Detection rules › Sublime MQL
Brand impersonation: Proofpoint secure messaging without legitimate indicators
Detects messages impersonating Proofpoint secure messaging services that contain Proofpoint branding text but lack legitimate Proofpoint secure sharing URIs or authentic attachment indicators, suggesting fraudulent use of the brand.
Threat classification
Sublime's own taxonomy (not MITRE ATT&CK).
| Category | Values |
|---|---|
| Attack types | Credential Phishing |
| Tactics and techniques | Impersonation: Brand, Social engineering |
Event coverage
Rule body MQL
type.inbound
and (
// matching proofpoint secure messaging
strings.contains(body.current_thread.text,
"Secured by Proofpoint Encryption,"
)
or regex.icontains(body.current_thread.text,
('Copyright © 2009-202\d Proofpoint, Inc.')
)
)
and length(body.current_thread.links) >= 1
// pfpt secure share uri
and not (
any(body.links,
// negate the actual dest of the legit "click here" link
.href_url.path == "/formpostdir/securereader"
// negate where the link domain is mimecast and check LA for the pfpt URI
or (
.href_url.domain.root_domain == "mimecastprotect.com"
and (
ml.link_analysis(., mode="aggressive").effective_url.path == "/formpostdir/securereader"
or any(ml.link_analysis(., mode="aggressive").redirect_history,
.path == "/formpostdir/securereader"
)
)
)
or (
.href_url.domain.root_domain == "mimecastprotect.com"
and .display_text =~ "Click here"
and strings.parse_domain(.href_url.query_params_decoded["domain"][0]).root_domain == sender.email.domain.root_domain
)
)
)
// negate actual SecureMessageAtt.html links that ave been quarantined by mimecast
and not any(attachments,
// pfpt attachment file
.file_name == "SecureMessageAtt.html"
// mimecast quarantine details
or (
.content_type == "message/rfc822"
and length(file.parse_eml(.).body.links) == 1
and any(file.parse_eml(.).body.links,
.display_text == "download it"
and .href_url.domain.root_domain == "mimecast.com"
)
and strings.ends_with(file.parse_eml(.).headers.message_id,
"@localhost>"
)
)
)
Detection logic
Scope: inbound message.
Detects messages impersonating Proofpoint secure messaging services that contain Proofpoint branding text but lack legitimate Proofpoint secure sharing URIs or authentic attachment indicators, suggesting fraudulent use of the brand.
- inbound message
any of:
- body.current_thread.text contains 'Secured by Proofpoint Encryption,'
- body.current_thread.text matches 'Copyright © 2009-202\\d Proofpoint, Inc.'
- length(body.current_thread.links) ≥ 1
not:
any of
body.linkswhere any holds:- .href_url.path is '/formpostdir/securereader'
all of:
- .href_url.domain.root_domain is 'mimecastprotect.com'
any of:
- ml.link_analysis(.).effective_url.path is '/formpostdir/securereader'
any of
ml.link_analysis(., mode='aggressive').redirect_historywhere:- .path is '/formpostdir/securereader'
all of:
- .href_url.domain.root_domain is 'mimecastprotect.com'
- .display_text is 'Click here'
- strings.parse_domain(.href_url.query_params_decoded['domain'][0]).root_domain is sender.email.domain.root_domain
not:
any of
attachmentswhere any holds:- .file_name is 'SecureMessageAtt.html'
all of:
- .content_type is 'message/rfc822'
- length(file.parse_eml(.).body.links) is 1
any of
file.parse_eml(.).body.linkswhere all hold:- .display_text is 'download it'
- .href_url.domain.root_domain is 'mimecast.com'
- file.parse_eml(.).headers.message_id ends with '@localhost>'
Inspects: attachments[].content_type, attachments[].file_name, body.current_thread.links, body.current_thread.text, body.links, body.links[].display_text, body.links[].href_url.domain.root_domain, body.links[].href_url.path, body.links[].href_url.query_params_decoded['domain'][0], sender.email.domain.root_domain, type.inbound. Sensors: file.parse_eml, ml.link_analysis, regex.icontains, strings.contains, strings.ends_with, strings.parse_domain.
Indicators matched (11)
| Field | Match | Value |
|---|---|---|
strings.contains | substring | Secured by Proofpoint Encryption, |
regex.icontains | regex | Copyright © 2009-202\d Proofpoint, Inc. |
body.links[].href_url.path | equals | /formpostdir/securereader |
body.links[].href_url.domain.root_domain | equals | mimecastprotect.com |
ml.link_analysis(body.links[], mode='aggressive').redirect_history[].path | equals | /formpostdir/securereader |
body.links[].display_text | equals | Click here |
attachments[].file_name | equals | SecureMessageAtt.html |
attachments[].content_type | equals | message/rfc822 |
file.parse_eml(attachments[]).body.links[].display_text | equals | download it |
file.parse_eml(attachments[]).body.links[].href_url.domain.root_domain | equals | mimecast.com |
strings.ends_with | suffix | @localhost> |