Malicious PDF — malware analysis report

Static analysis result for SHA-256 1fd50be72a6a4b63…

MALICIOUS

PDF

4.7 KB
MD5: a193ce66f894dc2c9b7271e25691cf5d SHA-1: 94ff24e8865f853dfdca5401ca657181656438d2 SHA-256: 1fd50be72a6a4b637f804c42464b3c515492c06f672763d6cda5b3743f6f0987
296 Risk Score

Malware Insights

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

The PDF file contains JavaScript that exploits a prototype pollution vulnerability (CVE-2026-34621 related). This script is designed to act as a download cradle for a PowerShell payload, indicated by the heuristic 'PDF_PS_DOWNLOAD_CRADLE' and the use of `app.launchURL`. The PowerShell script is likely responsible for downloading and executing the final malicious payload.

Heuristics 8

  • Acrobat prototype-pollution PoC/exploit pattern — CVE-2026-34621 related critical CVE likely CVE_2026_3461_RELATED
    PDF JavaScript combines Acrobat prototype pollution targeting privileged state with an execution or sensitive file-read primitive. This matches the likely CVE-2026-34621 PoC/exploit cluster without asserting the exact internal Adobe API chain.
  • Prototype-pollution JavaScript pattern high CVE related PDF_JS_PROTOTYPE_POLLUTION
    PDF JavaScript mutates object prototypes while also referencing privileged or sensitive PDF APIs. This tracks a modern PDF exploit technique family without assigning an unverified CVE.
  • PowerShell download cradle in PDF action body critical PDF_PS_DOWNLOAD_CRADLE
    PDF contains a PowerShell download-and-execute cradle (IEX/Invoke-Expression of a remote payload, [Net.WebClient]/[Net.ServicePointManager], or `-ep Bypass -enc <base64>`). These strings are rare in benign PDFs and are strong evidence of payload staging in an attack chain (MITRE T1059.001 + T1105).
    URL http://10.0.0.5/shell.ps1
    • https://www.example.com
  • 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 HTML script tags. This is stronger than ordinary PDF JavaScript because it indicates a staged external script payload hidden in stream bytes.
    URL http://10.0.0.5/shell.ps1
    • https://www.example.com
  • app.launchURL with file/cmd/UNC target high PDF_FOXIT_LAUNCHURL
    PDF JavaScript invokes app.launchURL() with a file://, cmd:, or UNC target — Foxit and Adobe handle these schemes inconsistently and they have been used for code execution and NTLM credential theft. (matched in decompressed stream)
    URL http://10.0.0.5/shell.ps1
    • https://www.example.com
  • Suspicious extracted artifact high 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.
    URL http://10.0.0.5/shell.ps1
    • https://www.example.com
  • 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.