Malspam 2016-07-18 .wsf (campaign: "company database")
Malspam 2016-07-18 .wsf (campaign: "company database")
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The provided information describes a malspam campaign dated July 18, 2016, involving malicious Windows Script Files (.wsf) distributed under the campaign name "company database." Malspam campaigns typically involve sending emails with malicious attachments or links designed to deliver malware payloads. In this case, the payload is a .wsf file, which is a Windows Script File capable of executing scripts using Windows Script Host. Such files can run VBScript or JScript code, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code on the victim's machine. The campaign's name suggests a social engineering lure related to company databases, likely aiming to entice recipients to open the attachment by implying it contains sensitive or valuable corporate information. The severity is marked as low, and there are no known exploits in the wild or specific affected product versions listed. The threat level is indicated as 3 (on an unspecified scale), and no detailed technical analysis or indicators of compromise are provided. Given the nature of malspam and .wsf files, the primary risk is the execution of malicious scripts leading to potential compromise of the endpoint, data theft, or further malware deployment. However, the lack of detailed technical data and the low severity rating suggest this campaign may have limited sophistication or impact compared to more advanced threats.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, this malspam campaign poses a risk primarily at the endpoint level. If users open the malicious .wsf attachment, their systems could be compromised, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within the network. The impact on confidentiality is notable if sensitive corporate data is accessed or stolen. Integrity and availability impacts depend on the payload's behavior, which is unspecified but could include data manipulation or system disruption. Given the low severity rating and absence of known exploits in the wild, the campaign likely had limited spread or effectiveness. However, European organizations with less mature email filtering or user awareness programs could be more vulnerable. The campaign's social engineering theme targeting company databases may resonate with employees handling sensitive information, increasing the risk of successful infection. Overall, the impact is moderate but could escalate if combined with other attack vectors or if the malware evolves.
Mitigation Recommendations
To mitigate this threat, European organizations should implement targeted measures beyond generic advice: 1) Enhance email filtering to detect and block .wsf attachments and malspam campaigns using heuristic and signature-based detection tuned for script-based malware. 2) Conduct focused user awareness training emphasizing the risks of opening unexpected attachments, especially those purporting to contain sensitive company data. 3) Restrict execution of Windows Script Host files via Group Policy or endpoint protection tools to prevent unauthorized script execution. 4) Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying suspicious script execution and anomalous behaviors associated with malspam payloads. 5) Maintain up-to-date antivirus signatures and behavioral detection rules to identify and quarantine malicious scripts. 6) Monitor network traffic for unusual outbound connections that may indicate data exfiltration attempts following infection. 7) Implement strict attachment handling policies, such as sandboxing or blocking high-risk file types like .wsf in email gateways. These measures collectively reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation and limit potential damage.
Affected Countries
Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium
Malspam 2016-07-18 .wsf (campaign: "company database")
Description
Malspam 2016-07-18 .wsf (campaign: "company database")
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
The provided information describes a malspam campaign dated July 18, 2016, involving malicious Windows Script Files (.wsf) distributed under the campaign name "company database." Malspam campaigns typically involve sending emails with malicious attachments or links designed to deliver malware payloads. In this case, the payload is a .wsf file, which is a Windows Script File capable of executing scripts using Windows Script Host. Such files can run VBScript or JScript code, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code on the victim's machine. The campaign's name suggests a social engineering lure related to company databases, likely aiming to entice recipients to open the attachment by implying it contains sensitive or valuable corporate information. The severity is marked as low, and there are no known exploits in the wild or specific affected product versions listed. The threat level is indicated as 3 (on an unspecified scale), and no detailed technical analysis or indicators of compromise are provided. Given the nature of malspam and .wsf files, the primary risk is the execution of malicious scripts leading to potential compromise of the endpoint, data theft, or further malware deployment. However, the lack of detailed technical data and the low severity rating suggest this campaign may have limited sophistication or impact compared to more advanced threats.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, this malspam campaign poses a risk primarily at the endpoint level. If users open the malicious .wsf attachment, their systems could be compromised, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data exfiltration, or lateral movement within the network. The impact on confidentiality is notable if sensitive corporate data is accessed or stolen. Integrity and availability impacts depend on the payload's behavior, which is unspecified but could include data manipulation or system disruption. Given the low severity rating and absence of known exploits in the wild, the campaign likely had limited spread or effectiveness. However, European organizations with less mature email filtering or user awareness programs could be more vulnerable. The campaign's social engineering theme targeting company databases may resonate with employees handling sensitive information, increasing the risk of successful infection. Overall, the impact is moderate but could escalate if combined with other attack vectors or if the malware evolves.
Mitigation Recommendations
To mitigate this threat, European organizations should implement targeted measures beyond generic advice: 1) Enhance email filtering to detect and block .wsf attachments and malspam campaigns using heuristic and signature-based detection tuned for script-based malware. 2) Conduct focused user awareness training emphasizing the risks of opening unexpected attachments, especially those purporting to contain sensitive company data. 3) Restrict execution of Windows Script Host files via Group Policy or endpoint protection tools to prevent unauthorized script execution. 4) Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying suspicious script execution and anomalous behaviors associated with malspam payloads. 5) Maintain up-to-date antivirus signatures and behavioral detection rules to identify and quarantine malicious scripts. 6) Monitor network traffic for unusual outbound connections that may indicate data exfiltration attempts following infection. 7) Implement strict attachment handling policies, such as sandboxing or blocking high-risk file types like .wsf in email gateways. These measures collectively reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation and limit potential damage.
Affected Countries
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Technical Details
- Threat Level
- 3
- Analysis
- 0
- Original Timestamp
- 1468852850
Threat ID: 682acdbcbbaf20d303f0b4f1
Added to database: 5/19/2025, 6:20:44 AM
Last enriched: 7/3/2025, 12:25:40 AM
Last updated: 8/18/2025, 11:37:15 AM
Views: 12
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