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
Callback Phishing
Malware/Ransomware
Spam
Extortion
Tactics & Techniques (25):
PDF
Evasion
Free file host
Free subdomain host
Social engineering
Impersonation: Brand
ICS Phishing
Open redirect
Lookalike domain
QR code
HTML smuggling
Scripting
Out of band pivot
Free email provider
Image as content
Spoofing
Encryption
LNK
Impersonation: Employee
Impersonation: VIP
Macros
Exploit
OneNote
IPFS
ISO
Rule Name & Severity
Last Updated
Author
Types, Tactics & Capabilities
Attachment: PDF Link With Valueless Base64 Query Parameter
4h ago
Oct 6th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
PDF
Evasion
File analysis
URL analysis
Attachment: Excel file with hyperlinks to suspicious domains
6h ago
Oct 6th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Credential Phishing
Free file host
Free subdomain host
Social engineering
Natural Language Understanding
Content analysis
Exif analysis
File analysis
URL analysis
Attachment: PDF teal SharePoint lure
1d ago
Oct 5th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
PDF
File analysis
YARA
Attachment: Microsoft OAuth credential harvesting via EML with embedded malicious links
2d ago
Oct 4th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Evasion
PDF
File analysis
URL analysis
Content analysis
Attachment: ICS with Suspicious Office 365 app authorization (OAuth) link
2d ago
Oct 4th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
Social engineering
ICS Phishing
File analysis
Content analysis
URL analysis
Attachment: Fictitious invoice using LinkedIn's address
5d ago
Oct 1st, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
PDF
Social engineering
File analysis
Optical Character Recognition
Natural Language Understanding
Content analysis
Exif analysis
Attachment: PDF with specific blurred lure
5d ago
Oct 1st, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
PDF
Social engineering
File analysis
YARA
Attachment: PDF including a Microsoft lure with specific signature
5d ago
Oct 1st, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
PDF
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
YARA
File analysis
Attachment: PDF Object Hash - Generic MSFT lure
5d ago
Oct 1st, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
PDF
File analysis
Attachment: PDF credential phishing via wkhtmltopdf/Qt with suspicious link
5d ago
Oct 1st, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
PDF
Open redirect
Social engineering
Exif analysis
Optical Character Recognition
Natural Language Understanding
URL analysis
File analysis
Brand Impersonation: PayPal
5d ago
Oct 1st, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
Lookalike domain
Social engineering
Computer Vision
Content analysis
File analysis
Header analysis
Sender analysis
Service abuse: Monday.com infrastructure with phishing intent
6d ago
Sep 30th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
Social engineering
QR code
Content analysis
File analysis
Header analysis
QR code analysis
Sender analysis
URL analysis
Attachment: ICS calendar file with suspicious UID domain
7d ago
Sep 29th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
BEC/Fraud
Social engineering
ICS Phishing
File analysis
Content analysis
Attachment: RFC822 containing suspicious file sharing language with links from untrusted sender
7d ago
Sep 29th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
Social engineering
File analysis
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Attachment: HTML smuggling with dynamically constructed redirect URL
7d ago
Sep 29th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
HTML smuggling
Evasion
Impersonation: Brand
Social engineering
Scripting
HTML analysis
Javascript analysis
File analysis
Attachment: Mobileconfig profile with mismatched embedded email
7d ago
Sep 29th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
Social engineering
File analysis
Content analysis
Sender analysis
Attachment: Malformed mobileconfig file
7d ago
Sep 29th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
File analysis
XML analysis
Attachment: Malicious mobileconfig profile
7d ago
Sep 29th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Social engineering
File analysis
Content analysis
Threat intelligence
Attachment: Oversized guest-list calendar invite with purchase order lure
8d ago
Sep 28th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Social engineering
Impersonation: Brand
ICS Phishing
File analysis
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Sender analysis
Header analysis
Attachment: ICS calendar invite with BEC intent
8d ago
Sep 28th, 2026
Sublime Security
BEC/Fraud
Social engineering
Content analysis
Natural Language Understanding
File analysis
Header analysis
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