PDF malware analysis — malicious · 540290022c86e2db

MALICIOUS

PDF

51.9 KB

MD5: b0e763f1ef96fc4b3190961fead53937 SHA-1: 5c1a0b2928ea75563d114206e9f3a642433eaadf SHA-256: 540290022c86e2dbc150f727533485de68975f41de75d26e0438696fd9dc95a6

198 Risk Score

Malware Insights

MITRE ATT&CK

T1059.001 PowerShell T1566.002 Spearphishing Attachment T1204.002 Malicious Link T1071.001 Web Protocols T1055.012 Process Injection

This PDF file contains an embedded JavaScript payload that utilizes a PowerShell download cradle to execute commands. The presence of a UNC path and an external URI suggests an attempt to steal credentials or download a second-stage payload. The document's structure, being image-heavy with minimal text, indicates a lure designed to prompt user interaction.

Heuristics 8

UNC path in PDF — possible NTLM credential theft (CVE-2018-4993/CVE-2019-7089) high CVE likely CVE_2018_4993

PDF contains a UNC path (\\server\share) alongside action triggers — when a vulnerable viewer resolves this path, Windows may send NTLM credentials to the remote host as the matching PDF action is processed
PowerShell download cradle in PDF action body critical PDF_PS_DOWNLOAD_CRADLE

PDF contains a PowerShell download-and-execute cradle (IEX/Invoke-Expression of a remote payload, [Net.WebClient]/[Net.ServicePointManager], or `-ep Bypass -enc <base64>`). These strings are rare in benign PDFs and are strong evidence of payload staging in an attack chain (MITRE T1059.001 + T1105).
Embedded script payload in PDF stream high PDF_EMBEDDED_SCRIPT_PAYLOAD

PDF stream bytes contain script execution markers such as ActiveXObject/CreateObject, WScript.Shell, PowerShell, or shell-exec primitives. This is stronger than ordinary PDF JavaScript because it indicates a staged external script payload hidden in stream bytes.
Image-only document with action trigger (screenshot lure) medium PDF_IMAGE_LURE

PDF has 1 image(s), only 0 text block(s), carries a click-outward action, and is only 51 KB — typical shape of a phishing lure where a full-page screenshot hides a clickable button that launches or submits to an attacker URL.
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. (matched inside decoded stream)
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. (matched inside decoded stream)
External URI info PDF_URI

PDF contains an external URL action

Extracted artifacts 1

Files carved from inside the sample during analysis.

Filename	Kind	Source	Size
`embedded_pdf_script_0000cb5c.bin` `61038587393724a2e65e42f4d9d0033a9f39c024307e8903fc9f797be3ca08ec`	pdf-embedded-script	PDF decompressed stream script payload at offset 0xCB5C	2484 bytes
Detection ClamAV: No threats found Obfuscation or payload: likely Carved artifact contains 3 shell/COM execution token(s).

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