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Malspam 2016-09-05 (.wsf in .zip)

Low
Published: Mon Sep 05 2016 (09/05/2016, 00:00:00 UTC)
Source: CIRCL
Vendor/Project: tlp
Product: white

Description

Malspam 2016-09-05 (.wsf in .zip)

AI-Powered Analysis

AILast updated: 07/02/2025, 19:41:06 UTC

Technical Analysis

The provided information describes a malspam campaign dated September 5, 2016, which involved malicious spam emails distributing a .zip archive containing a .wsf (Windows Script File). Malspam campaigns typically use email as a vector to deliver malware payloads by enticing recipients to open attachments or click links. In this case, the .wsf file inside the .zip archive is the malicious payload. Windows Script Files can contain scripts written in VBScript or JScript, which can execute arbitrary code on the victim's machine if opened. Such files are often used by attackers to bypass simple email filters and execute malware without requiring complex exploits. The campaign is classified as malware with a low severity rating and no known exploits in the wild beyond the malspam distribution itself. There are no affected software versions or patches mentioned, indicating this is not a vulnerability in a product but rather a malware delivery method. The threat level is moderate (3 out of an unspecified scale), and no detailed technical analysis or indicators of compromise are provided. The lack of CVSS score and absence of known exploits suggest this is a relatively low-impact threat, primarily relying on social engineering and user interaction to succeed.

Potential Impact

For European organizations, the primary impact of this malspam campaign is the risk of malware infection through user interaction, specifically opening the malicious .wsf file inside the .zip attachment. If executed, the malware could compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems by installing backdoors, stealing data, or enabling further malicious activities. However, since the campaign requires user action (opening the attachment) and does not exploit a software vulnerability, the risk is mitigated by user awareness and email filtering controls. The low severity rating and absence of widespread exploitation suggest limited impact. Nonetheless, organizations with less mature security awareness programs or insufficient email filtering may be more vulnerable. Additionally, sectors with high volumes of email communication or those targeted by phishing campaigns could see increased exposure. The campaign's age (2016) also implies that modern defenses and updated user training may have reduced its effectiveness over time.

Mitigation Recommendations

To mitigate this threat effectively, European organizations should implement multi-layered email security solutions that include advanced attachment scanning and sandboxing to detect and block malicious .wsf files within compressed archives. User awareness training should emphasize the dangers of opening unexpected or suspicious email attachments, especially scripts or compressed files from unknown senders. Organizations should enforce strict email attachment policies that block or quarantine executable script files and educate users on verifying the legitimacy of emails before interacting with attachments. Endpoint protection platforms should be configured to detect and prevent execution of unauthorized script files. Additionally, applying application whitelisting can prevent unauthorized scripts from running. Regular updates to antivirus and antimalware signatures are essential to detect known malicious scripts. Monitoring network traffic for unusual outbound connections can help identify compromised hosts. Finally, incident response plans should include procedures for malspam incidents to quickly isolate and remediate infected systems.

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Technical Details

Threat Level
3
Analysis
0
Original Timestamp
1473091137

Threat ID: 682acdbdbbaf20d303f0b7d5

Added to database: 5/19/2025, 6:20:45 AM

Last enriched: 7/2/2025, 7:41:06 PM

Last updated: 8/1/2025, 4:24:54 AM

Views: 9

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