Detection Method: QR code analysis

QR code analysis scans and decodes QR codes in emails, attachments, or links to uncover potential security threats that could affect you. This method extracts data from QR codes, checking for malicious URLs, phishing attempts, or harmful contact information.
QR code analysis can help you detect:
  • Phishing links camouflaged as legitimate QR codes in attachments or images
  • Malicious URLs redirecting you to credential harvesting sites
  • QR codes that prompt automatic downloads of malware
  • QR codes containing social engineering information
For example, attackers often use QR codes in phishing campaigns to bypass URL filters. Since you can’t preview the destination before scanning, this method is highly effective at deceiving unsuspecting recipients .
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
Talking phish over turkey · Blog · Sublime Security
Talking phish over turkey · Blog · Sublime Security
QR Code Phishing: Decoding Hidden Threats · Blog · Sublime Security
QR Code Phishing: Decoding Hidden Threats · Blog · Sublime Security
Attack Types (3):
Credential Phishing
Malware/Ransomware
BEC/Fraud
Tactics & Techniques (14):
Evasion
Social engineering
QR code
Free email provider
Free subdomain host
Image as content
PDF
Impersonation: Brand
LNK
Open redirect
Macros
Encryption
Free file host
Out of band pivot
Rule Name & Severity
Last Updated
Author
Types, Tactics & Capabilities
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
ClickFunnels link infrastructure abuse
7d ago
Sep 29th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Free email provider
Free subdomain host
Social engineering
Content analysis
Header analysis
QR code analysis
Sender analysis
URL analysis
Attachment: QR code with userinfo portion
8d ago
Sep 28th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Malware/Ransomware
Evasion
Image as content
PDF
QR code
QR code analysis
File analysis
Sender analysis
Brand Impersonation: Google (QR Code)
8d ago
Sep 28th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
PDF
QR code
Computer Vision
Header analysis
QR code analysis
Sender analysis
QR code to auto-download of a suspicious file type (unsolicited)
13d ago
Sep 23rd, 2026
Sublime Security
Malware/Ransomware
Evasion
LNK
Social engineering
Archive analysis
File analysis
Sender analysis
URL analysis
QR code analysis
Attachment: HTML smuggling - QR Code with suspicious links
13d ago
Sep 23rd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
QR code
Computer Vision
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
QR code analysis
Sender analysis
URL analysis
URL screenshot
Attachment: Compensation review lure with QR code
13d ago
Sep 23rd, 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
Brand impersonation: DocuSign with embedded QR code
13d ago
Sep 23rd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
Image as content
Impersonation: Brand
QR code
Computer Vision
Content analysis
QR code analysis
Sender analysis
Brand impersonation: Adobe (QR code)
13d ago
Sep 23rd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
PDF
QR code
Computer Vision
Header analysis
QR code analysis
Sender analysis
Attachment: QR code with credential phishing indicators
13d ago
Sep 23rd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
QR code
Social engineering
Computer Vision
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
QR code analysis
Sender analysis
URL analysis
URL screenshot
Link: QR code with phishing disposition in img or pdf
13d ago
Sep 23rd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
QR code
Social engineering
Content analysis
Computer Vision
QR code analysis
Sender analysis
URL analysis
Link: QR Code with suspicious language (untrusted sender)
13d ago
Sep 23rd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
QR code
Social engineering
Content analysis
Computer Vision
Natural Language Understanding
QR code analysis
Sender analysis
URL analysis
Constant Contact link infrastructure abuse
13d ago
Sep 23rd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Free email provider
Open redirect
Social engineering
Content analysis
Header analysis
QR code analysis
Sender analysis
Attachment: ICS calendar file with QR code containing recipient email address
14d ago
Sep 22nd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
QR code
Social engineering
Evasion
File analysis
QR code analysis
URL analysis
Content analysis
Attachment: QR code link with encoded recipient address
14d ago
Sep 22nd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
QR code
Image as content
Social engineering
Evasion
PDF
Macros
Computer Vision
File analysis
Natural Language Understanding
QR code analysis
Sender analysis
Attachment: PDF with recipient email in link
14d ago
Sep 22nd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
PDF
QR code
Encryption
Social engineering
File analysis
QR code analysis
URL analysis
Attachment: PDF with QR code containing recipient-specific credential theft content
14d ago
Sep 22nd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
PDF
QR code
Social engineering
File analysis
Natural Language Understanding
QR code analysis
Content analysis
Brand impersonation: Microsoft (QR code)
2mo ago
Jul 27th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
PDF
QR code
Social engineering
Computer Vision
Header analysis
QR code analysis
Sender analysis
Service abuse: Microsoft Forms Pro with suspicious links or QR codes
2mo ago
Jul 14th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
QR code
Social engineering
Impersonation: Brand
URL analysis
QR code analysis
Sender analysis
Whois
Content analysis
Attachment: Compensation-themed DOCX with QR code credential theft
4mo ago
May 29th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
QR code
Social engineering
Impersonation: Brand
File analysis
Optical Character Recognition
QR code analysis
Natural Language Understanding
Exif analysis
Content analysis
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