PDF malware analysis — malicious · c4a90913ad0b72ad

MALICIOUS

PDF

59.4 KB

MD5: 557ca50a83e0435befb72af23a5cd8e3 SHA-1: a5b96d01ded9a512da39355893ae785eb044a81d SHA-256: c4a90913ad0b72adaa3422bbb289b2a011bf986e12c0b957a801a36be85b3122

240 Risk Score

Malware Insights

MITRE ATT&CK

T1204.002 Malicious File T1059.003 Windows Command Shell T1140 Deobfuscate or Obfuscate Malicious Code

The PDF file contains a launch action that executes cmd.exe, which in turn appears to be part of a script designed to create and write to files. The critical heuristic 'PDF_BASE64_PE_PAYLOAD' indicates a Base64-encoded executable payload was found, with its SHA256 hash identified. This strongly suggests the document is a dropper for a secondary malicious executable.

Heuristics 5

Launch action critical PDF_LAUNCH

PDF contains a /Launch action whose target is an executable, URL, or UNC path — can start an external application
Base64-encoded Windows executable payload in PDF critical PDF_BASE64_PE_PAYLOAD

PDF text contains a long base64 blob that decodes to a verified Windows PE executable. This catches payloads hidden after EOF, inside comments, or in plain text outside normal PDF streams.
/Launch action target: cmd.exe critical PDF_LAUNCH_COMMAND

PDF /Launch action specifies an executable target with parameters '/c echo Set fso=CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject"' — references a known-dangerous executable (cmd, PowerShell, etc.).
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.
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.

Extracted artifacts 2

Files carved from inside the sample during analysis.

Filename	Kind	Source	Size
`embedded_pdf_script_0000e64e.bin` `a3a64d88975e35cba9b3991c781800d104434c131045b464e58ba125818434f5`	pdf-embedded-script	PDF raw stream script payload at offset 0xE64E	59355 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).
`base64_pdf_pe_000002fa.exe` `9dcd500433b716f522d145e7f8f7065139051cbce5134c494f00e43f38ff3045`	embedded-pe	PDF raw base64 PE payload at offset 0x2FA	43520 bytes

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