Sybase SQL Anywhere Ransomware Recovery: Forensic Restoration of .wexor Encrypted Databases
This case study details one of the most technically challenging recoveries performed by AS Data Recovery: the restoration of a 55 GB Sybase Anywhere 11.0 database targeted by the .wexor ransomware.

Client & Data Information

• Client Name: Confidential
• Data Type: Sybase SQL Anywhere 11.0 (.db)
• Data Capacity: 55 GB
• Ransomware Extension: .wexor
• Encryption Layer: Original database used AES encryption, further complicated by ransomware encryption.

Incident Summary

The client’s server was compromised by ransomware that appended the .wexor extension to all data files. The primary target was a 55 GB Sybase SQL Anywhere database. This case presented a “double-encryption” challenge: the original database was already protected by native AES encryption, and the ransomware then encrypted the file headers and random blocks. Initial analysis showed significant “bad blocks” within the .db file, which were actually remnants of the ransomware’s partial encryption process.

Technical Analysis

Upon forensic analysis of the .wexor files, AS Data Recovery engineers identified:

• AES Conflict: Because Sybase SQL Anywhere uses a specific block-based AES encryption, the ransomware’s modification of the file headers made it impossible for the Sybase engine to recognize its own decryption keys.
• Partial Block Corruption: The ransomware did not encrypt the entire 55 GB (which would take hours), but targeted the root blocks and metadata pages.
• Recovery Feasibility: Using our proprietary Sybase Forensic Tool, we identified that the internal table pages (the actual data) were largely intact but inaccessible due to the corrupted file structure.

Recovery Solution

The recovery strategy utilized Sub-Block Decryption and Row-Level Carving. Our engineers first neutralized the ransomware’s .wexor layer to stabilize the file. We then bypassed the corrupted Sybase headers to interact directly with the AES-encrypted data pages. By manually providing the original AES credentials and using our parsing tool to “stitch” together valid blocks, we extracted the records directly into a clean database format.

Recovery Process

• Forensic Decryption: Layer 1 (.wexor) Stripped the ransomware encryption markers and restored the physical file size to its original parameters.
• Sybase Page Header Repair: Manually reconstructed the damaged root blocks and page headers to allow our extraction tools to navigate the internal B-tree structure.
• AES Payload Extraction: Utilized the client’s original database credentials within our forensic environment to decrypt individual data pages that the Sybase engine could no longer process.
• Table Reconstruction: Extracted all mission-critical tables and records from the decrypted binary stream.
• Final Integrity Verification: Performed a comprehensive check of referential integrity and record counts, confirming a recovery accuracy of nearly 100%.

Recovery Results

• Recovery Integrity: Near 100% (Critical business tables fully restored)
• Recovered Volume: 55 GB
• System Status: Database migrated to a new, secure Sybase 11 instance.
• Total Recovery Time: 3 Hours

Expert Reminder from AS Data Recovery: Ransomware attacks on Sybase databases often cause “bad blocks” that standard repair utilities cannot fix. Do not attempt to run dbvalid or dbunload on an infected file, as this can overwrite recoverable data fragments. Contact AS Data Recovery professionals immediately. We specialize in multi-layer decryption and low-level block repair for all versions of Sybase.