Malware Insights
The sample is an Excel file containing Excel 4.0 macros, indicated by the 'OOXML_XLM_MACROSHEET' and 'OOXML_XLM_DANGEROUS_FN' heuristics. The macros utilize the RUN function to execute arbitrary commands, such as 'RUN($J$143)', which is a strong indicator of a downloader or initial execution stage for a malicious payload. The presence of a 'Macro/content-enable lure' heuristic suggests the document attempts to trick the user into enabling macros. The lack of specific IOCs beyond the RUN commands and the generic nature of the macros prevent a more precise family attribution.
Heuristics 6
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Excel 4.0 macro sheet (1 sheet(s)) critical 2 related findings OOXML_XLM_MACROSHEETSpreadsheet contains an Excel 4.0 (XLM) macro sheet — XLM was a major Office malware vector during 2020-2022 and evaded many VBA-focused controls before Microsoft tightened XLM defaults. Even legitimate XLM use is rare in modern workbooks.
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Excel 4.0 Auto_Open defined name critical OOXML_XLM_AUTOOPEN_DEFINEDNAMEWorkbook defines _xlnm.Auto_Open or _xlnm.Auto_Close while containing an XLM macro sheet. This is the OOXML/XLSB auto-execution shape for Excel 4.0 macros.
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Dangerous XLM formula APIs: RUN, FORMULA, CALL, HALT critical OOXML_XLM_DANGEROUS_FNExcel 4.0 macro sheet uses formula APIs that call directly into Win32 (=CALL/=EXEC/=REGISTER/=FORMULA). These are the primitives used to download payloads, write files, and start processes from an XLM macro without invoking VBA.
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Macro/content-enable lure medium SE_ENABLE_LUREDocument instructs the user to enable macros or editing — a common technique used by malware droppers to bypass Office macro security settings
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Hidden worksheet (hidden) low OOXML_HIDDEN_SHEETExcel workbook contains 21 hidden sheet(s) — hidden sheets are commonly used to conceal macro code, staging data, or intermediate payload construction
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Embedded URL info EMBEDDED_URLOne 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://schemas.openxmlformats.org/spreadsheetml/2006/main In document text (OOXML body / shared strings)
- http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/excel/2006/mainIn document text (OOXML body / shared strings)
- http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/officeDocument/2006/relationshipsIn document text (OOXML body / shared strings)
- http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006In document text (OOXML body / shared strings)
- http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/spreadsheetml/2009/9/acIn document text (OOXML body / shared strings)
Extracted artifacts 1
Files carved from inside the sample during analysis.
| Filename | Kind | Source | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
xlm_sheet_00.xml |
xlm-macrosheet | OOXML XLM macro sheet: xl/macrosheets/sheet1.xml | 78124 bytes |
SHA-256: b41472b6dc0ee3e7d2a5cf8a2238fbf0301d6bfc254ccf205328f5dbc0ce9098 |
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Preview scriptFirst 1,000 lines of the extracted script
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?> <xm:macrosheet xmlns="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/spreadsheetml/2006/main" xmlns:xm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/excel/2006/main" xmlns:r="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/officeDocument/2006/relationships" xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006" mc:Ignorable="x14ac" xmlns:x14ac="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/spreadsheetml/2009/9/ac"><dimension ref="A2:IO1996"/><sheetViews><sheetView showFormulas="1" workbookViewId="0"/></sheetViews><sheetFormatPr defaultRowHeight="15" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"/><sheetData><row r="2" spans="76:231" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="CQ2" t="b"><f>RUN($J$143)</f><v>0</v></c></row><row r="4" spans="76:231" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="HW4"><v>94</v></c></row><row r="6" spans="76:231" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="BX6" t="b"><f>RUN($DH$612)</f><v>0</v></c></row><row r="15" spans="76:231" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="HG15"><v>22</v></c></row><row r="20" spans="11:114" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="BT20" t="s"><v>13</v></c></row><row r="21" spans="11:114" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="BT21" t="b"><f>RUN($N$953)</f><v>0</v></c><c r="CK21" t="s"><v>25</v></c></row><row r="22" spans="11:114" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="CK22" t="b"><f>RUN($CV$1384)</f><v>0</v></c></row><row r="28" spans="11:114" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="DJ28" t="s"><v>9</v></c></row><row r="29" spans="11:114" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="DJ29" t="b"><f>RUN($GE$1048)</f><v>0</v></c></row><row r="32" spans="11:114" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="K32" t="s"><v>35</v></c><c r="AH32"><v>91</v></c><c r="CZ32"><v>20</v></c></row><row r="33" spans="6:238" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="K33" t="b"><f>RUN($GC$361)</f><v>0</v></c></row><row r="39" spans="6:238" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="ID39" t="s"><v>9</v></c></row><row r="40" spans="6:238" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="F40"><v>36</v></c><c r="ID40" t="b"><f>RUN($FG$1308)</f><v>0</v></c></row><row r="46" spans="6:238" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="FT46" t="b"><f>RUN($BR$1596)</f><v>0</v></c></row><row r="47" spans="6:238" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="EC47" t="s"><v>20</v></c></row><row r="48" spans="6:238" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="EC48" t="b"><f>RUN($AG$83)</f><v>0</v></c></row><row r="55" spans="78:130" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="BZ55"><v>78</v></c></row><row r="60" spans="78:130" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="DZ60" t="s"><v>37</v></c></row><row r="61" spans="78:130" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="DZ61" t="b"><f>RUN($DO$1591)</f><v>0</v></c></row><row r="64" spans="78:130" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="CD64" t="b"><f>FORMULA($BJ$1769&$DI$1007&$FX$1361&$BS$1043&$BV$1328&$GH$1658&$FW$502&$AK$1895&$FM$1423&$Y$369&$L$1417&$GC$1610&$HF$638&$IM$1458&$FL$742&$I$1431&$CK$21&$CJ$1007,$IH$1261)</f><v>0</v></c></row><row r="65" spans="39:225" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="BM65"><v>1064</v></c><c r="CD65" t="b"><f>RUN($CA$1354)</f><v>0</v></c><c r="DR65" t="b"><f>RUN($GV$917)</f><v>0</v></c></row><row r="66" spans="39:225" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="BM66"><v>232</v></c></row><row r="77" spans="39:225" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="HQ77" t="b"><f>RUN($G$1223)</f><v>0</v></c></row><row r="79" spans="39:225" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="AM79"><v>10</v></c></row><row r="85" spans="8:73" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="BD85" t="b"><f>FORMULA($DJ$28&$GB$203&$CU$167&$DK$362&$ET$883&$ID$39&$DD$302&$HX$1509&$FV$113&$A$815&$ED$962&$FO$1394,$C$1980)</f><v>0</v></c></row><row r="86" spans="8:73" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="BD86" t="b"><f>RUN($CZ$1989)</f><v>0</v></c></row><row r="94" spans="8:73" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="H94" t="b"><f>RUN($AF$1097)</f><v>0</v></c></row><row r="96" spans="8:73" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="BU96" t="b"><f>RUN($HY$1589)</f><v>0</v></c></row><row r="100" spans="6:89" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="N100"><v>37</v></c></row><row r="105" spans="6:89" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c r="F105" t="b"><f>RUN($DR$65)</f><v>0</v></c></row><row r="109" spans="6:89" x14ac:dyDescent="0.25"><c ... (truncated) |
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