Malicious PDF — malware analysis report

Static analysis result for SHA-256 a321b93193ac52a2…

MALICIOUS

PDF

2.3 KB
MD5: 6e436aee185cbf9ff1f8b51d73be0965 SHA-1: 880803cb465cbdb40f4b5d3c7a3431145b90190a SHA-256: a321b93193ac52a2bd2021c41479cbf775d7d95a2747df86d2cb3ce3758a526e
286 Risk Score

Malware Insights

MITRE ATT&CK
T1059.001 PowerShell T1204.001 Malicious Link

The PDF file contains embedded JavaScript that utilizes `eval()` and `unescape()` functions, indicating obfuscation. The critical heuristic `CVE_2009_4324` points to a known exploit targeting PDF readers. The embedded JavaScript streams, particularly `legacy_pdfkit_stage_000.js`, are likely responsible for downloading and executing a secondary payload, as suggested by the ClamAV detection on extracted artifacts. The file's purpose is to exploit this vulnerability to deliver further malicious content.

Heuristics 9

  • media.newPlayer — CVE-2009-4324 critical CVE exact CVE_2009_4324
    PDF JavaScript calls media.newPlayer — CVE-2009-4324 is a use-after-free in Adobe Reader's multimedia plugin triggered by media.newPlayer(). Actively exploited as a zero-day in December 2009. (identified after JavaScript deobfuscation)
  • ClamAV: Pdf.Exploit.Agent-36082 critical CLAMAV_DETECTION
    ClamAV detected this file as malware: Pdf.Exploit.Agent-36082
  • 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.
  • eval() call high PDF_EVAL
    eval() found — commonly used for obfuscated exploit execution (matched inside decoded stream)
  • unescape() call high PDF_UNESCAPE
    unescape() found — often used to decode shellcode in PDF JS exploits (matched inside decoded stream)
  • 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.
  • String.fromCharCode low PDF_FROMCHARCODE
    String.fromCharCode found — used to construct payload strings dynamically. Common in benign JavaScript libraries for codepoint manipulation, so this alone is informational; weaponised use is also caught by the dedicated fromCharCode-stage and exploit-shape rules. (matched inside decoded stream)
  • 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_obj111611_000.js
772da696bdb365f3f1eb4ea6af881baad391be62f3591b19f2f9827fcc4c9b53
pdf-javascript-stream PDF /JS object 111611 at offset 0x824 479 bytes
Detection
ClamAV: No threats found
Obfuscation or payload: likely
Carved artifact contains 3 eval/decoder/string-building token(s).
legacy_pdfkit_stage_000.js
177b2a98a5397eaa84a9e01199759a7d9ecfa1de0e9c78cfd2d952c487fa2e06
deobfuscated-js repeated-marker hex decoded JavaScript at offset 0x189 2433 bytes
Detection
ClamAV: Js.Exploit.Shellcode-18
Obfuscation or payload: likely
Carved artifact contains 2 eval/decoder/string-building token(s).