Tactic or Technique: Evasion

Evasion techniques help attackers sneak past email security filters by hiding or disguising malicious content. These tactics are designed to fool both traditional scanners and newer AI-based systems by changing how the message is structured or displayed.
You might see phishing content buried under blocks of harmless-looking text, or important details shown as images so they can't be scanned. Some messages break up keywords using hidden HTML or use misspelled words and lookalike characters to trick you into missing the signs.
More advanced versions use JavaScript that reveals the payload only after the message has passed through security checks. Others try to confuse AI systems with prompt injection or strange formatting.
These techniques create gaps in protection and give attackers a better chance of reaching your inbox. Spotting them early is key. The more familiar you are with how these tricks work, the easier it is to catch them before they do damage.
Blog Posts
Hiding a $50,000 BEC financial fraud in a fake email thread · Blog · Sublime Security
Hiding a $50,000 BEC financial fraud in a fake email thread · Blog · Sublime Security
Callback phishing via invoice abuse and distribution list relays · Blog · Sublime Security
Callback phishing via invoice abuse and distribution list relays · Blog · Sublime Security
Hidden credential phishing within EML attachments · Blog · Sublime Security
Hidden credential phishing within EML attachments · Blog · Sublime Security
Living Off the Land: Credential Phishing via Docusign abuse · Blog · Sublime Security
Living Off the Land: Credential Phishing via Docusign abuse · Blog · Sublime Security
Living Off the Land: Callback Phishing via Docusign comment · Blog · Sublime Security
Living Off the Land: Callback Phishing via Docusign comment · Blog · Sublime Security
Gotta Catch 'Em All: Detecting PikaBot Delivery Techniques · Blog · Sublime Security
Gotta Catch 'Em All: Detecting PikaBot Delivery Techniques · Blog · Sublime Security
Detecting QakBot: WSF attachments, OneNote files, and generic attack surface reduction · Blog · Sublime Security
Detecting QakBot: WSF attachments, OneNote files, and generic attack surface reduction · Blog · Sublime Security
Attack Types (6):
Credential Phishing
Malware/Ransomware
BEC/Fraud
Callback Phishing
Extortion
Spam
Detection Methods (20):
Content analysis
File analysis
Sender analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Header analysis
URL analysis
QR code analysis
Computer Vision
Optical Character Recognition
Whois
Exif analysis
HTML analysis
Threat intelligence
Archive analysis
Javascript analysis
Macro analysis
YARA
URL screenshot
OLE analysis
XML analysis
Rule Name & Severity
Last Updated
Author
Types, Tactics & Capabilities
Attachment: Self-sender PDF with minimal content and view prompt
5h ago
Feb 12th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Malware/Ransomware
PDF
Social engineering
Evasion
Content analysis
File analysis
Sender analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/attachment-self-sender-pdf-with-minimal-content-and-view-prompt-07670a8c
Link: PDF filename impersonation with credential theft language
6h ago
Feb 12th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Social engineering
Evasion
PDF
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Header analysis
Sender analysis
URL analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/link-pdf-filename-impersonation-with-credential-theft-language-05931513
PayPal invoice abuse
1d ago
Feb 11th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Callback Phishing
Evasion
Social engineering
Content analysis
Header analysis
Sender analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/paypal-invoice-abuse-0ff7a0d4
Attachment: QR code with recipient targeting and special characters
3d ago
Feb 9th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
QR code
Social engineering
Evasion
File analysis
QR code analysis
URL analysis
Computer Vision
/feeds/core/detection-rules/attachment-qr-code-with-recipient-targeting-and-special-characters-fc9e1c09
Reconnaissance: Empty subject with mismatched reply-to from new sender
6d ago
Feb 6th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Credential Phishing
Evasion
Social engineering
Spoofing
Header analysis
Sender analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/reconnaissance-empty-subject-with-mismatched-reply-to-from-new-sender-12f4bd45
Link: Suspicious go.php redirect with document lure
6d ago
Feb 6th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
Social engineering
Content analysis
URL analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/link-suspicious-gophp-redirect-with-document-lure-f3d8c227
Link: URL shortener with copy-paste instructions and credential theft language
6d ago
Feb 6th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
Social engineering
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
URL analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/link-url-shortener-with-copy-paste-instructions-and-credential-theft-language-a0a2c573
Brand impersonation: Microsoft Planner with suspicious link
6d ago
Feb 6th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
Image as content
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Content analysis
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
URL analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/brand-impersonation-microsoft-planner-with-suspicious-link-ea363c08
Credential phishing: Generic document sharing
7d ago
Feb 5th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
BEC/Fraud
Social engineering
Evasion
Impersonation: Employee
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
URL analysis
Sender analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/credential-phishing-generic-document-sharing-9f0e1d2c
Attachment: Legal themed message or PDF with suspicious indicators
7d ago
Feb 5th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Extortion
BEC/Fraud
Evasion
PDF
Social engineering
Content analysis
File analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Optical Character Recognition
URL analysis
Whois
Header analysis
Exif analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/attachment-legal-themed-message-or-pdf-with-suspicious-indicators-19133301
macOS malware: Compiled AppleScript with document double-extension
7d ago
Feb 5th, 2026
Sublime Security
Malware/Ransomware
Evasion
Social engineering
File analysis
Header analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/macos-malware-compiled-applescript-with-document-double-extension-9669c169
Link: Common hidden directory observed
9d ago
Feb 3rd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
URL analysis
HTML analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/link-common-hidden-directory-observed-9f316da6
Link: Suspicious URL with recipient targeting and special characters
13d ago
Jan 30th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Social engineering
Evasion
URL analysis
Content analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/link-suspicious-url-with-recipient-targeting-and-special-characters-e808be3a
Link: 9WOLF phishkit initial landing URI
13d ago
Jan 30th, 2026
Sublime Security
Malware/Ransomware
Evasion
URL analysis
Threat intelligence
/feeds/core/detection-rules/link-9wolf-phishkit-initial-landing-uri-a165e206
Attachment: QR code with encoded recipient targeting and redirect indicators
13d ago
Jan 30th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
QR code
Evasion
Image as content
Open redirect
Archive analysis
File analysis
QR code analysis
URL analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/attachment-qr-code-with-encoded-recipient-targeting-and-redirect-indicators-5d51e565
Link: URL fragment with hexadecimal pattern obfuscation
14d ago
Jan 29th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
Content analysis
URL analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/link-url-fragment-with-hexadecimal-pattern-obfuscation-51f51aa0
Attachment: ICS with embedded Javascript in SVG file
14d ago
Jan 29th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Malware/Ransomware
Scripting
Evasion
File analysis
Javascript analysis
Sender analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/attachment-ics-with-embedded-javascript-in-svg-file-d5201a19
Link: HTML file with suspicious binary fragment ending pattern
14d ago
Jan 29th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
URL analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/link-html-file-with-suspicious-binary-fragment-ending-pattern-dc5e3700
Link: Base64 encoded recipient address in URL fragment with hex subdomain
14d ago
Jan 29th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
URL analysis
Content analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/link-base64-encoded-recipient-address-in-url-fragment-with-hex-subdomain-781e86ae
Attachment: Office file with document sharing and browser instruction lures
14d ago
Jan 29th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Social engineering
Evasion
Archive analysis
File analysis
Macro analysis
Optical Character Recognition
Content analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/attachment-office-file-with-document-sharing-and-browser-instruction-lures-b1250a4b
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