Malicious PDF — malware analysis report

Static analysis result for SHA-256 48ced11adf72cfab…

MALICIOUS

PDF

391.5 KB Created: 2009-10-05 16:50:36 +09:00 Authoring application: PScript5.dll Version 5.2.2 (via Acrobat Distiller 7.0.5 (Windows))
MD5: becdd1e2994cb052d1269b9cae3cda38 SHA-1: fe7e8852334fda600c9f56e970656bbb96992ac4 SHA-256: 48ced11adf72cfab8d5b7f8d4647ff510d55c58d1033d0e882c33b11d6ff30c6
190 Risk Score

Malware Insights

MITRE ATT&CK
T1059.001 PowerShell T1204.002 Malicious File T1071.001 Web Protocols

The PDF file contains embedded JavaScript that utilizes eval() and String.fromCharCode() for obfuscation, indicating malicious intent. A critical heuristic identified an embedded Windows executable payload within a PDF stream. Additionally, a JPXDecode-related heuristic suggests exploitation of a CVE family vulnerability. The primary function appears to be the download and execution of a second-stage payload, as evidenced by the embedded PE file and the use of JavaScript actions.

Heuristics 10

  • JPXDecode + active content — JPEG2000 CVE-family indicator high CVE related PDF_JPX_CVE_2018_4990_RELATED
    PDF uses /JPXDecode (JPEG2000) alongside JavaScript, XFA, or RichMedia indicators. This matches the delivery pattern for Adobe Reader JPEG2000 parser exploit families, including CVE-2018-4990, but does not prove the exact malformed JP2/JPX primitive.
  • Embedded Windows executable payload in PDF stream critical PDF_EMBEDDED_PE_PAYLOAD
    PDF stream bytes contain an embedded Windows executable with a verified PE header. Exploit chains often hide droppers inside ordinary streams rather than standard /EmbeddedFile attachments.
  • eval() call high PDF_EVAL
    eval() found — commonly used for obfuscated exploit execution (matched inside decoded stream)
  • 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.
  • 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)
  • PDF paints image(s) but contains no text operators info PDF_IMAGE_ONLY_LURE
    PDF has 1 image XObject(s) and the content stream contains no text-emitting operators (BT/ET, Tj, TJ, ', ") in either raw bytes or decompressed streams — this is the screenshot-as-PDF pattern used to bypass text-based scanners and to deliver instructions purely through rendered pixels. It is informational unless paired with invisible links or risky URI context.
  • PDF differential parser failed info PDF_DIFFERENTIAL_PARSE_FAILED
    The cross-check parser (pdfminer.six) failed on this file: PDF differential parser exited 1. Static heuristics still ran and any of their findings above are valid; only the differential cross-check signal is missing.
  • 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://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#
    • http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/
    • http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/
    • http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/mm/
    • http://ns.adobe.com/pdf/1.3/
    • http://update.microsoft.com

Extracted artifacts 2

Files carved from inside the sample during analysis.

FilenameKindSourceSize
javascript_obj0110_001.js
d28fcafd3241ff32998ffecd7f3fdd288e4745efab9bbe27c78636800ed35ad7		 pdf-javascript-stream PDF /JS object 110 at offset 0x5E2 38976 bytes
Detection
ClamAV: No threats found
Obfuscation or payload: likely
Carved artifact contains 2 eval/decoder/string-building token(s). Carved artifact contains 1 long hex-escaped blob(s).
embedded_pdf_00037878.exe
08aafc0f4fdd7d41898d72fcc31dd0e8866ad01ae50c1b546206bf192c8b95cb		 embedded-pe PDF raw stream PE payload at offset 0x37878 172991 bytes

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