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):
Malware/Ransomware
Credential Phishing
BEC/Fraud
Tactics & Techniques (13):
QR code
Image as content
Evasion
Impersonation: Brand
PDF
Social engineering
Macros
Encryption
Free email provider
Free subdomain host
Open redirect
Out of band pivot
LNK
Rule Name & Severity
Last Updated
Author
Types, Tactics & Capabilities
Attachment: SVG files with evasion elements
4d ago
May 8th, 2026
Sublime Security
Malware/Ransomware
Credential Phishing
QR code
Image as content
Evasion
File analysis
XML analysis
QR code analysis
Sender analysis
Brand impersonation: DocuSign with embedded QR code
8d ago
May 4th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
Image as content
Impersonation: Brand
QR code
Computer Vision
Content analysis
QR code analysis
Sender analysis
Attachment: Fake voicemail via PDF
12d ago
Apr 30th, 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: QR code with userinfo portion
12d ago
Apr 30th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Malware/Ransomware
Evasion
Image as content
PDF
QR code
QR code analysis
File analysis
Sender analysis
Attachment: QR code link with base64-encoded recipient address
13d ago
Apr 29th, 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
QR Code with suspicious indicators
20d ago
Apr 22nd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
QR code
Social engineering
Content analysis
Header analysis
Computer Vision
Natural Language Understanding
QR code analysis
Sender analysis
URL analysis
Brand impersonation: Adobe (QR code)
22d ago
Apr 20th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
PDF
QR code
Computer Vision
Header analysis
QR code analysis
Sender analysis
Attachment: ICS calendar file with QR code containing recipient email address
22d ago
Apr 20th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
QR code
Social engineering
Evasion
File analysis
QR code analysis
URL analysis
Content analysis
Attachment: PDF with split QR code
27d ago
Apr 15th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
PDF
QR code
File analysis
YARA
QR code analysis
Attachment: Compensation review lure with QR code
28d 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: EML with QR code redirecting to Cloudflare challenges
1mo ago
Apr 1st, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Malware/Ransomware
Evasion
QR code
File analysis
QR code analysis
URL analysis
Archive analysis
Service abuse: Monday.com infrastructure with phishing intent
2mo ago
Mar 9th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Evasion
Social engineering
QR code
Content analysis
File analysis
Header analysis
QR code analysis
Sender analysis
URL analysis
Attachment: PDF with recipient email in link
2mo ago
Mar 3rd, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
PDF
QR code
Encryption
Social engineering
File analysis
QR code analysis
URL analysis
Attachment: QR code with recipient targeting and special characters
2mo ago
Feb 21st, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
QR code
Social engineering
Evasion
File analysis
QR code analysis
URL analysis
Computer Vision
Attachment: QR code with suspicious URL patterns in EML file
2mo ago
Feb 21st, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
QR code
Evasion
Social engineering
Archive analysis
File analysis
QR code analysis
URL analysis
ClickFunnels link infrastructure abuse
3mo ago
Feb 5th, 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 encoded recipient targeting and redirect indicators
3mo 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
Attachment: HTML smuggling - QR Code with suspicious links
3mo ago
Jan 12th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
QR code
Computer Vision
Header analysis
Natural Language Understanding
QR code analysis
Sender analysis
URL analysis
URL screenshot
Brand impersonation: Microsoft (QR code)
3mo ago
Jan 12th, 2026
Sublime Security
Credential Phishing
Impersonation: Brand
PDF
QR code
Social engineering
Computer Vision
Header analysis
QR code analysis
Sender analysis
Attachment: QR code with credential phishing indicators
3mo ago
Jan 12th, 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
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