METHODS OF EMBEDDING MALICIOUS CODE INTO PDF FILES

Abstract

The Portable Document Format (PDF) has become a cornerstone of digital document exchange due to its platform-independent design and rich feature set. However, its complexity and support for embedded scripting languages such as JavaScript have made it a prime vector for cyberattacks. This research presents a comprehensive study of PDF-based malware with a focus on JavaScript injection. The paper demonstrated the feasibility of distributing a PDF file with embedded JS code inside. The research concludes with practical recommendations for improving enterprise PDF security protocols, highlighting the need for layered defense strategies in the era of increasingly sophisticated documentbased attacks.