Malicious PDF — malware analysis report

Static analysis result for SHA-256 7fe5878b3b9e032e…

MALICIOUS

PDF

591.5 KB Created: 2009-11-26 15:43:57 Authoring application: FPDF 1.53
MD5: cea41b96c31062a04fd2db42028bc097 SHA-1: f4d4748ea95da8de374fccd9e51e684c99ce3d22 SHA-256: 7fe5878b3b9e032e986ca33d005fa9c84a8897bf066239082819f5eba259a15c
200 Risk Score

Malware Insights

MITRE ATT&CK
T1059.001 PowerShell T1204.002 Malicious File T1059.003 Windows Command Shell

The PDF file contains a launch action that executes cmd.exe with parameters designed to create and write a VBScript file. This script likely downloads and executes a second-stage payload. The embedded script payload and the command execution instruction strongly indicate malicious intent.

Heuristics 4

  • Launch action critical PDF_LAUNCH
    PDF contains a /Launch action whose target is an executable, URL, or UNC path — can start an external application
  • /Launch action target: cmd.exe critical PDF_LAUNCH_COMMAND
    PDF /Launch action specifies an executable target with parameters '/c echo Dim BinaryStream > vbs1.vbs && echo Set BinaryStream = CreateObject("ADODB.Stream"' — references a known-dangerous executable (cmd, PowerShell, etc.).
  • 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.
  • Visible LOLBin command execution instruction high SE_LOLBIN_RUN_COMMAND
    Document contains instructions or visible command text involving Windows script/execution tools such as PowerShell, mshta, cmd, rundll32, or regsvr32

Extracted artifacts 1

Files carved from inside the sample during analysis.

FilenameKindSourceSize
embedded_pdf_script_0000057e.bin
40abd21cc16d7f47deccc3a181fad013ee9391fed16bacfc36cd3459490f7ecc
pdf-embedded-script PDF decompressed stream script payload at offset 0x57E 90 bytes