Malicious PDF — malware analysis report

Static analysis result for SHA-256 429db90b8d605173…

MALICIOUS

PDF

2.2 KB
MD5: 99cdba93632740fb53b28d0ac4b0621e SHA-1: fdb5e37bb62552381e73000a180b9c4c1e452fe7 SHA-256: 429db90b8d605173b2c5bcb96b6d292c05d80c41cfea688ee6ccb2c12db9a98b
286 Risk Score

Malware Insights

MITRE ATT&CK
T1059.001 PowerShell T1204.002 Malicious File

The PDF file contains embedded JavaScript that utilizes `eval()` and `unescape()` functions, indicating obfuscation. The critical heuristic `CVE_2009_4324` specifically points to the exploitation of this known vulnerability via JavaScript. The embedded JavaScript streams, particularly `legacy_pdfkit_stage_000.js`, are likely responsible for downloading and executing a secondary payload, as suggested by the ClamAV detection on an extracted artifact (`Js.Exploit.Shellcode-18`).

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 0x7E2 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
20ab686f73be3d779676d672d75ca4911efbd64733d3f3b32c1fa25ec2773148
deobfuscated-js repeated-marker hex decoded JavaScript at offset 0x189 2439 bytes
Detection
ClamAV: Js.Exploit.Shellcode-18
Obfuscation or payload: likely
Carved artifact contains 2 eval/decoder/string-building token(s).