Malicious PDF — malware analysis report

Static analysis result for SHA-256 a8aa17ff9e5406b6…

MALICIOUS

PDF

14.8 KB Created: 2009-06-06 12:30:26 +03:00 Authoring application: NitroPDF 6.0 (via BCL easyPDF 6.00.20)
MD5: 211915efba4c4df0e67ac6c4927fcfaa SHA-1: 56ee63ab6bc0d40d1152e483dad30beb50913cbf SHA-256: a8aa17ff9e5406b67b67caac87a68a00b73f2cf258b29a3626a6e58f480d0512
372 Risk Score

Malware Insights

MITRE ATT&CK
T1059.001 JavaScript T1204.001 Malicious Link T1204.002 Malicious File

This PDF file contains heavily obfuscated JavaScript, identified as a multi-CVE Adobe Reader exploit kit. The script utilizes techniques like eval() and shuffled variable concatenation to hide its malicious intent. It specifically targets CVE-2009-0927 (Collab.getIcon), CVE-2007-5659 (Collab.collectEmailInfo), and CVE-2008-2992 (util.printf) to achieve code execution. The primary goal appears to be downloading and executing a second-stage payload, though the exact nature of that payload could not be determined from the available evidence.

Machine Learning

  • Nyx PDF Classifier malicious score 1.0000

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)
  • Multi-CVE Adobe Reader JavaScript exploit kit critical PDF_ADOBE_READER_MULTI_CVE_JS_KIT
    One recovered JavaScript stage contains multiple version-gated Adobe Reader exploit branches. This is stronger evidence than independent API keywords: the PDF is selecting old Reader vulnerabilities by viewer version and running heap-sprayed Acrobat JavaScript exploit paths.
  • eval() call high PDF_EVAL
    eval() found — commonly used for obfuscated exploit execution (matched inside decoded stream)
  • Shuffled variable-fragment JavaScript stager high PDF_SHUFFLED_VAR_JOIN_JS_STAGER
    PDF JavaScript stores an exploit stage as many randomly named string fragments, rebuilds the fragment order through a name array and eval(join('+')), then decodeURIComponent/evals the result. The decoder requires a large variable table and only fires when the recovered stage contains concrete Acrobat exploit JavaScript.
  • 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.
  • PDF paints image(s) but contains no text operators info PDF_IMAGE_ONLY_LURE
    PDF has 1 image XObject(s) and the content stream contains no text-emitting operators (BT/ET, Tj, TJ, ', ") in either raw bytes or decompressed streams — this is the screenshot-as-PDF pattern used to bypass text-based scanners and to deliver instructions purely through rendered pixels. It is informational unless paired with invisible links or risky URI context.
  • 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 4

Files carved from inside the sample during analysis.

FilenameKindSourceSize
javascript_obj0015_000.js
f386d48dc69e0e2bfccf3aef0d4265d5565735461f975628eb096711d78470f8
pdf-javascript-stream PDF /JS object 15 at offset 0x315 28782 bytes
Detection
ClamAV: No threats found
Obfuscation or payload: likely
Carved artifact contains 2 eval/decoder/string-building token(s).
shuffled_var_join_stage_000.js
a57e9edd6f1033be714dc12c0b9515e4b0c5d26672964644be802ca0fcd98757
deobfuscated-js shuffled variable-fragment join decoded JavaScript object 15 at offset 0x4AD1 4909 bytes
Detection
ClamAV: No threats found
Obfuscation or payload: likely
Carved artifact contains 7 eval/decoder/string-building token(s).
shuffled_var_join_stage_001.js
7284173e6113bbe40d27e3ff42c403d7601dfb91b497e2db863fc488c0de04d0
deobfuscated-js shuffled variable-fragment join decoded JavaScript object 15 at offset 0x42E1 5285 bytes
Detection
ClamAV: No threats found
Obfuscation or payload: likely
Carved artifact contains 6 eval/decoder/string-building token(s).
shuffled_var_join_stage_002.js
8fc0f184dcd0572dbcee0059279aef2b041c892cedd10308db8a66a2ce95f5d6
deobfuscated-js shuffled variable-fragment join decoded JavaScript object 15 at offset 0x42E1 4905 bytes
Detection
ClamAV: No threats found
Obfuscation or payload: likely
Carved artifact contains 7 eval/decoder/string-building token(s).