Malicious PDF — malware analysis report

Static analysis result for SHA-256 e89044e03d18675c…

MALICIOUS

PDF

6.4 KB Created: 2009-10-25 20:35:22 Authoring application: Scribus 1.3.5svn (via Scribus PDF Library 1.3.5svn)
MD5: 1fe6af1c3dcd84a71e1c798da60578af SHA-1: fc949eb6efc525d11cb60d11de41ef15c4d98eb1 SHA-256: e89044e03d18675c66c9a3bc44055874690f85e2e2e0ed18392127462040d216
336 Risk Score

Malware Insights

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

The PDF contains embedded JavaScript that utilizes multiple Adobe Reader exploits, specifically CVE-2007-5659 and CVE-2009-0927. The script is obfuscated using URL unescaping and character code manipulation, indicating an attempt to download and execute a second-stage payload. The ML classifier strongly flagged this PDF as malicious, and ClamAV also detected it as a known exploit.

Machine Learning

  • Nyx PDF Classifier malicious score 1.0000

Heuristics 9

  • Collab.getIcon — CVE-2009-0927 critical CVE exact CVE_2009_0927
    PDF JavaScript calls Collab.getIcon — CVE-2009-0927 is a stack buffer overflow in Adobe Reader triggered by Collab.getIcon() with a crafted argument. Allows arbitrary code execution. (identified after JavaScript deobfuscation)
  • Collab.collectEmailInfo — CVE-2007-5659 critical CVE exact CVE_2007_5659
    PDF JavaScript calls Collab.collectEmailInfo — CVE-2007-5659 is a buffer overflow in Adobe Reader triggered by a long argument or heap-sprayed message field passed to Collab.collectEmailInfo(). Part of a series of Acrobat JS API exploits. (identified after JavaScript deobfuscation)
  • Multi-CVE Adobe Reader JavaScript exploit kit critical PDF_ADOBE_READER_MULTI_CVE_JS_KIT
    One recovered JavaScript stage contains multiple version-gated Adobe Reader exploit branches. This is stronger evidence than independent API keywords: the PDF is selecting old Reader vulnerabilities by viewer version and running heap-sprayed Acrobat JavaScript exploit paths.
  • ClamAV detection on extracted artifact critical EXTRACTED_FILE_CLAMAV
    ClamAV flagged at least one file extracted from inside this sample. Even when the wrapping document carries no AV detection of its own, a hit on the carved artifact is a strong indicator the sample is a delivery vehicle.
  • unescape() call high PDF_UNESCAPE
    unescape() found — often used to decode shellcode in PDF JS exploits (matched inside decoded stream)
  • 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.
  • String.fromCharCode low PDF_FROMCHARCODE
    String.fromCharCode found — used to construct payload strings dynamically. Common in benign JavaScript libraries for codepoint manipulation, so this alone is informational; weaponised use is also caught by the dedicated fromCharCode-stage and exploit-shape rules. (matched inside decoded stream)
  • Suspicious extracted artifact info 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.

FilenameKindSourceSize
javascript_obj0013_001.js
f02de3f7322da52a79375b231154dc23c18cae755a99251acf94f2dbaad71713
pdf-javascript-stream PDF /JS object 13 at offset 0xC11 11257 bytes
Detection
ClamAV: No threats found
Obfuscation or payload: likely
Carved artifact contains 3 eval/decoder/string-building token(s).
legacy_pdfkit_stage_000.js
99a8591c46eec36d31a8631803795ebb4f9a795641d40fa3b8be3ce5db1217f7
deobfuscated-js unescape charCodeAt XOR decoded JavaScript at offset 0xC11 6100 bytes
Detection
ClamAV: Pdf.Exploit.Agent-35646
Obfuscation or payload: likely
Carved artifact contains 11 eval/decoder/string-building token(s).