OSINT Analysis of malcious CHM file by OpenDNS
OSINT Analysis of malcious CHM file by OpenDNS
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The provided information pertains to an OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) analysis conducted by OpenDNS on a malicious CHM (Compiled HTML Help) file. CHM files are Microsoft proprietary help files that can contain HTML content, scripts, and embedded objects. Malicious CHM files are often used as attack vectors to deliver malware or exploit vulnerabilities in the CHM viewer or associated components. However, the data here is limited and does not specify the exact nature of the malicious payload, exploitation technique, or vulnerability leveraged. The threat level is indicated as low, and there is no evidence of known exploits in the wild. The analysis appears to be an intelligence report rather than a detailed vulnerability disclosure. The absence of affected versions, CVEs, or patch links suggests that this is an informational OSINT report highlighting the presence or detection of malicious CHM files rather than a newly discovered or actively exploited vulnerability. The threat level of 3 (on an unspecified scale) and severity marked as low further support that this is a low-risk threat, possibly related to phishing or malware delivery via CHM files. The lack of technical details such as attack vectors, payloads, or exploitation methods limits the depth of technical analysis. Overall, this represents a low-severity threat involving malicious CHM files used potentially for malware delivery or reconnaissance, with no active exploitation reported.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the impact of malicious CHM files is generally limited but should not be ignored. If a user opens a malicious CHM file, it could lead to malware infection, data exfiltration, or system compromise depending on the payload embedded within the CHM. Since CHM files can execute scripts and load external content, they can be used as a vector for social engineering attacks or initial compromise. However, given the low severity and absence of known exploits in the wild, the immediate risk is minimal. Organizations with users who frequently handle CHM files, such as those in software development, technical support, or documentation roles, may be more exposed. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is potentially moderate if exploitation occurs, but the likelihood is low. European organizations should consider this threat as part of their broader email and file attachment security posture, especially in environments where legacy Windows help files are still used or accepted.
Mitigation Recommendations
1. Implement strict email filtering and attachment controls to block or quarantine CHM files unless explicitly required for business purposes. 2. Educate users about the risks of opening unsolicited or unexpected CHM files, emphasizing caution with email attachments and downloads. 3. Use endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting and blocking malicious scripts or payloads embedded in CHM files. 4. Disable or restrict the use of CHM files where possible, especially on systems that do not require them for legitimate purposes. 5. Monitor network traffic for unusual activity that could indicate exploitation attempts involving CHM files. 6. Maintain up-to-date operating systems and security patches to reduce the risk of exploitation of any underlying vulnerabilities in CHM processing components. 7. Employ application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized execution of CHM files or associated scripts. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling the specific file type and user behavior related to CHM files.
Affected Countries
Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Poland
OSINT Analysis of malcious CHM file by OpenDNS
Description
OSINT Analysis of malcious CHM file by OpenDNS
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
The provided information pertains to an OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) analysis conducted by OpenDNS on a malicious CHM (Compiled HTML Help) file. CHM files are Microsoft proprietary help files that can contain HTML content, scripts, and embedded objects. Malicious CHM files are often used as attack vectors to deliver malware or exploit vulnerabilities in the CHM viewer or associated components. However, the data here is limited and does not specify the exact nature of the malicious payload, exploitation technique, or vulnerability leveraged. The threat level is indicated as low, and there is no evidence of known exploits in the wild. The analysis appears to be an intelligence report rather than a detailed vulnerability disclosure. The absence of affected versions, CVEs, or patch links suggests that this is an informational OSINT report highlighting the presence or detection of malicious CHM files rather than a newly discovered or actively exploited vulnerability. The threat level of 3 (on an unspecified scale) and severity marked as low further support that this is a low-risk threat, possibly related to phishing or malware delivery via CHM files. The lack of technical details such as attack vectors, payloads, or exploitation methods limits the depth of technical analysis. Overall, this represents a low-severity threat involving malicious CHM files used potentially for malware delivery or reconnaissance, with no active exploitation reported.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the impact of malicious CHM files is generally limited but should not be ignored. If a user opens a malicious CHM file, it could lead to malware infection, data exfiltration, or system compromise depending on the payload embedded within the CHM. Since CHM files can execute scripts and load external content, they can be used as a vector for social engineering attacks or initial compromise. However, given the low severity and absence of known exploits in the wild, the immediate risk is minimal. Organizations with users who frequently handle CHM files, such as those in software development, technical support, or documentation roles, may be more exposed. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is potentially moderate if exploitation occurs, but the likelihood is low. European organizations should consider this threat as part of their broader email and file attachment security posture, especially in environments where legacy Windows help files are still used or accepted.
Mitigation Recommendations
1. Implement strict email filtering and attachment controls to block or quarantine CHM files unless explicitly required for business purposes. 2. Educate users about the risks of opening unsolicited or unexpected CHM files, emphasizing caution with email attachments and downloads. 3. Use endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting and blocking malicious scripts or payloads embedded in CHM files. 4. Disable or restrict the use of CHM files where possible, especially on systems that do not require them for legitimate purposes. 5. Monitor network traffic for unusual activity that could indicate exploitation attempts involving CHM files. 6. Maintain up-to-date operating systems and security patches to reduce the risk of exploitation of any underlying vulnerabilities in CHM processing components. 7. Employ application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized execution of CHM files or associated scripts. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling the specific file type and user behavior related to CHM files.
Affected Countries
For access to advanced analysis and higher rate limits, contact root@offseq.com
Technical Details
- Threat Level
- 3
- Analysis
- 2
- Original Timestamp
- 1425565791
Threat ID: 682acdbcbbaf20d303f0b60e
Added to database: 5/19/2025, 6:20:44 AM
Last enriched: 7/2/2025, 9:40:06 PM
Last updated: 7/26/2025, 6:59:31 PM
Views: 8
Related Threats
Actions
Updates to AI analysis are available only with a Pro account. Contact root@offseq.com for access.
External Links
Need enhanced features?
Contact root@offseq.com for Pro access with improved analysis and higher rate limits.