Malicious Office (OOXML) / .XLSX — malware analysis report

Static analysis result for SHA-256 49e3184aa755f70b…

MALICIOUS

Office (OOXML) / .XLSX

114.5 KB Created: 2021-02-03 15:28:44 UTC Authoring application: Microsoft Excel 16.0300
MD5: aae57d1a2360790f29c32b3741121c80 SHA-1: 2cc52fcae820fd6c33abb2d6b8d7721c59aee5aa SHA-256: 49e3184aa755f70b8a484163eac18c14ee769e16eb1d7b749bef3b00ced64126
120 Risk Score

Malware Insights

MITRE ATT&CK
T1059.005 Visual Basic

The sample is an XLSX file containing disguised Excel 4.0 macros. The heuristics indicate that these macros are stored under a disguised package path, suggesting an attempt to evade detection. While the macro content is truncated, the presence of Excel 4.0 macros strongly implies a downloader or initial execution stage. The lack of further script detail or extracted URLs prevents a more specific assessment of the payload or delivery mechanism.

Heuristics 2

  • 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. The macro sheet is stored as XLSB/BIFF12 binary content, which many XML-only OOXML scanners miss.
  • Excel 4.0 macro sheet stored under disguised package path critical OOXML_XLM_DISGUISED_RELATIONSHIP
    OOXML package declares an xlMacrosheet relationship whose target is outside the canonical xl/macrosheets/ path. Excel follows the relationship type, while path-only scanners can miss the macro execution surface.

Extracted artifacts 1

Files carved from inside the sample during analysis.

FilenameKindSourceSize
xlm_sheet_00.bin
3fd2c5ac9f1339b006d4b8558a66e92632e93690860205c61803635b864cb6a6
xlm-macrosheet OOXML XLM macro sheet: xl/xls/sheet1.bin 1007414 bytes