Malicious PDF — malware analysis report

Static analysis result for SHA-256 e16fcaced0e7413c…

MALICIOUS

PDF

24.6 KB Created: 2010-09-10 02:11:18 Authoring application: Scribus 1.3.3.14 (via Scribus PDF Library 1.3.3.14)
MD5: 57d6d7389582561e6ecf93550a19bed0 SHA-1: 75eedf434db6ae705f6c367382b52e6ee6533ac0 SHA-256: e16fcaced0e7413cb622749f1bbcefe59d27bf367f0ac78b0018751b33f39428
200 Risk Score

Malware Insights

MITRE ATT&CK
T1059.001 PowerShell T1204.002 Malicious File

The PDF contains embedded JavaScript, flagged by multiple critical heuristics including PDF_JS_EXPLOIT_CLUSTER and PDF_CORRELATED_MALICIOUS_JS. The ML classifier also strongly indicated maliciousness. The JavaScript is likely used to exploit a vulnerability within the PDF reader, potentially leading to the download and execution of a second-stage payload. The presence of XFA forms and ASCII85Decode filters further supports exploit-based activity.

Machine Learning

  • Nyx PDF Classifier malicious score 1.0000

Heuristics 9

  • PDF JavaScript exploit cluster critical PDF_JS_EXPLOIT_CLUSTER
    PDF combines an executable JavaScript/action surface with exploit staging indicators such as eval/unescape/fromCharCode, XFA script content, or a related CVE pattern. Benign form JavaScript remains low-severity, but this correlated cluster is high-confidence malicious behavior.
  • Correlated malicious PDF JavaScript signals critical PDF_CORRELATED_MALICIOUS_JS
    PDF JavaScript or auto-action content is corroborated by exploit staging, ML, or suspicious extracted-artifact findings. This correlation promotes old exploit-kit PDFs that otherwise remain in the suspicious band because each individual signal is intentionally weighted conservatively.
  • 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
  • ASCII85Decode filter (with exploit indicators) low PDF_FILTER_85
    ASCII85 encoding filter present alongside exploit delivery indicators — uncommon outside of obfuscation
  • 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
  • PDF differential parser failed info PDF_DIFFERENTIAL_PARSE_FAILED
    The cross-check parser (pdfminer.six) failed on this file: PDF differential parser failed: PSSyntaxError. Static heuristics still ran and any of their findings above are valid; only the differential cross-check signal is missing.