Malicious PDF — malware analysis report

Static analysis result for SHA-256 a235e22d4df9463d…

MALICIOUS

PDF

315.2 KB Created: 2009-09-05 04:53:48 +02:00 Authoring application: Adobe PDF Library 8.0 First seen: 2026-05-11
MD5: ba3197e7887285f21974a0e4b5f809dd SHA-1: e519285ee437e45915e18c1ba037bb29d48b81fe SHA-256: a235e22d4df9463d4b41883db3816128ea645fd1336fbe09e04740b71b542a45
264 Risk Score

🔏 Digital signature Modified after signing

A signature covers the whole signed byte range — PDF JavaScript is never signed on its own — and does not by itself mean the document is safe.

Malware Insights

MITRE ATT&CK
T1059.001 PowerShell

This PDF document contains embedded JavaScript, indicated by multiple PDF_JAVASCRIPT and PDF_JS heuristics. The high-severity PDF_EVAL heuristic and the presence of a decompressed stream script payload (stream_005_off000035f3.js) suggest that the JavaScript is designed to execute arbitrary code. This script likely acts as a downloader for a second-stage payload, which is a common technique for delivering malware.

Machine Learning

  • Nyx PDF Classifier malicious score 0.8354

Heuristics 13

  • XFA form contains risky executable script high CVE related PDF_XFA_SCRIPT
    PDF embeds an XFA form whose script block contains exploit, submission/launch, or shell-execution primitives. Ordinary LiveCycle print/update scripts are left as generic XFA/JS signals unless stronger behavior is present.
  • JavaScript action low 2 related findings PDF_JAVASCRIPT
    PDF contains a /JavaScript action. Generic JavaScript is common in benign forms; specific dangerous APIs are scored by separate rules.
  • 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.
    Matched line in script
     */
function convertGlobalValueForRetrieval(name, value) {
 var returnValue = value;
  • 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.
  • Active content added after the PDF was signed medium PDF_SIGNATURE_POST_SIGN_MODIFICATION
    An incremental update appended AFTER the signed byte range introduces active content (/EmbeddedFile, /Catalog). Some of this can occur in legitimate form-fill (field scripts, a rewritten /Catalog), so it is suspicious rather than damning — but it is content the signer did not approve.
  • Embedded script payload in PDF stream medium PDF_EMBEDDED_SCRIPT_PAYLOAD
    PDF stream bytes contain an HTML/XFA <script> tag without accompanying Windows shell-execution primitives — common in accessible XFA forms but worth surfacing for analyst review.
  • Embedded file low PDF_EMBEDDED
    PDF embeds a file attachment — could carry an executable or another weaponised document as a nested payload
  • XFA form low PDF_XFA
    PDF uses XML Forms Architecture — can contain script logic
  • 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
  • syncAnnotScan annotation-staging primitive low PDF_FOXIT_SYNCANNOTSCAN
    PDF JavaScript calls syncAnnotScan() — a no-op annotation-enumeration primitive used by exploit-kit JavaScript to stage payload reads from annotation /Subject fields before eval(). Not a vulnerable sink itself; rarely seen in legitimate PDFs. (identified after nested-decoder de-obfuscation)
  • Object number defined twice with different bodies info PDF_DUPLICATE_OBJ_BODY_INCREMENTAL
    The same indirect object (N G) is defined more than once with different body bytes. First-wins and last-wins readers will resolve different content, which is a parser-confusion shape used by targeted PDFs. Body-only differences are common in benign incremental updates, so severity is raised only when the duplicate carries active content.
  • 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.
  • Embedded URL info EMBEDDED_URL
    One or more URLs were extracted from the document. The URL itself is not a detection — see the per-URL labels for which channel (macro, JS, link annotation, document body, ...) reached each URL.
    URL http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html In PDF document text
    • http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#In PDF document text
    • http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/In PDF document text
    • http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/mm/In PDF document text
    • http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/In PDF document text
    • http://ns.adobe.com/pdf/1.3/In PDF document text
    • http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.)Tj0In PDF document text
    • http://www.adobe.com/supportIn PDF document text
    • http://crl.adobe.com/prodSvce.crl0In PDF document text
    • https://www.adobe.comIn PDF document text
    • http://crl.adobe.com/cds.crl0���~�|�z0x1In PDF document text
    • http://cgi.adobe.com/special/acrobat/updateReferenced by PDF JavaScript
    • http://www.xfa.org/schema/xci/1.0/Referenced by PDF JavaScript
    • http://www.xfa.org/schema/xfa-template/2.5/Referenced by PDF JavaScript
    • http://www.xfa.org/schema/xfa-xliff/1.0/Referenced by PDF JavaScript
    • http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtmlReferenced by PDF JavaScript
    • http://www.xfa.org/schema/xfa-data/1.0/Referenced by PDF JavaScript
    • http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instanceReferenced by PDF JavaScript
    • http://www.xfa.org/schema/xfa-template/2.4/Referenced by PDF JavaScript
    • http://www.xfa.org/schema/xfa-locale-set/2.1/Referenced by PDF JavaScript
    • http://www.xfa.org/schema/xfa-connection-set/2.4/Referenced by PDF JavaScript
    • http://www.xfa.org/schema/xfa-connection-set/2.1/Referenced by PDF JavaScript
    • http://ns.adobe.com/data-description/Referenced by PDF JavaScript
    • http://www.xfa.org/schema/xfa-form/2.5/Referenced by PDF JavaScript
    • http://ns.adobe.com/xdp/Referenced by PDF JavaScript

Related samples 8

Ranked by shared artifacts, heuristics, extracted URLs, CVEs, and signatures.

Full JSON: related samples API

Extracted artifacts 12

Files carved from inside the sample during analysis.

FilenameKindSourceSize
embedded_file_obj0364.bin pdf-embedded-file PDF EmbeddedFile object 364 at offset 0x14404 8712 bytes
SHA-256: 81cfcafabb171b293181d41f5e593f84098267fc499cb3b7cb070d27bba1086e
embedded_file_obj0365.bin pdf-embedded-file PDF EmbeddedFile object 365 at offset 0x14936 85 bytes
SHA-256: c06dcd026a7ea0536b63e07ce688691b585339a3ab7ff59065e546b56308c7bb
embedded_file_obj1494.bin pdf-embedded-file PDF EmbeddedFile object 1494 at offset 0x4D835 5704 bytes
SHA-256: 4d14d15bdd2531e88bb59e10da1916310ed357025834f36bbb5a1dc7709a6ed0
javascript_obj0341_000.js pdf-javascript-stream PDF /JS object 341 at offset 0x2B6D 870 bytes
SHA-256: 4a1aca004cf20431c9a66dce85404a6411a54d881a6c257882260ffc972a13eb
Preview script
First 1,000 lines of the extracted script
if (typeof(ADBE.Reader_Value_Asked) == "undefined")
   ADBE.Reader_Value_Asked = false;
if (typeof(ADBE.Viewer_Value_Asked) == "undefined")
   ADBE.Viewer_Value_Asked = false;
if (typeof(ADBE.Reader_Need_Version) == "undefined" || ADBE.Reader_Need_Version < 7.0)
{
   ADBE.Reader_Need_Version = 7.0;
   ADBE.Reader_Value_New_Version_URL = "http://cgi.adobe.com/special/acrobat/update";
   ADBE.SYSINFO = "?p=" + app.platform + "&v=" + app.viewerVersion + "&l=" + app.language + "&c=" + app.viewerType + "&w=" + "XFA1_6";
}
if (typeof(ADBE.Viewer_Need_Version) == "undefined" || ADBE.Viewer_Need_Version < 7.0)
{
   ADBE.Viewer_Need_Version = 7.0;
   ADBE.Viewer_Value_New_Version_URL = "http://cgi.adobe.com/special/acrobat/update";
   ADBE.SYSINFO = "?p=" + app.platform + "&v=" + app.viewerVersion + "&l=" + app.language + "&c=" + app.viewerType + "&w=" + "XFA1_6";
}
javascript_obj0343_001.js pdf-javascript-stream PDF /JS object 343 at offset 0x2CF5 2798 bytes
SHA-256: 922f7942d25f53e6e6eedc1b3a95c47a757faab3be4838fa02db0dbea2c4dbcc
Preview script
First 1,000 lines of the extracted script
if (typeof(this.ADBE) == "undefined")
   this.ADBE = new Object();
ADBE.LANGUAGE = "ENU";
ADBE.Viewer_string_Title = "Adobe Acrobat";
ADBE.Viewer_string_Update_Desc = "Adobe Interactive Forms Update";
ADBE.Viewer_string_Update_Reader_Desc = "Adobe Reader 7.0.5";
ADBE.Reader_string_Need_New_Version_Msg = "This PDF file requires a newer version of Adobe Reader. Press OK to download the latest version or see your system administrator.";
ADBE.Viewer_Form_string_Reader_601 = "This PDF form requires a newer version of Adobe Reader. Although the form may appear to work properly, some elements may function improperly or may not appear at all. Press OK to initiate an online update or see your system administrator.";
ADBE.Viewer_Form_string_Reader_Older = "This PDF form requires a newer version of Adobe Reader. Although the form may appear to work properly, some elements may function improperly or may not appear at all. Press OK for online download information or see your system administrator.";
ADBE.Viewer_Form_string_Viewer_601 = "This PDF form requires a newer version of Adobe Acrobat. Although the form may appear to work properly, some elements may function improperly or may not appear at all. Press OK to initiate an online update or see your system administrator.";
ADBE.Viewer_Form_string_Viewer_60 = "This PDF form requires a newer version of Adobe Acrobat. Although the form may appear to work properly, some elements may function improperly or may not appear at all. For more information please copy the following URL (CTRL+C on Win, Command-C on Mac) and paste into your browser or see your system administrator.";
ADBE.Viewer_Form_string_Viewer_Older = "This PDF requires a newer version of Acrobat. Copy this URL and paste into your browser or see your sys admin.";
ADBE.Viewer_Form_string_Reader_5x = "This PDF form requires a newer version of Adobe Reader. Without a newer version, the form may be displayed, but it might not work properly. Some form elements might not be visible at all. If an internet connection is available, clicking OK will open your browser to a web page where you can obtain the latest version.";
ADBE.Viewer_Form_string_Reader_6_7x = "This PDF form requires a newer version of Adobe Reader. Without a newer version, the form may be displayed, but it might not work properly. Some form elements might not be visible at all. If an internet connection is available, clicking OK will download and install the latest version.";
ADBE.Viewer_Form_string_Viewer_7x = "This PDF form requires a newer version of Adobe Acrobat. Without a newer version, the form may be displayed, but it might not work properly. Some form elements might not be visible at all. If an internet connection is available, clicking OK will download and install the latest version.";
javascript_obj0345_002.js pdf-javascript-stream PDF /JS object 345 at offset 0x2FEC 1535 bytes
SHA-256: 04ceb4c2218e7db19a6e007ca4ce846f92c17fff5eaf3a611e71bbd7a5726917
Preview script
First 1,000 lines of the extracted script
if (typeof(xfa_installed) == "undefined" || typeof(xfa_version) == "undefined" || xfa_version < 2.1)
{
   if (app.viewerType == "Reader")
   {
      if (ADBE.Reader_Value_Asked != true)
      {
         if (app.viewerVersion < 6.0)
         {
            if (app.alert(ADBE.Viewer_Form_string_Reader_5x, 1, 1) == 1)
               this.getURL(ADBE.Reader_Value_New_Version_URL + ADBE.SYSINFO, false);
            ADBE.Reader_Value_Asked = true;
         }
         else if (app.viewerVersion < 7.0)
         {
            if (app.alert(ADBE.Viewer_Form_string_Reader_601, 1, 1) == 1)
               app.findComponent({cType:"App", cName:"Reader7", cDesc: ADBE.Viewer_string_Update_Reader_Desc});
            ADBE.Reader_Value_Asked = true;
         }
         else
         {
            if (app.alert(ADBE.Viewer_Form_string_Reader_6_7x, 1, 1) == 1)
               app.findComponent({cType:"Plugin", cName:"XFA", cDesc: ADBE.Viewer_string_Update_Reader_Desc});
            ADBE.Reader_Value_Asked = true;
         }
      }
   }
   else
   {
      if (ADBE.Viewer_Value_Asked != true)
      {
         if (app.viewerVersion < 7.0)
            app.response({cQuestion: ADBE.Viewer_Form_string_Viewer_Older, cDefault: ADBE.Viewer_Value_New_Version_URL + ADBE.SYSINFO, cTitle: ADBE.Viewer_string_Title});
         else if (app.alert(ADBE.Viewer_Form_string_Viewer_7x, 1, 1) == 1)
            app.findComponent({cType:"Plugin", cName:"XFA", cDesc: ADBE.Viewer_string_Update_Desc});
         ADBE.Viewer_Value_Asked = true;
      }
   }
}
stream_004_off000032ec.bin decompressed-pdf-stream PDF FlateDecoded stream at offset 0x32EC 1897 bytes
SHA-256: bec6159663596fab9cbb35c31d8a1164f7678df36df09e813af56a0a389fc3e6
stream_005_off000035f3.js decompressed-pdf-stream PDF FlateDecoded stream at offset 0x35F3 244802 bytes
SHA-256: 407ae7f43e9948a2682996bf5d99962dfb8d287f0387de1755d9f5d52d3e43be
Detection
ClamAV: No threats found
Obfuscation or payload: likely
Carved artifact contains 17 eval/decoder/string-building token(s).
stream_006_off00013c9f.bin decompressed-pdf-stream PDF FlateDecoded stream at offset 0x13C9F 4748 bytes
SHA-256: 67d4800b829e53ef741093179e9dc7663bcaaf3ee32ecb86140b7b4cb18962d3
stream_007_off0001405f.bin decompressed-pdf-stream PDF FlateDecoded stream at offset 0x1405F 299 bytes
SHA-256: 6582e4039206d06fd0c697646a988bfc9e37b21d05f02ff571c461bd01c24897
stream_008_off00014155.bin decompressed-pdf-stream PDF FlateDecoded stream at offset 0x14155 4371 bytes
SHA-256: 8927782c7a13fdbbbcf4ee5d4640f5a25c4cb0a4200c42aea201d5623ebd1501
stream_013_off00015e6c.bin decompressed-pdf-stream PDF FlateDecoded stream at offset 0x15E6C 4125 bytes
SHA-256: 10b60bb21de45512487655473aa13c2501ab26cff2041581f60f090a20a469e9

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