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
BEC/Fraud
Malware/Ransomware
Extortion
Spam
Callback Phishing
Tactics & Techniques (24):
Evasion
PDF
QR code
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Spoofing
Encryption
Open redirect
Image as content
Free file host
Lookalike domain
Free subdomain host
Out of band pivot
Exploit
HTML smuggling
Scripting
Macros
Impersonation: VIP
LNK
OneNote
Free email provider
Impersonation: Employee
IPFS
ISO
Rule Name & Severity
Last Updated
Author
Types, Tactics & Capabilities
Attachment: PDF with split QR code
5d ago
Apr 15th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
PDF
QR code
File analysis
YARA
QR code analysis
Attachment: PDF With SAI Global ISO9001 Logo
5d ago
Apr 15th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
PDF
File analysis
YARA
Brand impersonation: Amazon with suspicious attachment
6d ago
Apr 14th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Computer Vision
File analysis
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Optical Character Recognition
Sender analysis
Attachment: Fake voicemail via PDF
6d ago
Apr 14th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
PDF
QR code
Social engineering
Computer Vision
Content analysis
File analysis
Optical Character Recognition
QR code analysis
URL analysis
Attachment: Compensation review lure with QR code
6d ago
Apr 14th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
PDF
QR code
Social engineering
File analysis
Optical Character Recognition
QR code analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Header analysis
Attachment: PDF with a suspicious string and single URL
10d ago
Apr 10th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
PDF
Social engineering
Evasion
Content analysis
File analysis
URL analysis
Exif analysis
Attachment: PDF with credential theft language and invalid reply-to domain
10d ago
Apr 10th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
PDF
Social engineering
Spoofing
File analysis
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Content analysis
Attachment: Encrypted PDF with credential theft body
11d ago
Apr 9th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Encryption
Evasion
PDF
Social engineering
Content analysis
Exif analysis
File analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Attachment: Calendar invite with Google redirect and invoice request
12d ago
Apr 8th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
BEC/Fraud
Open redirect
Social engineering
File analysis
Natural Language Understanding
URL analysis
Attachment: Encrypted ZIP containing VHDX file
17d ago
Apr 3rd, 2026
Sublime Security
Malware/Ransomware
Encryption
Evasion
Archive analysis
File analysis
Attachment: Legal themed message or PDF with suspicious indicators
17d ago
Apr 3rd, 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
Attachment: Cold outreach with invitation subject and not attachment
17d ago
Apr 3rd, 2026
Sublime Security
Spam
Social engineering
Image as content
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
File analysis
Attachment: ICS file with AWS Lambda URL
19d ago
Apr 1st, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Malware/Ransomware
Evasion
Free file host
Content analysis
File analysis
URL analysis
Attachment: EML with QR code redirecting to Cloudflare challenges
19d ago
Apr 1st, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Malware/Ransomware
Evasion
QR code
File analysis
QR code analysis
URL analysis
Archive analysis
Brand Impersonation: PayPal
21d ago
Mar 30th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Lookalike domain
Social engineering
Computer Vision
Content analysis
File analysis
Header analysis
Sender analysis
Attachment: PDF bid/proposal lure with credential theft indicators
24d ago
Mar 27th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Credential Phishing
PDF
Social engineering
Free file host
Free subdomain host
File analysis
Content analysis
Optical Character Recognition
Natural Language Understanding
URL analysis
Exif analysis
Callback phishing in body or attachment (untrusted sender)
24d ago
Mar 27th, 2026
Sublime Security
Callback Phishing
Out of band pivot
Social engineering
Content analysis
File analysis
Optical Character Recognition
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
MalwareBazaar: Malicious attachment hash (trusted reporters)
25d ago
Mar 26th, 2026
Sublime Security
Malware/Ransomware
File analysis
Sender analysis
Threat intelligence
Attachment: ZIP file with CVE-2026-0866 exploit
1mo ago
Mar 20th, 2026
Sublime Security
Malware/Ransomware
Exploit
Evasion
Archive analysis
File analysis
YARA
Attachment: PDF contains W9 or invoice YARA signatures
1mo ago
Mar 18th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Credential Phishing
PDF
Social engineering
File analysis
YARA
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