The threat described is a malspam campaign dated October 3, 2016, distributing malicious Excel (.xls) files under the campaign name "[Scan]". Malspam campaigns typically involve sending large volumes of unsolicited emails containing malicious attachments or links designed to infect recipients' systems. In this case, the malicious payload is embedded within an Excel spreadsheet file, which may exploit vulnerabilities in Microsoft Excel or use social engineering techniques such as malicious macros to execute malware on the victim's machine. The campaign's low severity rating and absence of known exploits in the wild suggest that the malware may have limited capabilities or that the infection vector requires user interaction, such as enabling macros. The threat level is indicated as 3 on an unspecified scale, and no specific vulnerabilities (CWEs) or patch information are provided. The lack of indicators and detailed technical analysis limits the ability to precisely identify the malware family or its behavior. However, malspam campaigns distributing malicious Office documents are a common vector for delivering ransomware, banking trojans, or remote access trojans (RATs). Given the file type and campaign nature, the infection likely depends on user actions and targets systems with Microsoft Office installed.

For European organizations, this malspam campaign poses a risk primarily through potential malware infections that can lead to data theft, system compromise, or ransomware attacks. Even though the severity is rated low, the widespread use of Microsoft Office across Europe means many organizations could be targeted. The impact could include disruption of business operations, loss of sensitive information, and financial damage due to remediation costs or ransom payments. Organizations with less mature email filtering and endpoint protection are more vulnerable. Additionally, sectors with high regulatory requirements for data protection, such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, could face compliance risks if infections lead to data breaches. The campaign's reliance on user interaction (e.g., opening the attachment and enabling macros) means that organizations with lower cybersecurity awareness are at higher risk.

To mitigate this threat effectively, European organizations should implement advanced email filtering solutions that detect and block malicious attachments, especially those with Office file extensions. Endpoint protection platforms should be configured to detect and block malicious macros and suspicious behaviors associated with Office documents. User training is critical: employees must be educated to recognize phishing emails and avoid enabling macros in unsolicited attachments. Organizations should enforce policies to disable macros by default and only allow digitally signed macros from trusted sources. Regular patching of Microsoft Office and related software is essential to reduce exploitation risks. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can limit malware spread if an infection occurs. Finally, organizations should maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to recover quickly from potential infections.