Malicious Office (OLE) — malware analysis report

Static analysis result for SHA-256 41c1cadfc733e841…

MALICIOUS

Office (OLE)

35.5 KB Created: 2020-11-25 10:47:09 Authoring application: Microsoft Excel First seen: 2021-07-07
MD5: 7697c0cc0420c3603b502f226d35ba3e SHA-1: 3e97c94e10d4030f8a40c85f57a10a9ab9856777 SHA-256: 41c1cadfc733e841cff9f8ea9a17cc9203e1359f38d057157bc5f813a27c7656
140 Risk Score

Malware Insights

MITRE ATT&CK
T1059.005 Visual Basic T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution

The file contains Excel 4.0 (XLM) macros, specifically an Auto_Open defined name, which is a critical finding. The macros utilize dangerous formula APIs, including the RUN function, indicating an intent to execute arbitrary code. The presence of these elements strongly suggests the file is designed to deliver a malicious payload upon opening.

Heuristics 3

  • Excel 4.0 Auto_Open defined name critical OLE_XLM_AUTOOPEN_DEFINEDNAME
    oletools recovered an Auto_Open / Auto_Close entry from an Excel 4.0 macro sheet. The raw BIFF name can be tokenized or partially opaque to byte-string checks, but the recovered macro listing confirms the workbook has an XLM auto-execution entry.
  • XLM Auto_Open with dangerous formula APIs critical OLE_XLM_DANGEROUS_FN
    Excel 4.0 macro sheet contains an Auto_Open / Auto_Close entry and dangerous XLM formula APIs that can invoke programs, write files, or transfer control without VBA.
  • Excel 4.0 (XLM) macro sheet present medium OLE_XLM_AUTOOPEN
    Workbook contains an Excel 4.0 macro sheet sub-stream — XLM is rarely seen in modern legitimate workbooks and was a major Office malware vector during 2020-2022.

Extracted artifacts 1

Files carved from inside the sample during analysis.

FilenameKindSourceSize
xlm_macros.txt xlm-macro oletools.olevba.extract_all_macros (XLM macro listing) 6383 bytes
SHA-256: b25ea8ec1065834b745ff51d0b4d06dd143c1294bc9455d4ef4b872e5672f92c
Preview script
First 1,000 lines of the extracted script
' 0085     14 BOUNDSHEET : Sheet Information - worksheet or dialog sheet, visible -  Sheet
' 0085     12 BOUNDSHEET : Sheet Information - Excel 4.0 macro sheet, visible -  PHw
' 0018     23 LABEL : Cell Value, String Constant - built-in-name 1 Auto_Open len=7 ptgRef3d  Sheet!A163 
' 0018     26 LABEL : Cell Value, String Constant - axPTEwDlpoP len=0 
' 0018     22 LABEL : Cell Value, String Constant - BqSgIpH len=0 
' 0018     23 LABEL : Cell Value, String Constant - ChnZAFnD len=0 
' 0018     22 LABEL : Cell Value, String Constant - ChvVqGd len=0 
' 0018     23 LABEL : Cell Value, String Constant - DZpPglBz len=0 
' 0018     22 LABEL : Cell Value, String Constant - GiQXpjl len=0 
' 0018     27 LABEL : Cell Value, String Constant - KEAqKxTLfunq len=0 
' 0018     20 LABEL : Cell Value, String Constant - LeRIe len=0 
' 0018     26 LABEL : Cell Value, String Constant - LptCdIoqZVr len=0 
' 0018     23 LABEL : Cell Value, String Constant - owWmQSxv len=0 
' 0018     27 LABEL : Cell Value, String Constant - PeynaWMpBRiS len=0 
' 0018     27 LABEL : Cell Value, String Constant - PzwHYBQunclI len=0 
' 0018     26 LABEL : Cell Value, String Constant - qSRpBCeiauS len=0 
' 0018     24 LABEL : Cell Value, String Constant - RXXlUKUcC len=0 
' 0018     25 LABEL : Cell Value, String Constant - sMunUOEiUH len=0 
' 0018     23 LABEL : Cell Value, String Constant - sUnEYGYN len=0 
' 0018     20 LABEL : Cell Value, String Constant - TMHyF len=0 
' 0018     21 LABEL : Cell Value, String Constant - uqqiBs len=0 
' 0018     26 LABEL : Cell Value, String Constant - yJQefXfMcCv len=0 
' 0018     23 LABEL : Cell Value, String Constant - ZPIvfkQY len=0 
' 002a      2 PRINTHEADERS : Print Row/Column Labels
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd     10 LABELSST : Cell Value, String Constant/ SST
' 00fd 
... (truncated)

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