Emotet — Office (OOXML) / .XLSM malware analysis

Static analysis result for SHA-256 b3469bc397381fc0…

MALICIOUS

Office (OOXML) / .XLSM

46.5 KB Created: 2015-06-05 18:19:34 UTC Authoring application: Microsoft Excel 16.0300 First seen: 2022-03-03
MD5: d6390ff942ef0075978c5ce9045547ec SHA-1: 014348ee39ac9a5e1d9d3e719bdcdf95feeb7f9e SHA-256: b3469bc397381fc0e8280290ea37f9432957b5cc288aa278baf6f35f89c1be74
250 Risk Score

Malware Insights

Emotet · confidence 95%

MITRE ATT&CK
T1059.005 Visual Basic T1059.001 PowerShell T1204.002 Malicious File T1071.001 Web Protocols T1059.003 Windows Command Shell

This XLSM file contains Excel 4.0 macros, specifically utilizing the FORMULA API to download and execute a payload. The macros construct URLs by concatenating strings, such as 'https://goglobetravel.com/wp-admin/1O1Tjr9nHBV/', which are then used to fetch and run a secondary stage. The ClamAV signature 'Xls.Downloader.Emotet03220-9940726-0' strongly suggests an Emotet family infection. The use of hidden sheets and dangerous XLM functions further supports this assessment.

Heuristics 6

  • Excel 4.0 macro sheet (3 sheet(s)) critical OOXML_XLM_MACROSHEET
    Spreadsheet 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.
  • Excel 4.0 Auto_Open defined name critical OOXML_XLM_AUTOOPEN_DEFINEDNAME
    Workbook 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.
  • Dangerous XLM formula APIs: FORMULA critical OOXML_XLM_DANGEROUS_FN
    Excel 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.
  • ClamAV: Xls.Downloader.Emotet03220-9940726-0 critical CLAMAV_DETECTION
    ClamAV detected this file as malware: Xls.Downloader.Emotet03220-9940726-0
  • Hidden worksheet (hidden) low OOXML_HIDDEN_SHEET
    Excel workbook contains 5 hidden sheet(s) — hidden sheets are commonly used to conceal macro code, staging data, or intermediate payload construction
  • 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 https://goglobetravel.com/wp-admin/1O1Tjr9nHBV/
    • http://nazrultheking.com/wp-includes/LZ/
    • https://pakistannakliye.com/wp-admin/dyfAdRkv7/
    • http://hossaibmojammel.com/wp-content/qFPghprWO0ONxLFA5d/
    • https://spinoffyarnshop.com/content/YQlmbLaB/
    • http://murtjizindustry.com/wp-content/yI6/
    • http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/spreadsheetml/2006/main
    • http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/excel/2006/main
    • http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/officeDocument/2006/relationships
    • http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006
    • http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/spreadsheetml/2009/9/ac
    • http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/spreadsheetml/2014/revision
    • http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/spreadsheetml/2015/revision2
    • http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/spreadsheetml/2016/revision3
    • http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/spreadsheetml/2016/revision6

Extracted artifacts 3

Files carved from inside the sample during analysis.

FilenameKindSourceSize
xlm_sheet_00.xml
c2beed76b90707ab99d3556b095847fbe67565665bab2978d4d40d1b769c68e7
xlm-macrosheet OOXML XLM macro sheet: xl/macrosheets/intlsheet1.xml 4017 bytes
xlm_sheet_01.xml
3f1e04bcb932a0d7a0ca09ad6e05d398d7a144c4cda86314010c0ec3e9f94573
xlm-macrosheet OOXML XLM macro sheet: xl/macrosheets/sheet1.xml 1278 bytes
xlm_sheet_02.xml
3877aa64e871d2d6fcc766f5b3af64ba0d301f656023d2e6e43652b8210d827c
xlm-macrosheet OOXML XLM macro sheet: xl/macrosheets/sheet2.xml 1152 bytes