Detection rules › Sublime MQL

Message traversed multiple onmicrosoft.com tenants

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

This detection rule identifies messages that have traversed multiple distinct onmicrosoft.com tenants. This technique has been observed as an evasion tactic to distribute a single message across a list of targeted recipients.

Threat classification

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

CategoryValues
Attack typesCallback Phishing
Tactics and techniquesEvasion, Free email provider, Free subdomain host

Event coverage

Rule body MQL

type.inbound
and length(recipients.to) == 1
and all(recipients.to,
        .email.domain.root_domain == "onmicrosoft.com"
        and not .email.domain.domain in $org_domains
)
// the message has traversed two or more different "onmicrosoft.com" subdomains
and length(distinct(map(filter(headers.hops,
                               strings.icontains(.authentication_results.spf_details.designator,
                                                 '.onmicrosoft.com'
                               )
                               and not strings.contains(.authentication_results.spf_details.designator,
                                                        "@"
                               )
                        ),
                        .authentication_results.spf_details.designator
                    ),
                    .
           )
) > 1
and all(recipients.to,
        .email.domain.domain != headers.return_path.domain.domain
)

Detection logic

Scope: inbound message.

This detection rule identifies messages that have traversed multiple distinct onmicrosoft.com tenants. This technique has been observed as an evasion tactic to distribute a single message across a list of targeted recipients.

  1. inbound message
  2. length(recipients.to) is 1
  3. all of recipients.to where all hold:
    • .email.domain.root_domain is 'onmicrosoft.com'
    • not:
      • .email.domain.domain in $org_domains
  4. length(distinct(map(filter(headers.hops, strings.icontains(.authentication_results.spf_details.designator, '.onmicrosoft.com') and not strings.contains(.authentication_results.spf_details.designator, '@')), .authentication_results.spf_details.designator), .)) > 1
  5. all of recipients.to where:
    • .email.domain.domain is not headers.return_path.domain.domain

Inspects: headers.hops, headers.hops[].authentication_results.spf_details.designator, headers.return_path.domain.domain, recipients.to, recipients.to[].email.domain.domain, recipients.to[].email.domain.root_domain, type.inbound. Sensors: strings.contains, strings.icontains. Reference lists: $org_domains.

Indicators matched (3)

FieldMatchValue
recipients.to[].email.domain.root_domainequalsonmicrosoft.com
strings.icontainssubstring.onmicrosoft.com
strings.containssubstring@