Malicious PDF — malware analysis report

Static analysis result for SHA-256 498c8fb7c19e8b9c…

MALICIOUS

PDF

149.6 KB Created: YØaÜx¨ ¬ù^µã.8 Authoring application: 0‰#…Q<«>þ§ROÑ´o•ÕèªA¼ (via ˜>Ž@<¾Tó¸Jë½xLϕø±Z®ã¡-ƒ8ì†)
MD5: 8f17e985c34be4f9418a57ed5db1d0de SHA-1: 99e6f5453dc8f91e7ba6e3765d398fc14d6efba3 SHA-256: 498c8fb7c19e8b9c8dd1fbcd5bdc75857d4cf27a8e093eac874c92ea77e8cd2c
66 Risk Score

Malware Insights

MITRE ATT&CK
T1059.001 PowerShell T1566.001 Spearphishing Attachment T1027 Obfuscated Files or Information

The PDF contains embedded JavaScript, which is used to obscure its content and likely execute malicious actions. The heuristic 'PDF_ENCRYPTED_WITH_JS' indicates that the PDF is encrypted and uses JavaScript, suggesting a deliberate attempt to hide its payload from static analysis. This points towards a malware delivery or phishing attack where the JavaScript is used to download and execute a second-stage payload.

Heuristics 5

  • Encrypted PDF carries /JavaScript — payload hidden from static analysis high PDF_ENCRYPTED_WITH_JS
    PDF declares /Encrypt and also references an executable trigger (/JavaScript). Document encryption hides the JavaScript body and stream contents from static scanners — combined with auto-execution indicators this is a known evasion pattern used to deliver weaponised JavaScript that the analyst cannot inspect without the decryption key.
  • 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.
  • ASCII85Decode filter (with exploit indicators) low PDF_FILTER_85
    ASCII85 encoding filter present alongside exploit delivery indicators — uncommon outside of obfuscation
  • PDF paints image(s) but contains no text operators info PDF_IMAGE_ONLY_LURE
    PDF has 2 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.