Malicious PDF — malware analysis report

Static analysis result for SHA-256 1a27583a69c8536e…

MALICIOUS

PDF

6.8 KB
MD5: 2d5e4fa94693231f224c2f6c4ff0c176 SHA-1: 708b320936386d9378f87213312d722d9a7d6d92 SHA-256: 1a27583a69c8536e9c39f19180bc64aeceb9cdbd3f2bc0628df15ca818e89b89
96 Risk Score

Malware Insights

MITRE ATT&CK
T1059.001 PowerShell T1204.002 Malicious File

The PDF file contains embedded JavaScript that exploits CVE-2014-0496 using app.addToolButton/removeToolButton. The JavaScript is obfuscated and decodes base-26 encoded strings to reveal further malicious code. This indicates the document is designed to download and execute a second-stage payload, likely for further system compromise. The specific exploit and obfuscation techniques suggest a downloader or droppper functionality.

Heuristics 7

  • app.addToolButton/removeToolButton — CVE-2014-0496 critical CVE exact CVE_2014_0496
    PDF JavaScript combines app.addToolButton() and app.removeToolButton() with heap-spray shellcode markers — the public Adobe Reader/Acrobat ToolButton use-after-free exploit shape for CVE-2014-0496. (identified after JavaScript deobfuscation)
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Suspicious extracted artifact info EXTRACTED_FILE_STATIC_TRIAGE
    One or more files extracted from inside this sample matched static suspicious-content checks such as script obfuscation, encoded payload blobs, packed data, or execution/download terms.
  • 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/2.8/
    • http://www.xfa.org/schema/xfa-template/2.5/

Extracted artifacts 2

Files carved from inside the sample during analysis.

FilenameKindSourceSize
javascript_obj0003_000.js
401b1c5c97de7bccc2ab1ed9d4213931a2ec950514732b38aadd07bf664da5af
pdf-javascript-stream PDF /JS object 3 at offset 0x409 15604 bytes
base26_stage_000.js
77ebe88e80a03ecca51e1fdd29be9c03f9a5f6dc8b93db1fe4d7fa398f1546c1
deobfuscated-js base26-decoded JavaScript (decompressed) at offset 0x60D 5943 bytes
Detection
ClamAV: No threats found
Obfuscation or payload: likely
Carved artifact contains 44 eval/decoder/string-building token(s).