Malicious PDF — malware analysis report

Static analysis result for SHA-256 3ca273bd5608deab…

MALICIOUS

PDF

2.2 KB
MD5: 848974c7cc61e9209f1962cc23c3927b SHA-1: 7a1bab0f116f44ece35ad32e2b206450757903d0 SHA-256: 3ca273bd5608deab6664b8e06a5937b744fceb9ee8acb828e8da0b3fbbe392c1
286 Risk Score

Malware Insights

MITRE ATT&CK
T1059.001 PowerShell T1204.001 Malicious Link

This PDF file contains embedded JavaScript that leverages the CVE-2009-4324 vulnerability. The JavaScript uses eval() and unescape() functions, indicating obfuscation and likely execution of a malicious payload. ClamAV detections further confirm its malicious nature, identifying it as Pdf.Exploit.Agent-36098 and an extracted artifact as Js.Exploit.Shellcode-18. The primary attack vector appears to be exploiting a known PDF reader vulnerability to run arbitrary code.

Heuristics 9

  • media.newPlayer — CVE-2009-4324 critical CVE exact CVE_2009_4324
    PDF JavaScript calls media.newPlayer — CVE-2009-4324 is a use-after-free in Adobe Reader's multimedia plugin triggered by media.newPlayer(). Actively exploited as a zero-day in December 2009. (identified after JavaScript deobfuscation)
  • ClamAV: Pdf.Exploit.Agent-36098 critical CLAMAV_DETECTION
    ClamAV detected this file as malware: Pdf.Exploit.Agent-36098
  • ClamAV detection on extracted artifact critical EXTRACTED_FILE_CLAMAV
    ClamAV flagged at least one file extracted from inside this sample. Even when the wrapping document carries no AV detection of its own, a hit on the carved artifact is a strong indicator the sample is a delivery vehicle.
  • eval() call high PDF_EVAL
    eval() found — commonly used for obfuscated exploit execution (matched inside decoded stream)
  • unescape() call high PDF_UNESCAPE
    unescape() found — often used to decode shellcode in PDF JS exploits (matched inside decoded stream)
  • 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.
  • String.fromCharCode low PDF_FROMCHARCODE
    String.fromCharCode found — used to construct payload strings dynamically. Common in benign JavaScript libraries for codepoint manipulation, so this alone is informational; weaponised use is also caught by the dedicated fromCharCode-stage and exploit-shape rules. (matched inside decoded stream)
  • 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.

Extracted artifacts 2

Files carved from inside the sample during analysis.

FilenameKindSourceSize
javascript_obj111611_000.js
e1ab3bbf30605cecdce6db9d2556198626dbb178f7a4cb471a9436bb6e8bd92f
pdf-javascript-stream PDF /JS object 111611 at offset 0x7D5 462 bytes
Detection
ClamAV: No threats found
Obfuscation or payload: likely
Carved artifact contains 3 eval/decoder/string-building token(s).
legacy_pdfkit_stage_000.js
7d43bc9ce8710003678c38c3f0f6b74d87b824454afc3d01f18d35493f92fbe9
deobfuscated-js repeated-marker hex decoded JavaScript at offset 0x189 2433 bytes
Detection
ClamAV: Js.Exploit.Shellcode-18
Obfuscation or payload: likely
Carved artifact contains 2 eval/decoder/string-building token(s).