Malicious PDF — malware analysis report

Static analysis result for SHA-256 012a4c5732a79121…

MALICIOUS

PDF

3.4 KB Created: 2005-09-29 09:27:34 UTC Authoring application: Adobe PDF Library 8.0
MD5: b48144b9e0adcda1ad0c4457ed74f13d SHA-1: 409fa152a0ce51f89dd4f9af5f1ae2d1dcd3311a SHA-256: 012a4c5732a7912145139cf5169579dd48bd7952a6e7208d6a47312833e7e3f3
252 Risk Score

Malware Insights

MITRE ATT&CK
T1204 Malicious File T1204.002 Malicious File: User Execution: Malicious Attachment T1059.001 Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell T1059.003 Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell T1059.004 Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python

The PDF file contains embedded JavaScript and is flagged as an exploit targeting CVE-2010-0188, a vulnerability in Adobe Reader related to XFA forms. The ML classifier strongly indicates maliciousness, and an embedded artifact was detected by ClamAV as Win.Trojan.E-51. The primary attack vector appears to be exploiting a known vulnerability to gain initial execution, likely for a secondary payload.

Machine Learning

  • Nyx PDF Classifier malicious score 1.0000

Heuristics 9

  • Adobe Reader LibTIFF XFA image exploit — CVE-2010-0188 critical CVE likely CVE_2010_0188
    PDF contains XFA image data with an inline crafted TIFF payload and shellcode/delivery markers. This is the data-bound variant of the CVE-2010-0188 Adobe Reader LibTIFF/XFA exploit shape.
  • PDF JavaScript exploit cluster critical PDF_JS_EXPLOIT_CLUSTER
    PDF combines an executable JavaScript/action surface with exploit staging indicators such as eval/unescape/fromCharCode, XFA script content, or a related CVE pattern. Benign form JavaScript remains low-severity, but this correlated cluster is high-confidence malicious behavior.
  • ClamAV detection on extracted artifact critical EXTRACTED_FILE_CLAMAV
    ClamAV flagged at least one file extracted from inside this sample. Even when the wrapping document carries no AV detection of its own, a hit on the carved artifact is a strong indicator the sample is a delivery vehicle.
  • JavaScript action low PDF_JAVASCRIPT
    PDF contains a /JavaScript action. Generic JavaScript is common in benign forms; specific dangerous APIs are scored by separate rules.
  • Embedded JS stream low PDF_JS
    PDF references a /JS stream. Generic JavaScript is common in benign forms; specific dangerous APIs are scored by separate rules.
  • Embedded file low PDF_EMBEDDED
    PDF embeds a file attachment — could carry an executable or another weaponised document as a nested payload
  • XFA form low PDF_XFA
    PDF uses XML Forms Architecture — can contain script logic
  • AcroForm button with action trigger low PDF_ACROFORM_BUTTON
    PDF contains a /Btn form field together with a SubmitForm/URI/Launch/JS trigger — this is the building block of fake 'Download' or 'Open' button overlays used in PDF phishing lures
  • Embedded URL info EMBEDDED_URL
    One or more URLs were extracted from the document. The URL itself is not a detection — see the per-URL labels for which channel (macro, JS, link annotation, document body, ...) reached each URL.
    URL http://ns.adobe.com/xdp/
    • http://www.xfa.org/schema/xci/1.0/
    • http://www.xfa.org/schema/xfa-data/1.0/
    • http://www.xfa.org/schema/xfa-form/2.8/

Extracted artifacts 1

Files carved from inside the sample during analysis.

FilenameKindSourceSize
embedded_file_obj0004.bin
f980d7f17a9275c985b0935dd2f6f49cf21b2138e017e880f65622a6a75d8efa
pdf-embedded-file PDF EmbeddedFile object 4 at offset 0x1C6 35879 bytes
Detection
ClamAV: Win.Trojan.E-51
Obfuscation or payload: unlikely