Malspam 2016-09-12 (.js in .zip) - campaign: "Budget report"
Malspam 2016-09-12 (.js in .zip) - campaign: "Budget report"
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The provided information describes a malspam campaign dated September 12, 2016, identified as "Budget report". This campaign involved sending malicious spam emails containing a .zip archive with a JavaScript (.js) file inside. Such malspam campaigns typically aim to trick recipients into opening the attachment, which then executes the embedded JavaScript code. This code may download or execute malware on the victim's system, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or further propagation of malicious payloads. The campaign is classified as malware-related but is noted to have a low severity and no known exploits in the wild at the time of reporting. The lack of affected versions and patch links suggests this is not a vulnerability in software but rather a threat vector relying on social engineering and user interaction. The threat level is moderate (3 on an unspecified scale), and no detailed technical analysis or indicators of compromise are provided. Overall, this is a typical example of a phishing/malspam campaign leveraging JavaScript in compressed attachments to deliver malware.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the impact of such malspam campaigns can vary but generally includes risks such as initial infection leading to data breaches, ransomware deployment, or lateral movement within networks. Since the campaign relies on user interaction (opening the .zip and executing the .js file), the primary risk is to end users who may be less aware of such threats. If successful, attackers could compromise sensitive financial or operational data, disrupt business processes, or use infected machines as footholds for further attacks. Given the campaign's theme "Budget report," it likely targets finance or administrative personnel, increasing the risk to financial confidentiality and integrity. Although the severity is low, organizations with insufficient email filtering, user training, or endpoint protection could be vulnerable to infection and subsequent damage.
Mitigation Recommendations
To mitigate this threat effectively, European organizations should implement multi-layered defenses beyond generic advice: 1) Deploy advanced email filtering solutions capable of detecting and quarantining emails with suspicious attachments, especially compressed files containing scripts. 2) Enforce strict attachment policies that block or sandbox .js files and other executable scripts received via email. 3) Conduct targeted user awareness training focused on recognizing malspam campaigns, particularly those impersonating financial or administrative communications like budget reports. 4) Utilize endpoint protection platforms with behavioral analysis to detect and block execution of unauthorized scripts. 5) Implement network segmentation to limit the spread of malware if an endpoint is compromised. 6) Regularly review and update incident response plans to include malspam scenarios. 7) Monitor email logs and endpoint telemetry for indicators of compromise related to script-based malware delivery.
Affected Countries
Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium
Malspam 2016-09-12 (.js in .zip) - campaign: "Budget report"
Description
Malspam 2016-09-12 (.js in .zip) - campaign: "Budget report"
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
The provided information describes a malspam campaign dated September 12, 2016, identified as "Budget report". This campaign involved sending malicious spam emails containing a .zip archive with a JavaScript (.js) file inside. Such malspam campaigns typically aim to trick recipients into opening the attachment, which then executes the embedded JavaScript code. This code may download or execute malware on the victim's system, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or further propagation of malicious payloads. The campaign is classified as malware-related but is noted to have a low severity and no known exploits in the wild at the time of reporting. The lack of affected versions and patch links suggests this is not a vulnerability in software but rather a threat vector relying on social engineering and user interaction. The threat level is moderate (3 on an unspecified scale), and no detailed technical analysis or indicators of compromise are provided. Overall, this is a typical example of a phishing/malspam campaign leveraging JavaScript in compressed attachments to deliver malware.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the impact of such malspam campaigns can vary but generally includes risks such as initial infection leading to data breaches, ransomware deployment, or lateral movement within networks. Since the campaign relies on user interaction (opening the .zip and executing the .js file), the primary risk is to end users who may be less aware of such threats. If successful, attackers could compromise sensitive financial or operational data, disrupt business processes, or use infected machines as footholds for further attacks. Given the campaign's theme "Budget report," it likely targets finance or administrative personnel, increasing the risk to financial confidentiality and integrity. Although the severity is low, organizations with insufficient email filtering, user training, or endpoint protection could be vulnerable to infection and subsequent damage.
Mitigation Recommendations
To mitigate this threat effectively, European organizations should implement multi-layered defenses beyond generic advice: 1) Deploy advanced email filtering solutions capable of detecting and quarantining emails with suspicious attachments, especially compressed files containing scripts. 2) Enforce strict attachment policies that block or sandbox .js files and other executable scripts received via email. 3) Conduct targeted user awareness training focused on recognizing malspam campaigns, particularly those impersonating financial or administrative communications like budget reports. 4) Utilize endpoint protection platforms with behavioral analysis to detect and block execution of unauthorized scripts. 5) Implement network segmentation to limit the spread of malware if an endpoint is compromised. 6) Regularly review and update incident response plans to include malspam scenarios. 7) Monitor email logs and endpoint telemetry for indicators of compromise related to script-based malware delivery.
Affected Countries
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Technical Details
- Threat Level
- 3
- Analysis
- 0
- Original Timestamp
- 1473690263
Threat ID: 682acdbdbbaf20d303f0b7fa
Added to database: 5/19/2025, 6:20:45 AM
Last enriched: 7/2/2025, 7:26:46 PM
Last updated: 8/18/2025, 10:16:23 AM
Views: 10
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