Malicious PDF — malware analysis report

Static analysis result for SHA-256 7c9b80c35c2ec603…

MALICIOUS

PDF

555.4 KB Created: ú$íà‡œ‚ÇW÷©{—¬>æ†äi× Authoring application: ÿ}­¿ÕËÆÕ7‚cÕ.ÈýT 9ù‘úlÐL–`k™mO (via ÿ}­¿ÕËÆÕ#¯Vì&ÏôCX.àäwÅ BE" fR kÂ)
MD5: aed66e17ac499bf8bcdd531f97a0cccb SHA-1: acbbc1e2c4f0cf2b5038bbc5570bf8ef37de3fe9 SHA-256: 7c9b80c35c2ec603d0f5ff3f483ad215ff41ea736589586d2118f46ff4672bfb
84 Risk Score

Malware Insights

MITRE ATT&CK
T1059.001 JavaScript/JScript T1553.005 Subversion: Mark-of-the-Web Bypass

The PDF document was flagged as malicious due to the presence of JavaScript actions and an embedded JS stream. It is encrypted and uses an OpenAction, which is a common technique to obscure malicious content from static analysis. The PDF also contains AcroForm buttons with action triggers and is designed to appear as an image-only lure, further suggesting an attempt to deceive the user. The combination of these factors indicates a likely attempt to download and execute a second-stage payload.

Heuristics 5

  • Encrypted PDF carries /OpenAction — payload hidden from static analysis high PDF_ENCRYPTED_WITH_JS
    PDF declares /Encrypt and also references an executable trigger (/OpenAction). 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.
  • PDF paints image(s) but contains no text operators medium 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.
  • 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.
  • AcroForm button with action trigger low PDF_ACROFORM_BUTTON
    PDF contains a /Btn form field together with a SubmitForm/URI/Launch/JS trigger — this is the building block of fake 'Download' or 'Open' button overlays used in PDF phishing lures