Detection rules › Sublime MQL

Attachment: Small text file with link containing recipient email address

Severity
medium
Type
rule
Source
github.com/sublime-security/sublime-rules

Attach text file is less than 1000 bytes and contains a recipients email address. Seen in the wild carrying credential phishing links.

Threat classification

Sublime's own taxonomy (not MITRE ATT&CK).

CategoryValues
Attack typesCredential Phishing
Tactics and techniquesEvasion, Social engineering

Event coverage

Rule body MQL

type.inbound
and any(attachments,
        .content_type in~ ("text/plain", "text")
        // negate calendar invites
        and not (
          .file_extension == "ics"
          or .content_type in ("application/ics", "text/calendar")
        )
        and any(file.explode(.),
                .size < 1000
                and any(.scan.url.urls,
                        any(recipients.to,
                            strings.icontains(..url, .email.email)
                            and .email.domain.valid
                        )
                )
        )
)

Detection logic

Scope: inbound message.

Attach text file is less than 1000 bytes and contains a recipients email address. Seen in the wild carrying credential phishing links.

  1. inbound message
  2. any of attachments where all hold:
    • .content_type in ('text/plain', 'text')
    • none of:
      • .file_extension is 'ics'
      • .content_type in ('application/ics', 'text/calendar')
    • any of file.explode(.) where all hold:
      • .size < 1000
      • any of .scan.url.urls where:
        • any of recipients.to where all hold:
          • strings.icontains(.url)
          • .email.domain.valid

Inspects: attachments[].content_type, attachments[].file_extension, recipients.to, recipients.to[].email.domain.valid, recipients.to[].email.email, type.inbound. Sensors: file.explode, strings.icontains.

Indicators matched (5)

FieldMatchValue
attachments[].content_typemembertext/plain
attachments[].content_typemembertext
attachments[].file_extensionequalsics
attachments[].content_typememberapplication/ics
attachments[].content_typemembertext/calendar