Detection Method: File analysis

File analysis breaks down and inspects file contents, formats, and embedded elements to uncover hidden threats. This method goes beyond basic file attributes, deeply examining the inner structure of files to find potentially malicious content that looks legitimate on the surface.
File analysis helps detect:
  • Malicious macros in Office documents (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
  • Obfuscated scripts hidden in PDFs or other document types
  • Executable code disguised in non-executable files
  • Hidden text content using encoding or steganography
  • Suspicious metadata or file properties suggesting tampering
Blog Posts
Tax season email attacks: AdWind RATs and Tycoon 2FA phishing kits · Blog · Sublime Security
Tax season email attacks: AdWind RATs and Tycoon 2FA phishing kits · Blog · Sublime Security
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
Talking phish over turkey · Blog · Sublime Security
Talking phish over turkey · Blog · Sublime Security
Abusing Discord to deliver Agent Tesla malware · Blog · Sublime Security
Abusing Discord to deliver Agent Tesla malware · Blog · Sublime Security
Scripting Vector Grifts: SVG phishing with smuggled JS and adversary in the middle tactics · Blog · Sublime Security
Scripting Vector Grifts: SVG phishing with smuggled JS and adversary in the middle tactics · 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
QR Code Phishing: Decoding Hidden Threats · Blog · Sublime Security
QR Code Phishing: Decoding Hidden Threats · Blog · Sublime Security
Call Me Maybe? The Rise of Callback Phishing Emails · Blog · Sublime Security
Call Me Maybe? The Rise of Callback Phishing Emails · 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
Extortion
BEC/Fraud
Callback Phishing
Spam
Tactics & Techniques (24):
PDF
QR code
Encryption
Social engineering
Evasion
Free file host
Free subdomain host
Image as content
Impersonation: Brand
Lookalike domain
Scripting
Open redirect
Macros
Impersonation: VIP
Out of band pivot
HTML smuggling
Exploit
LNK
OneNote
Free email provider
Impersonation: Employee
IPFS
Spoofing
ISO
Rule Name & Severity
Last Updated
Author
Types, Tactics & Capabilities
Attachment: PDF with recipient email in link
2d ago
Mar 3rd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
PDF
QR code
Encryption
Social engineering
File analysis
QR code analysis
URL analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/attachment-pdf-with-recipient-email-in-link-0399d08f
Attachment: PDF with a suspicious string and single URL
3d ago
Mar 2nd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
PDF
Social engineering
Evasion
Content analysis
File analysis
URL analysis
Exif analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/attachment-pdf-with-a-suspicious-string-and-single-url-3bdbb7ad
Attachment: PDF Object Hash - Encrypted PDFs with fake payment notification
3d ago
Mar 2nd, 2026
Sublime Security
Malware/Ransomware
PDF
Evasion
File analysis
Threat intelligence
/feeds/core/detection-rules/attachment-pdf-object-hash-encrypted-pdfs-with-fake-payment-notification-a8a19bae
Attachment: Finance themed PDF with observed phishing template
3d ago
Mar 2nd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
PDF
Evasion
File analysis
Content analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/attachment-finance-themed-pdf-with-observed-phishing-template-c936f7cc
Attachment: PDF with suspicious link and action-oriented language
6d ago
Feb 27th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
PDF
Social engineering
Evasion
File analysis
URL analysis
Content analysis
URL screenshot
/feeds/core/detection-rules/attachment-pdf-with-suspicious-link-and-action-oriented-language-816d33a0
Attachment: PDF with multistage landing - ClickUp abuse
6d ago
Feb 27th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
Free file host
Free subdomain host
PDF
Social engineering
File analysis
URL analysis
Whois
/feeds/core/detection-rules/attachment-pdf-with-multistage-landing-clickup-abuse-0dc40316
Attachment: PDF with ReportLab library and default metadata
6d ago
Feb 27th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
PDF
Evasion
File analysis
Exif analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/attachment-pdf-with-reportlab-library-and-default-metadata-7094bfdd
Attachment: Encrypted PDF with credential theft body
7d ago
Feb 26th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Encryption
Evasion
PDF
Social engineering
Content analysis
Exif analysis
File analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/attachment-encrypted-pdf-with-credential-theft-body-c9596c9a
Attachment: QR code with recipient targeting and special characters
12d ago
Feb 21st, 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
Attachment: QR code with suspicious URL patterns in EML file
12d ago
Feb 21st, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
QR code
Evasion
Social engineering
Archive analysis
File analysis
QR code analysis
URL analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/attachment-qr-code-with-suspicious-url-patterns-in-eml-file-2289acd5
Attachment: PDF with password in filename matching body text
14d ago
Feb 19th, 2026
Sublime Security
Malware/Ransomware
Credential Phishing
Encryption
Evasion
PDF
Content analysis
File analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/attachment-pdf-with-password-in-filename-matching-body-text-2c9c3b24
Impersonation: Recipient organization in sender display name with credential theft image
16d ago
Feb 17th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Image as content
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Computer Vision
Content analysis
File analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Optical Character Recognition
Sender analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/impersonation-recipient-organization-in-sender-display-name-with-credential-theft-image-6abfb20e
Brand Impersonation: PayPal
20d ago
Feb 13th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Lookalike domain
Social engineering
Computer Vision
Content analysis
File analysis
Header analysis
Sender analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/brand-impersonation-paypal-a6b2ceee
Attachment: Self-sender PDF with minimal content and view prompt
21d 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
Brand impersonation: Dropbox
21d ago
Feb 12th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Content analysis
File analysis
Header analysis
Sender analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/brand-impersonation-dropbox-61f11d12
Attachment: cmd file extension
24d ago
Feb 9th, 2026
Sublime Security
Malware/Ransomware
Scripting
Archive analysis
File analysis
/feeds/core/detection-rules/attachment-cmd-file-extension-a902b8ed
Attachment: Legal themed message or PDF with suspicious indicators
28d 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
28d 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
Attachment: PDF contains W9 or invoice YARA signatures
29d ago
Feb 4th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Credential Phishing
PDF
Social engineering
File analysis
YARA
/feeds/core/detection-rules/attachment-pdf-contains-w9-or-invoice-yara-signatures-9a8e8a98
Attachment: QR code with encoded recipient targeting and redirect indicators
1mo 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
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