Malicious PDF — malware analysis report

Static analysis result for SHA-256 78d437195497f5d8…

MALICIOUS

PDF

6.9 KB
MD5: b4f7502371e00f840594388203de526b SHA-1: 750a4cb08ad855145fa90c9a3be270fd9a1e926c SHA-256: 78d437195497f5d854b46364f5ce3ea26b71b4131e84cf9c2b584b462567ee69
388 Risk Score

Malware Insights

MITRE ATT&CK
T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution T1059.007 JavaScript

This PDF file contains obfuscated JavaScript that leverages the unescape() function, a known indicator of malicious activity. The JavaScript is designed to exploit the CVE-2009-0658 vulnerability in Adobe Reader, which allows for arbitrary code execution. The primary goal appears to be downloading and executing a secondary payload, as suggested by the exploit cluster and ML classification.

Machine Learning

  • Nyx PDF Classifier malicious score 0.9987

Heuristics 10

  • Adobe Reader JBIG2Decode generic heap-spray exploit critical CVE likely CVE_2009_0658_GENERIC_SPRAY
    PDF combines JBIG2Decode image streams with JavaScript heap-spray or decoder scaffolding. This is likely CVE-2009-0658-family Adobe Reader JBIG2 exploitation, but it lacks the stricter Reader-9 version gate or decoded page-word shellcode fingerprint required by the exact rule.
  • JBIG2 + active content high CVE related PDF_JBIG2_ACTIVE_CONTENT
    JBIG2Decode appears with JavaScript/XFA/RichMedia — a related indicator for JBIG2 parser-exploit families including CVE-2021-30860 and CVE-2009-0658, but not a unique CVE fingerprint.
  • Hex-obfuscated scripting name object critical PDF_OBFUSCATED_NAME_OBJECT
    A PDF name object that drives script execution (/JavaScript or /JS) is written with #XX hex escapes to hide it from string-based scanners — e.g. /J#61v#61S#63r#69p#74 decoding to /JavaScript. Legitimate PDF producers always write these names literally; hex-encoding an executable name is a deliberate evasion used by exploit-kit and dropper PDFs.
  • PDF JavaScript exploit cluster critical PDF_JS_EXPLOIT_CLUSTER
    PDF combines an executable JavaScript/action surface with exploit staging indicators such as eval/unescape/fromCharCode, XFA script content, or a related CVE pattern. Benign form JavaScript remains low-severity, but this correlated cluster is high-confidence malicious behavior.
  • ClamAV: Heuristics.PDF.ObfuscatedNameObject critical CLAMAV_DETECTION
    ClamAV detected this file as malware: Heuristics.PDF.ObfuscatedNameObject
  • unescape() call high PDF_UNESCAPE
    unescape() found — often used to decode shellcode in PDF JS exploits (matched inside decoded stream)
  • JBIG2Decode filter medium PDF_JBIG2
    JBIG2 image decoder present — historically used in zero-click exploits
  • 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.
  • 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 1

Files carved from inside the sample during analysis.

FilenameKindSourceSize
javascript_obj0006_000.js
e1c05c339ecd12a9ed1c1c71a86bf29592c14b04f5f1209a01290d4f5250572f
pdf-javascript-stream PDF /JS object 6 at offset 0x219 5492 bytes
Detection
ClamAV: No threats found
Obfuscation or payload: likely
Carved artifact contains 4 eval/decoder/string-building token(s).