oletools
Python toolkit for analyzing Microsoft Office documents, VBA macros, and OOXML attachments.
Technical Architecture & Overview
oletools is a suite of Python tools for parsing OLE2 and OOXML files. The olevba module extracts and decodes VBA and Excel 4.0 macros, while rtfobj, msodde, and oleid cover RTF object exploitation, DDE links, and file identification. The toolkit is the standard first step for analyzing malicious Office attachments and is easy to script in bulk pipelines.
Targeted Technical Use Cases
Screening email attachments for macro-based malware during phishing response.
Evaluation & Trade-offs
Core Strengths
- +Handles the macro formats that most document malware still uses.
- +Command-line modules that pipeline well for bulk scanning.
- +Steady release cadence maintained by the author.
Trade-Offs & Limitations
- -Scoped to document formats, not binaries or scripts.
- -VBA stomping and heavy obfuscation still require manual work.
Defensive Security Application
Automated attachment analysis to confirm malicious macros and extract IOCs from phishing campaigns.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is oletools?→
oletools is a suite of Python tools for parsing OLE2 and OOXML files. The olevba module extracts and decodes VBA and Excel 4.0 macros, while rtfobj, msodde, and oleid cover RTF object exploitation, DDE links, and file identification. The toolkit is the standard first step for analyzing malicious Office attachments and is easy to script in bulk pipelines.
What is oletools used for?→
Screening email attachments for macro-based malware during phishing response.
What are the strengths of oletools?→
- +Handles the macro formats that most document malware still uses.
- +Command-line modules that pipeline well for bulk scanning.
- +Steady release cadence maintained by the author.
What are the limitations of oletools?→
- +Scoped to document formats, not binaries or scripts.
- +VBA stomping and heavy obfuscation still require manual work.
How is oletools used defensively?→
Automated attachment analysis to confirm malicious macros and extract IOCs from phishing campaigns.