Malicious PDF — malware analysis report

Static analysis result for SHA-256 a1ecb6487c091c65…

MALICIOUS

PDF

17.8 KB Created: 2008-31-20 53:85:00 Authoring application: Scribus 1.3.3.12 (via Scribus PDF Library 1.3.3.12)
MD5: 39717bf6304f3c1af12ddea116cd6d62 SHA-1: ae46b5d6dc1cf631f50e2a6c5cfd9e4a309552fb SHA-256: a1ecb6487c091c65db171ffa201e3fb2be583f69d7e60edef775de3032d0271c
398 Risk Score

Malware Insights

MITRE ATT&CK
T1059.001 PowerShell T1204.002 Malicious File T1071.001 Web Protocols

The PDF file contains multiple critical heuristic firings indicating exploitation of known Adobe Reader vulnerabilities (CVE-2009-0927, CVE-2007-5659, CVE-2008-2992) via embedded JavaScript. The JavaScript is obfuscated and likely responsible for downloading and executing a second-stage payload, as indicated by the ClamAV detection of 'Pdf.Dropper.Agent-7288624-0' and the detection of a suspicious JavaScript artifact ('Js.Exploit.Shellcode-18'). The OpenAction trigger further ensures the malicious script is executed upon opening the PDF.

Heuristics 10

  • Collab.getIcon — CVE-2009-0927 critical CVE exact CVE_2009_0927
    PDF JavaScript calls Collab.getIcon — CVE-2009-0927 is a stack buffer overflow in Adobe Reader triggered by Collab.getIcon() with a crafted argument. Allows arbitrary code execution. (identified after JavaScript deobfuscation)
  • Collab.collectEmailInfo — CVE-2007-5659 critical CVE exact CVE_2007_5659
    PDF JavaScript calls Collab.collectEmailInfo — CVE-2007-5659 is a buffer overflow in Adobe Reader triggered by a long argument or heap-sprayed message field passed to Collab.collectEmailInfo(). Part of a series of Acrobat JS API exploits. (identified after JavaScript deobfuscation)
  • util.printf — CVE-2008-2992 critical CVE exact CVE_2008_2992
    PDF JavaScript calls util.printf() — CVE-2008-2992 is a stack buffer overflow in Adobe Reader triggered by a long format-specifier argument. Widely exploited in the wild after disclosure. (identified after JavaScript deobfuscation)
  • ClamAV: Pdf.Dropper.Agent-7288624-0 critical CLAMAV_DETECTION
    ClamAV detected this file as malware: Pdf.Dropper.Agent-7288624-0
  • ClamAV detection on extracted artifact critical EXTRACTED_FILE_CLAMAV
    ClamAV flagged at least one file extracted from inside this sample. Even when the wrapping document carries no AV detection of its own, a hit on the carved artifact is a strong indicator the sample is a delivery vehicle.
  • OpenAction trigger high PDF_OPENACTION
    PDF has an /OpenAction — code runs automatically when opened
  • eval() call high PDF_EVAL
    eval() found — commonly used for obfuscated exploit execution
  • 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 2

Files carved from inside the sample during analysis.

FilenameKindSourceSize
javascript_obj0013_001.js
f15d6c7903f9f5d95e01e5165adbde7351f61420601da22d6614548501556f6f
pdf-javascript-stream PDF /JS object 13 at offset 0x3D9 16617 bytes
Detection
ClamAV: No threats found
Obfuscation or payload: likely
Carved artifact contains 2 eval/decoder/string-building token(s).
numeric_charcode_stage_000.js
fcd291facef8d8c66850d80ececae324c902528afcffc7279f8176433974f5fe
deobfuscated-js numeric char-code string decoded JavaScript at offset 0x40F 4996 bytes
Detection
ClamAV: Js.Exploit.Shellcode-18
Obfuscation or payload: likely
Carved artifact contains 9 eval/decoder/string-building token(s). Carved artifact contains 1 long base64-like blob(s).