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Malspam 2016-10-06 (.js in .zip) - campaign: "Your Order"

Low
Published: Thu Oct 06 2016 (10/06/2016, 00:00:00 UTC)
Source: CIRCL
Vendor/Project: tlp
Product: white

Description

Malspam 2016-10-06 (.js in .zip) - campaign: "Your Order"

AI-Powered Analysis

AILast updated: 07/02/2025, 19:09:49 UTC

Technical Analysis

The threat described is a malspam campaign identified on October 6, 2016, involving malicious spam emails that deliver JavaScript (.js) files compressed within ZIP archives. The campaign is titled "Your Order," suggesting the emails impersonate order confirmations or related commercial transactions to entice recipients to open the attachment. Upon extraction and execution, the JavaScript payload could potentially download or execute malware on the victim's system. However, the provided information does not specify the exact malware family, payload behavior, or infection chain. The campaign is classified as low severity with no known exploits in the wild at the time of reporting, indicating limited or no active exploitation beyond the initial malspam distribution. The absence of affected software versions and patch links implies this is not a vulnerability in a specific product but rather a malware distribution technique leveraging social engineering and common file formats to bypass email filters and trick users. The threat level is rated as 3 (on an unspecified scale), and no detailed technical analysis or indicators of compromise are provided, limiting the depth of technical insight. Overall, this is a typical malspam vector using JavaScript in ZIP files to deliver malware, relying on user interaction to open and execute the malicious script.

Potential Impact

For European organizations, the primary impact of this threat lies in potential malware infections resulting from user interaction with malicious email attachments. If successful, the malware could lead to data theft, system compromise, or further network propagation depending on the payload, which is unspecified here. Given the low severity rating and lack of known exploits, the immediate risk is limited but still relevant as a vector for initial compromise. European organizations with large volumes of email traffic, especially in sectors like retail, logistics, or e-commerce, might be targeted due to the "Your Order" theme, which aligns with transactional communications common in these industries. The impact could include disruption of business operations, exposure of sensitive customer or corporate data, and potential reputational damage. Additionally, if the malware includes ransomware or credential-stealing components, it could escalate to more severe consequences. However, the absence of detailed payload information and exploit activity suggests the threat is currently low but should not be ignored as part of broader email security hygiene.

Mitigation Recommendations

To mitigate this threat effectively, European organizations should implement advanced email filtering solutions capable of detecting and quarantining suspicious ZIP attachments containing JavaScript files. Specifically, policies should be configured to block or flag emails with compressed archives that include executable scripts (.js, .vbs, .exe). User awareness training must emphasize the risks of opening unexpected attachments, especially those purporting to be order confirmations or invoices. Endpoint protection platforms should be updated to detect and block execution of malicious scripts and monitor for unusual behaviors indicative of malware execution. Network-level controls such as sandboxing email attachments before delivery can help identify malicious payloads. Additionally, organizations should enforce the principle of least privilege to limit the impact of any successful infection and maintain regular backups to recover from potential ransomware attacks. Incident response plans should include procedures for malspam campaigns and malware containment. Finally, continuous monitoring for indicators of compromise and threat intelligence sharing within European cybersecurity communities can enhance early detection and response.

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Technical Details

Threat Level
3
Analysis
0
Original Timestamp
1475760715

Threat ID: 682acdbdbbaf20d303f0b855

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

Last enriched: 7/2/2025, 7:09:49 PM

Last updated: 8/16/2025, 1:50:25 PM

Views: 11

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