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 (7):
Extortion
Callback Phishing
Credential Phishing
BEC/Fraud
Malware/Ransomware
ICS Phishing
Spam
Tactics & Techniques (25):
Social engineering
Spoofing
Out of band pivot
Evasion
Impersonation: Brand
Free file host
Free subdomain host
HTML smuggling
Open redirect
Encryption
PDF
Free email provider
ICS Phishing
Lookalike domain
Image as content
Macros
Exploit
QR code
Scripting
Impersonation: VIP
LNK
OneNote
Impersonation: Employee
IPFS
ISO
Rule Name & Severity
Last Updated
Author
Types, Tactics & Capabilities
Extortion / sextortion in attachment from untrusted sender
22h ago
Aug 6th, 2026
Sublime Security
Extortion
Social engineering
Spoofing
Computer Vision
Content analysis
File analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Optical Character Recognition
Sender analysis
Callback phishing in body or attachment (untrusted sender)
2d ago
Aug 5th, 2026
Sublime Security
Callback Phishing
Out of band pivot
Social engineering
Content analysis
File analysis
Optical Character Recognition
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Attachment: Callback phishing solicitation via text-based file
2d ago
Aug 5th, 2026
Sublime Security
Callback Phishing
Evasion
Out of band pivot
Social engineering
Content analysis
File analysis
Header analysis
Sender analysis
Attachment: Targeted DOCX with personalized recipient acknowledgement lure
3d ago
Aug 4th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Social engineering
Archive analysis
Content analysis
File analysis
XML analysis
Brand impersonation: Sharepoint
4d ago
Aug 3rd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Computer Vision
Content analysis
File analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Low reputation link to auto-downloaded HTML file with smuggling indicators
9d ago
Jul 29th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
Free file host
Free subdomain host
HTML smuggling
Impersonation: Brand
Open redirect
Social engineering
Content analysis
File analysis
HTML analysis
Javascript analysis
Sender analysis
URL analysis
Link: QuickBooks image lure with suspicious link
9d ago
Jul 29th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Computer Vision
File analysis
Optical Character Recognition
URL analysis
Attachment: Encrypted PDF with credential theft body
9d ago
Jul 29th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Encryption
Evasion
PDF
Social engineering
Content analysis
Exif analysis
File analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Attachment: EML with Sharepoint link likely unrelated to sender
9d ago
Jul 29th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Evasion
File analysis
URL analysis
Header analysis
Sender analysis
Attachment: Fictitious invoice using LinkedIn's address
9d ago
Jul 29th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
PDF
Social engineering
File analysis
Optical Character Recognition
Natural Language Understanding
Content analysis
Exif analysis
Brand impersonation: Microsoft fake sign-in alert
11d ago
Jul 27th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Computer Vision
Content analysis
File analysis
Header analysis
Sender analysis
Whois
Attachment: Callback phishing solicitation via pdf file
11d ago
Jul 27th, 2026
Sublime Security
Callback Phishing
Evasion
Free email provider
Out of band pivot
PDF
Social engineering
Exif analysis
File analysis
Optical Character Recognition
Sender analysis
Attachment: Microsoft 365 credential phishing
11d ago
Jul 27th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Content analysis
File analysis
Header analysis
Optical Character Recognition
Sender analysis
Attachment: EML with link to credential phishing page
11d ago
Jul 27th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
Free file host
Free subdomain host
Social engineering
Computer Vision
Content analysis
File analysis
Header analysis
HTML analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Optical Character Recognition
URL analysis
URL screenshot
Attachment: ICS calendar file with suspicious product identifier
11d ago
Jul 27th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
Social engineering
ICS Phishing
File analysis
Content analysis
Brand Impersonation: PayPal
21d ago
Jul 17th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Lookalike domain
Social engineering
Computer Vision
Content analysis
File analysis
Header analysis
Sender analysis
Attachment: PDF with secure document acknowledgment prompt
21d ago
Jul 17th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
PDF
Social engineering
Image as content
Impersonation: Brand
Content analysis
File analysis
YARA
Attachment: ICS file with AWS Lambda URL
22d ago
Jul 16th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Malware/Ransomware
Evasion
Free file host
ICS Phishing
Content analysis
File analysis
URL analysis
Attachment: Microsoft SharePoint Impersonation via images in macro-enabled attachment
22d ago
Jul 16th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Macros
Image as content
Social engineering
File analysis
Macro analysis
Optical Character Recognition
Attachment: Single-page PDF with S3-hosted HTML link
22d ago
Jul 16th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
PDF
Free file host
Evasion
File analysis
Exif analysis
URL analysis
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