Dridex — Office (OOXML) malware analysis

Static analysis result for SHA-256 3d66a5d269a301e2…

MALICIOUS

Office (OOXML)

212.2 KB Created: 2021-08-16 09:36:27 UTC Authoring application: Microsoft Excel 12.0000
MD5: c0e8ecc1404b5c2306a68b784fc71a28 SHA-1: 7ce58a9dc87b117420cf31708d01979cf1bf8010 SHA-256: 3d66a5d269a301e24b71b3cc199cbb48d1f45a5a5188f630831cb165704957d5
250 Risk Score

Malware Insights

Dridex · confidence 95%

MITRE ATT&CK
T1059.005 Visual Basic T1204.002 Malicious File T1566.001 Spearphishing Attachment

The file contains Excel 4.0 macros, specifically using the Auto_Open defined name and dangerous functions like EXEC, FOPEN, and HALT. The EXEC function is used to run a script located at 'C:\ProgramData\htUbHB.sct', indicating a downloader or dropper functionality. The ClamAV detection as 'Xls.Downloader.DridexCyan08210-9887648-0' strongly suggests the Dridex family.

Heuristics 6

  • Excel 4.0 macro sheet (1 sheet(s)) critical OOXML_XLM_MACROSHEET
    Spreadsheet contains an Excel 4.0 (XLM) macro sheet — XLM was a major Office malware vector during 2020-2022 and evaded many VBA-focused controls before Microsoft tightened XLM defaults. Even legitimate XLM use is rare in modern workbooks.
  • Excel 4.0 Auto_Open defined name critical OOXML_XLM_AUTOOPEN_DEFINEDNAME
    Workbook defines _xlnm.Auto_Open or _xlnm.Auto_Close while containing an XLM macro sheet. This is the OOXML/XLSB auto-execution shape for Excel 4.0 macros.
  • Dangerous XLM formula APIs: EXEC, HALT, FOPEN, FWRITE, FCLOSE critical OOXML_XLM_DANGEROUS_FN
    Excel 4.0 macro sheet uses formula APIs that call directly into Win32 (=CALL/=EXEC/=REGISTER/=FORMULA). These are the primitives used to download payloads, write files, and start processes from an XLM macro without invoking VBA.
  • ClamAV: Xls.Downloader.DridexCyan08210-9887648-0 critical CLAMAV_DETECTION
    ClamAV detected this file as malware: Xls.Downloader.DridexCyan08210-9887648-0
  • Hidden worksheet (hidden) low OOXML_HIDDEN_SHEET
    Excel workbook contains 1 hidden sheet(s) — hidden sheets are commonly used to conceal macro code, staging data, or intermediate payload construction
  • 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 http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/spreadsheetml/2006/main
    • http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/excel/2006/main
    • http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/officeDocument/2006/relationships

Extracted artifacts 1

Files carved from inside the sample during analysis.

FilenameKindSourceSize
xlm_sheet_00.xml
4e87890c646d3381db3b6ba47daa2af2c35fe2608093922aa62114469c8ea626
xlm-macrosheet OOXML XLM macro sheet: xl/macrosheets/sheet1.xml 142339 bytes