstrates poor cryptographic implementation.
Potential Impact
Files larger than 128 KB encrypted by VECT ransomware are permanently destroyed due to missing decryption nonces, making recovery impossible even if ransom demands are met. This impacts critical enterprise assets including virtual machine disks, databases, and backups across Windows, Linux, and ESXi environments. The ransomware's flawed implementation results in data loss rather than the typical ransomware scenario of encrypted but recoverable files.
Mitigation Recommendations
No official patch or remediation is available as this is malware behavior rather than a software vulnerability. Organizations should focus on preventing infection through standard security controls such as endpoint protection, network segmentation, and restricting lateral movement. Backup strategies should ensure offline or immutable copies to recover from data destruction caused by this ransomware. Monitor threat intelligence sources for updates on detection and prevention techniques specific to VECT ransomware.
Indicators of Compromise
- hash: 8ee4ec425bc0d8db050d13bbff98f483fff020050d49f40c5055ca2b9f6b1c4d
- domain: vectordntlcrlmfkcm4alni734tbcrnd5lk44v6sp4lqal6noqrgnbyd.onion
- hash: 207b1a60f803d348c795d382f5aed9c3
- hash: 4cc6e614e0b766ced936a7e44976f10a
- hash: 7f6670a37338ffcaa61578e24164c540
- hash: aa72609186042f1d7d01ce070306a9f2
- hash: e27f4feffc1ba6bf4e35aec4a5270fccb636e5cf
- hash: ecba8e27fe57953fa43818f141cee17db4ba6a07
- hash: f4b904fb6ba8474cb87f26302b74c4b82c106003
- hash: fe65bd9073617752460ac3419881c67848381fa3
- hash: 58e17dd61d4d55fa77c7f2dd28dd51875b0ce900c1e43b368b349e65f27d6fdd
- hash: 9c745f95a09b37bc0486bf0f92aad4a3d5548a939c086b93d6235d34648e683f
- hash: a7eadcf81dd6fda0dd6affefaffcb33b1d8f64ddec6e5a1772d028ef2a7da0f2
- hash: e1fc59c7ece6e9a7fb262fc8529e3c4905503a1ca44630f9724b2ccc518d0c06
- hash: e512d22d2bd989f35ebaccb63615434870dc0642b0f60e6d4bda0bb89adee27a
- url: http://vectordntlcrlmfkcm4alni734tbcrnd5lk44v6sp4lqal6noqrgnbyd.onion/chat/REDACTED
VECT: Ransomware by design, Wiper by accident
Description
Check Point Research discovered critical flaws in VECT 2.0 ransomware affecting Windows, Linux, and ESXi platforms. A fundamental encryption implementation error causes files larger than 128 KB to be permanently destroyed rather than encrypted. The malware uses ChaCha20-IETF cipher but only saves one of four decryption nonces required for large files, making recovery impossible even after ransom payment. VECT's encryption speed modes are non-functional, thread scheduling degrades performance, and anti-analysis code is unreachable. Despite partnerships with TeamPCP and BreachForums for distribution, the technical implementation demonstrates amateur execution behind a professional facade. The nonce-handling flaw exists across all platform variants since initial deployment, effectively transforming this ransomware into a wiper for enterprise assets including VM disks, databases, and backups.
Affected software
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
Check Point Research identified fundamental flaws in VECT 2.0 ransomware impacting multiple platforms including Windows, Linux, and ESXi. The ransomware uses the ChaCha20-IETF cipher but only saves one of the four required decryption nonces for files larger than 128 KB, causing permanent data loss instead of recoverable encryption. The encryption speed modes do not function, thread scheduling reduces performance, and anti-analysis code is unreachable. These issues have existed since the ransomware's initial deployment, effectively making it a wiper rather than a recoverable ransomware. The malware is associated with distribution partnerships with TeamPCP and BreachForums but demonstrates poor cryptographic implementation.
Potential Impact
Files larger than 128 KB encrypted by VECT ransomware are permanently destroyed due to missing decryption nonces, making recovery impossible even if ransom demands are met. This impacts critical enterprise assets including virtual machine disks, databases, and backups across Windows, Linux, and ESXi environments. The ransomware's flawed implementation results in data loss rather than the typical ransomware scenario of encrypted but recoverable files.
Mitigation Recommendations
No official patch or remediation is available as this is malware behavior rather than a software vulnerability. Organizations should focus on preventing infection through standard security controls such as endpoint protection, network segmentation, and restricting lateral movement. Backup strategies should ensure offline or immutable copies to recover from data destruction caused by this ransomware. Monitor threat intelligence sources for updates on detection and prevention techniques specific to VECT ransomware.
Technical Details
- Author
- AlienVault
- Tlp
- white
- References
- ["https://research.checkpoint.com/2026/vect-ransomware-by-design-wiper-by-accident/"]
- Adversary
- VECT
- Pulse Id
- 69f0e1a5f1a168738b4eda1a
- Threat Score
- null
Indicators of Compromise
Hash
| Value | Description | Copy |
|---|---|---|
hash8ee4ec425bc0d8db050d13bbff98f483fff020050d49f40c5055ca2b9f6b1c4d | — | |
hash207b1a60f803d348c795d382f5aed9c3 | — | |
hash4cc6e614e0b766ced936a7e44976f10a | — | |
hash7f6670a37338ffcaa61578e24164c540 | — | |
hashaa72609186042f1d7d01ce070306a9f2 | — | |
hashe27f4feffc1ba6bf4e35aec4a5270fccb636e5cf | — | |
hashecba8e27fe57953fa43818f141cee17db4ba6a07 | — | |
hashf4b904fb6ba8474cb87f26302b74c4b82c106003 | — | |
hashfe65bd9073617752460ac3419881c67848381fa3 | — | |
hash58e17dd61d4d55fa77c7f2dd28dd51875b0ce900c1e43b368b349e65f27d6fdd | — | |
hash9c745f95a09b37bc0486bf0f92aad4a3d5548a939c086b93d6235d34648e683f | — | |
hasha7eadcf81dd6fda0dd6affefaffcb33b1d8f64ddec6e5a1772d028ef2a7da0f2 | — | |
hashe1fc59c7ece6e9a7fb262fc8529e3c4905503a1ca44630f9724b2ccc518d0c06 | — | |
hashe512d22d2bd989f35ebaccb63615434870dc0642b0f60e6d4bda0bb89adee27a | — |
Domain
| Value | Description | Copy |
|---|---|---|
domainvectordntlcrlmfkcm4alni734tbcrnd5lk44v6sp4lqal6noqrgnbyd.onion | — |
Url
| Value | Description | Copy |
|---|---|---|
urlhttp://vectordntlcrlmfkcm4alni734tbcrnd5lk44v6sp4lqal6noqrgnbyd.onion/chat/REDACTED | — |
Threat ID: 69f1adeecbff5d8610b7f21d
Added to database: 4/29/2026, 7:06:22 AM
Last enriched: 4/29/2026, 7:23:13 AM
Last updated: 6/12/2026, 6:15:12 PM
Views: 175
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