Malicious PDF — malware analysis report

Static analysis result for SHA-256 1b0155b8e91c8dd8…

MALICIOUS

PDF

18.9 KB
MD5: c9c13dfd50c0d5a1fa4124211cd99b41 SHA-1: ecae1931db360bb93435be6ddb01fcac4dd22cc2 SHA-256: 1b0155b8e91c8dd8d1481b209d359948a98d22f6a07238d4cc9efc8806476d7f
180 Risk Score

Malware Insights

MITRE ATT&CK
T1059.003 Windows Command Shell T1204.002 Malicious File

The PDF file contains a critical heuristic firing for a launch action targeting cmd.exe. This indicates an attempt to execute commands directly from the PDF. Additionally, a critical heuristic for an embedded script payload was detected, suggesting the PDF is designed to deliver and execute malicious code. The embedded script is likely responsible for the command execution.

Heuristics 4

  • Launch action critical PDF_LAUNCH
    PDF contains a /Launch action whose target is an executable, URL, or UNC path — can start an external application
  • /Launch action target: cmd.exe critical PDF_LAUNCH_COMMAND
    PDF /Launch action specifies an executable target — references a known-dangerous executable (cmd, PowerShell, etc.).
  • Embedded script payload in PDF stream high PDF_EMBEDDED_SCRIPT_PAYLOAD
    PDF stream bytes contain script execution markers such as ActiveXObject/CreateObject, WScript.Shell, PowerShell, or shell-exec primitives. This is stronger than ordinary PDF JavaScript because it indicates a staged external script payload hidden in stream bytes.
  • Suspicious extracted artifact medium 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.

Extracted artifacts 1

Files carved from inside the sample during analysis.

FilenameKindSourceSize
embedded_pdf_script_00004313.bin
4c733adaf04dc8aca3c73fea8df0252aa23e0f676c3aa9024d4d86d732c7f833
pdf-embedded-script PDF raw stream script payload at offset 0x4313 16971 bytes
Detection
ClamAV: No threats found
Obfuscation or payload: likely
Carved artifact contains 2 shell/COM execution token(s).