This threat pertains to a malspam campaign identified on September 15, 2016, involving emails that contain a .zip archive with a .wsf (Windows Script File) inside. The campaign is titled "Documents Requested" and is classified as malware. The .wsf file format is a Windows scripting file that can contain scripts written in VBScript or JScript, which can be executed by the Windows Script Host. Attackers often use such files to deliver malicious payloads because they can execute arbitrary code on the victim's machine once the file is opened. In this campaign, the malspam emails likely attempt to entice recipients to open the attached .zip file and then execute the .wsf script, which could lead to the installation of malware or further compromise. The campaign does not specify affected software versions, and there are no known exploits in the wild beyond the malspam distribution itself. The threat level is rated low, and the campaign appears to rely on social engineering to convince users to open the attachment. The lack of detailed technical indicators or specific malware family information limits deeper technical analysis, but the use of .wsf files in malspam is a known vector for executing malicious scripts on Windows systems.

For European organizations, the primary impact of this threat is the potential for initial compromise through user interaction, specifically opening malicious attachments. If successful, the malware could lead to unauthorized code execution, potentially resulting in data theft, system compromise, or further malware deployment. However, given the low severity rating and the reliance on user action, the overall risk is moderate to low. Organizations with strong email filtering, user awareness training, and endpoint protection are less likely to be impacted. Nonetheless, sectors with high volumes of document exchange or less mature security postures could see some infections. The threat could disrupt business operations if malware payloads include ransomware or data exfiltration components, but no such details are provided here. The campaign's age (2016) suggests it may be less relevant today, but similar tactics remain common.

To mitigate this threat, European organizations should implement advanced email filtering solutions that can detect and quarantine suspicious attachments, especially compressed files containing script files like .wsf. User awareness training should emphasize the risks of opening unexpected attachments, particularly those with uncommon file extensions or compressed archives. Endpoint protection platforms should be configured to detect and block execution of script files from email attachments or temporary directories. Organizations can also implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized script execution. Regular patching of Windows systems and disabling Windows Script Host where not needed can reduce the attack surface. Additionally, monitoring for unusual script execution and network traffic can help detect potential infections early. Since this campaign relies on social engineering, continuous phishing simulation exercises can improve user resilience.