Malicious PDF — malware analysis report

Static analysis result for SHA-256 f3ce599223433d38…

MALICIOUS

PDF

2.3 KB
MD5: b9d72e0d9eaa695c42392857e9c34f96 SHA-1: 3927eaa468ab95ab01115c2a81bc728d352c7e4e SHA-256: f3ce599223433d38f2bd0f4892f93c4d4b5bf1b661c888ab14bf80773622b3cc
286 Risk Score

Malware Insights

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

The PDF file contains embedded JavaScript that utilizes `eval()` and `unescape()` functions, indicating obfuscation. The critical heuristic CVE_2009_4324 specifically points to the exploitation of this vulnerability via JavaScript. The embedded JavaScript is likely responsible for downloading and executing a second-stage payload, as suggested by the ClamAV detection on an extracted artifact (Js.Exploit.Shellcode-18). The file is identified as malicious by ClamAV with the signature Pdf.Exploit.Agent-36082.

Heuristics 9

  • media.newPlayer — CVE-2009-4324 critical CVE exact CVE_2009_4324
    PDF JavaScript calls media.newPlayer — CVE-2009-4324 is a use-after-free in Adobe Reader's multimedia plugin triggered by media.newPlayer(). Actively exploited as a zero-day in December 2009. (identified after JavaScript deobfuscation)
  • ClamAV: Pdf.Exploit.Agent-36082 critical CLAMAV_DETECTION
    ClamAV detected this file as malware: Pdf.Exploit.Agent-36082
  • 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.
  • eval() call high PDF_EVAL
    eval() found — commonly used for obfuscated exploit execution (matched inside decoded stream)
  • 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_obj111611_000.js
772da696bdb365f3f1eb4ea6af881baad391be62f3591b19f2f9827fcc4c9b53
pdf-javascript-stream PDF /JS object 111611 at offset 0x837 479 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
e3b5bb6f88fc19dd4d7bb8d174d167609fa6e0fc7343abc8699c70b704533922
deobfuscated-js repeated-marker hex decoded JavaScript at offset 0x189 2445 bytes
Detection
ClamAV: Js.Exploit.Shellcode-18
Obfuscation or payload: likely
Carved artifact contains 2 eval/decoder/string-building token(s).