How to Detect and Analyze PDF Malware | Step-by-Step PDF Malware Analysis Guide for Beginners

PDF files are a common target for malware attacks, making PDF malware analysis a crucial skill for cybersecurity professionals. This detailed guide walks you through the full PDF malware analysis process, including heuristic and signature-based detection, static and dynamic analysis, JavaScript deobfuscation, URL extraction, and behavioral monitoring. It explains key tools like pdfid.py, pdf-parser.py, Wireshark, Cuckoo Sandbox, and CyberChef. Learn how to spot embedded malware, hidden shellcode, and malicious URLs using a structured PDF malware analysis checklist designed for both beginners and experienced analysts.

Security News & Threat Intelligence Jul 16, 2025 33 Add to Reading List

How to Detect and Analyze PDF Malware | Step-by-Step PDF Malware Analysis Guide for Beginners

In today’s cybersecurity landscape, PDF files are no longer just a format for sharing documents—they are a frequent vector for cyberattacks. Cybercriminals use PDFs to deliver malware, steal credentials, and execute exploits. Whether you’re a security researcher, ethical hacker, or IT professional, understanding how to analyze potentially malicious PDF files is essential to protect systems and sensitive data.

This guide outlines a systematic PDF Malware Analysis Checklist along with tools and step-by-step techniques that can help you uncover hidden threats before they cause damage.

Why Are PDFs a Popular Malware Vector?

PDFs support embedded JavaScript, forms, and hyperlinks, making them flexible but also exploitable.
Users generally trust PDFs, increasing the likelihood of opening them.
Many email attachments are PDFs, making phishing campaigns using infected PDFs highly effective.

PDF Malware Analysis Checklist

Below are the ten key steps every security professional should follow when analyzing a suspicious PDF:

Step No.	Analysis Method	Purpose	Tools to Use
1️⃣	Heuristic & Signature-Based Analysis	Quickly detect known malware patterns	Antivirus Tools, YARA Rules
2️⃣	Network Communication Monitoring	Check if the PDF communicates with external servers	Wireshark, Fiddler
3️⃣	XOR/RC4 Encryption Checks	Detect hidden payloads using common obfuscation methods	CyberChef, Custom Scripts
4️⃣	Static Analysis with PDF Tools	Extract and analyze objects, streams, and metadata	pdfid.py, pdf-parser.py
5️⃣	Behavioral Monitoring in a Sandbox	Observe how the PDF behaves when opened	Cuckoo Sandbox, Any.Run
6️⃣	Malicious URL Extraction	Identify phishing links or command-and-control URLs	pdf-parser.py, regex-based extraction
7️⃣	Embedded JavaScript & Auto-Execution Detection	Detect scripts that trigger actions automatically	pdf-parser.py, JavaScript Deobfuscators
8️⃣	Obfuscation & Encoding Detection	Reveal hidden code using encoding techniques	CyberChef, custom decoding tools
9️⃣	Shellcode Extraction & Analysis	Extract and analyze embedded shellcode	CyberChef, Radare2, x64dbg