Environment Preparation

An AI agent configures a secure, isolated environment to safely analyze potentially malicious Office documents:

• Virtual Machine Setup: Uses platforms like VirtualBox, VMware, or Hyper-V with network isolation (host-only or air-gapped) to prevent unintended C2 communication.
• Snapshot Management: Takes clean snapshots before analysis and restores them afterward to ensure environment integrity.
• Tool Deployment: Ensures availability of essential tools:
  • Static Analysis: OLETools (olevba, oledump), OffVis, Didier Stevens’ tools.
  • Dynamic Analysis: Cuckoo Sandbox (with Office plugins), Any.Run, Hybrid Analysis.
  • Monitoring: Process Monitor, Wireshark, Sysmon, ProcDOT.
  • Decoders & Emulators: Base64/hex decoders, ViperMonkey (VBA emulator).

Static Analysis

An AI-driven agent inspects the document without execution, focusing on structural anomalies and embedded code.

• File Type Verification: Confirms actual format using magic bytes; detects mismatches (e.g., a .docx that’s actually a ZIP or executable).
• Format Identification:
  • Legacy (.doc, .xls): Binary OLE structure; analyzed via olevba or oledump.
  • Modern (.docx, .xlsx): ZIP-based Open XML; unpacked and scanned for malicious XML or embedded macros.
• Macro & Script Detection: Scans for VBA macros using olevba; flags obfuscation and dangerous keywords:
  • Shell, CreateObject("WScript.Shell"), Run, DownloadString
  • Auto-execution triggers: AutoOpen, Document_Open, Workbook_Open
• Embedded Object Analysis: Extracts and inspects OLE objects, ActiveX controls, or RTF payloads; checks for known exploit patterns (e.g., CVE-2017-11882).
• DDE & Exploit Detection: Identifies Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) fields that execute commands outside VBA.
• Metadata Inspection: Reviews author, creation date, and tool artifacts (e.g., "Generated by Metasploit").
• Hashing & IOC Matching: Computes MD5/SHA256 and cross-references with VirusTotal, OTX, or MISP.

Dynamic Analysis

A dynamic analysis agent executes the document in a controlled sandbox to observe runtime behavior.

• Controlled Execution: Opens the file in a monitored Microsoft Office instance; enables macros only when necessary.
• Behavior Monitoring: Tracks:
  • File system changes (e.g., dropped payloads in %Temp%)
  • Registry modifications (e.g., Run keys, COM hijacking)
  • Process creation (cmd.exe, powershell.exe, mshta.exe)
• API Call Tracing: Logs system calls via API Monitor or ETW; detects:
  • CreateProcess, ShellExecute
  • URLDownloadToFile, InternetOpenUrl
  • RegSetValue, CreateService
• Network Traffic Analysis: Captures traffic with Wireshark; detects C2 callbacks, beaconing, or data exfiltration.
• Memory Forensics: Dumps memory post-execution; searches for injected shellcode or decrypted payloads using Volatility.

Advanced Analysis

For obfuscated or sophisticated documents, an advanced agent performs deep inspection.

• Macro Deobfuscation: Uses ViperMonkey or AI-powered emulators to resolve encoded strings, loops, and evasion logic.
• Exploit Detection: Identifies exploitation of parser vulnerabilities (e.g., Equation Editor, RTF exploits).
• PowerShell & Script Analysis: Extracts and decodes -EncodedCommand arguments; reconstructs obfuscated scripts.
• Packer & Obfuscator Detection: Detects use of tools like TheFatRat, Empire, or custom encryption; applies entropy analysis.
• Persistence Analysis: Checks for installation of Run keys, scheduled tasks, or WMI subscriptions.

Classification and Risk Assessment

An AI classification agent evaluates the document based on observed traits and behaviors.

Threat Type Classification

• Malicious Macro: VBA code designed to download or execute payloads.
• DDE Attack: Uses Dynamic Data Exchange to run system commands.
• Exploit Document: Triggers memory corruption vulnerabilities.
• Downloader: Retrieves secondary malware (e.g., Qakbot, IcedID).
• Phishing Lure: Social engineering with no active payload.
• Information Stealer: Harvests credentials or clipboard data.

Risk Level Assessment

• Low: No macros, clean metadata, benign content.
• Medium: Obfuscated macros or suspicious strings, no payload execution.
• High: Confirmed payload drop, C2 communication, system modification.
• Critical: Exploit used, privilege escalation, lateral movement attempts.

Reporting

A reporting agent generates a structured, actionable report summarizing findings.

• Document Overview: Filename, hash, format, size.
• Threat Summary: Malware family (e.g., Emotet), delivery method.
• Indicators of Compromise (IOCs):
  • File hashes (MD5, SHA1, SHA256)
  • URLs, domains, IP addresses
  • Registry keys, filenames, mutexes
• TTPs (MITRE ATT&CK): Mapped techniques (e.g., T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, T1204.002 - User Execution).
• Mitigation Recommendations:
  • Disable macros from untrusted sources
  • Enable Protected View and Application Guard
  • Deploy ASR rules (Attack Surface Reduction)
  • Block IOCs at firewall/proxy level

AI Agent Coordination

The entire workflow is orchestrated by a central AI coordinator in MAIAT:

• Task Orchestration: Assigns subtasks to specialized agents (static, dynamic, deobfuscation, classification).
• Real-Time Decision Making: Adjusts analysis depth dynamically (e.g., escalate if macros are detected).
• Learning & Adaptation: Updates detection models using new samples and analyst feedback.
• Integration with SOAR/SIEM: Automatically feeds IOCs into security platforms for alerting and blocking.