PDF malware analysis — malicious · a2e7f3210ef4f7fb

MALICIOUS

PDF

50.5 KB

MD5: feac523f300947e52e2e5ca44221d9d9 SHA-1: ac6dc611f760b48779bded9a5e6816c91375fd2a SHA-256: a2e7f3210ef4f7fb06606399dd09b873715abc2ce4a45900bd2434f37d55c559

246 Risk Score

Malware Insights

MITRE ATT&CK

T1566.002 Spearphishing Attachment T1059.001 PowerShell T1204.002 Malicious Link

This PDF file is identified as malicious due to its structure and embedded content. It functions as a phishing lure, using an image to hide a direct link to a payload. The embedded JavaScript contains a PowerShell download cradle, specifically 'powershell -ep Bypass', which is used to download and execute further malicious content. The ML classifier strongly supports the malicious verdict.

Machine Learning

Nyx PDF Classifier malicious score 0.9732

Heuristics 7

PowerShell download cradle in PDF action body critical PDF_PS_DOWNLOAD_CRADLE

PDF contains a PowerShell download-and-execute cradle (IEX/Invoke-Expression of a remote payload, [Net.WebClient]/[Net.ServicePointManager], or `-ep Bypass -enc <base64>`). These strings are rare in benign PDFs and are strong evidence of payload staging in an attack chain (MITRE T1059.001 + T1105).
PDF link points directly to executable/archive payload critical PDF_DIRECT_PAYLOAD_LINK

PDF contains a clickable HTTP(S) URI whose path ends in an executable, script, shortcut, disk image, or archive extension. Documents can legitimately link to installers, so this is a high-risk delivery indicator rather than a standalone exploit fingerprint.
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.
Image-only document with action trigger (screenshot lure) medium PDF_IMAGE_LURE

PDF has 1 image(s), only 0 text block(s), carries a click-outward action, and is only 50 KB — typical shape of a phishing lure where a full-page screenshot hides a clickable button that launches or submits to an attacker URL.
Suspicious extracted artifact medium 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.
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. (matched inside decoded stream)
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. (matched inside decoded stream)

Extracted artifacts 2

Files carved from inside the sample during analysis.

Filename	Kind	Source	Size
`stream_002_off0000c2d8.js` `7c56373384b01afb7ee12a103299eb86a8fcd236268bfa845eb68a9cd08c4627`	decompressed-pdf-stream	PDF FlateDecoded stream at offset 0xC2D8	3789 bytes
Detection ClamAV: No threats found Obfuscation or payload: likely Carved artifact contains 1 shell/COM execution token(s). Carved artifact contains 1 long base64-like blob(s).
`embedded_pdf_script_0000c501.bin` `7283bc86b3112ed3ceb2659320fc8225c8549a435c1c7beb04b1cd35c5652beb`	pdf-embedded-script	PDF decompressed stream script payload at offset 0xC501	434 bytes
Detection ClamAV: No threats found Obfuscation or payload: likely Carved artifact contains 4 shell/COM execution token(s).

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