Malicious PDF — malware analysis report

Static analysis result for SHA-256 2338bdead2b18f84…

MALICIOUS

PDF

18.9 KB
MD5: fed8e37a18d5cd9ce7d243a69bdcacf9 SHA-1: 98244c7d14c8860add51a32a6cc55c0b2c2c6888 SHA-256: 2338bdead2b18f84562b83759dcb22bae044e5d0e9cd59a0894a0a26f76c963d
210 Risk Score

Malware Insights

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

The PDF file contains a launch action that targets cmd.exe, indicating an attempt to execute commands. An embedded script payload was also detected, further suggesting malicious intent. The ML classifier strongly flagged this PDF as malicious. The primary attack vector appears to be the execution of a secondary payload via the command shell.

Machine Learning

  • Nyx PDF Classifier malicious score 0.9998

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_0000431f.bin
940e5f02e2310c4fc80753ced0d62d7e95a29c43cdb38341149de6dd6355d42c
pdf-embedded-script PDF raw stream script payload at offset 0x431F 16996 bytes
Detection
ClamAV: No threats found
Obfuscation or payload: likely
Carved artifact contains 2 shell/COM execution token(s).