Malicious PDF — malware analysis report

Static analysis result for SHA-256 d9bcab2c16f607c8…

MALICIOUS

PDF

3.3 KB Created: 2005-09-29 09:27:34 UTC Authoring application: Adobe PDF Library 8.0
MD5: d8af95a30f05fce1afb9f28ecac02be7 SHA-1: e98628f611c57c965a0479f02a857584a639e669 SHA-256: d9bcab2c16f607c88bd65dba1c716bf5e78316f7d2025173dfa42ca31a255449
100 Risk Score

Malware Insights

MITRE ATT&CK
T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution T1059.001 PowerShell

The critical heuristic firing indicates exploitation of CVE-2010-0188, a vulnerability in Adobe Reader related to XFA forms. This suggests the PDF is designed to execute arbitrary code upon opening. The presence of embedded JavaScript and an embedded file further supports the likelihood of a multi-stage attack, where the initial exploit likely leads to the download and execution of additional malicious content.

Heuristics 6

  • Adobe Reader LibTIFF XFA image exploit — CVE-2010-0188 critical CVE likely CVE_2010_0188
    PDF contains XFA image data with an inline crafted TIFF payload and shellcode/delivery markers. This is the data-bound variant of the CVE-2010-0188 Adobe Reader LibTIFF/XFA exploit shape.
  • 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.
  • Embedded file low PDF_EMBEDDED
    PDF embeds a file attachment — could carry an executable or another weaponised document as a nested payload
  • XFA form low PDF_XFA
    PDF uses XML Forms Architecture — can contain script logic
  • AcroForm button with action trigger low PDF_ACROFORM_BUTTON
    PDF contains a /Btn form field together with a SubmitForm/URI/Launch/JS trigger — this is the building block of fake 'Download' or 'Open' button overlays used in PDF phishing lures

Extracted artifacts 1

Files carved from inside the sample during analysis.

FilenameKindSourceSize
embedded_file_obj0004.bin
d025daecf1a158fda7144e621fb5d3992c69ad0bf4e0421ae8e9f5a437ae3564
pdf-embedded-file PDF EmbeddedFile object 4 at offset 0x1C6 35879 bytes