Detection rules › Sublime MQL

Attachment with suspicious author (unsolicited)

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

Recursively scans files and archives to detect embedded docx files with a specific author.

Threat classification

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

CategoryValues
Attack typesMalware/Ransomware

Event coverage

Rule body MQL

type.inbound
and any(attachments,
        (
          .file_extension in~ ("doc", "docm", "docx", "dot", "dotm")
          or .file_extension in~ $file_extensions_common_archives
        )
        and any(file.explode(.), strings.ilike(.scan.docx.author, "root"))
)
and (
  not profile.by_sender().solicited
  or (
    profile.by_sender().any_messages_malicious_or_spam
    and not profile.by_sender().any_messages_benign
  )
)

Detection logic

Scope: inbound message.

Recursively scans files and archives to detect embedded docx files with a specific author.

  1. inbound message
  2. any of attachments where all hold:
    • any of:
      • .file_extension in ('doc', 'docm', 'docx', 'dot', 'dotm')
      • .file_extension in $file_extensions_common_archives
    • any of file.explode(.) where:
      • .scan.docx.author matches 'root'
  3. any of:
    • not:
      • profile.by_sender().solicited
    • all of:
      • profile.by_sender().any_messages_malicious_or_spam
      • not:
        • profile.by_sender().any_messages_benign

Inspects: attachments[].file_extension, type.inbound. Sensors: file.explode, profile.by_sender, strings.ilike. Reference lists: $file_extensions_common_archives.

Indicators matched (6)

FieldMatchValue
attachments[].file_extensionmemberdoc
attachments[].file_extensionmemberdocm
attachments[].file_extensionmemberdocx
attachments[].file_extensionmemberdot
attachments[].file_extensionmemberdotm
strings.ilikesubstringroot