Detection rules › Sublime MQL

Link: Base64 encoded recipient address in URL fragment with hex subdomain

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

Detects links containing a 40-character hexadecimal subdomain with the recipient's email address base64 encoded in the URL fragment, a technique used to personalize malicious links and evade detection.

Threat classification

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

CategoryValues
Attack typesCredential Phishing
Tactics and techniquesEvasion

Event coverage

Rule body MQL

type.inbound
and any(body.links,
        length(.href_url.domain.subdomain) == 40
        and regex.match(.href_url.domain.subdomain, '^[a-f0-9]{40}')
        and any(strings.scan_base64(.href_url.fragment),
                . == recipients.to[0].email.email
        )
)

Detection logic

Scope: inbound message.

Detects links containing a 40-character hexadecimal subdomain with the recipient's email address base64 encoded in the URL fragment, a technique used to personalize malicious links and evade detection.

  1. inbound message
  2. any of body.links where all hold:
    • length(.href_url.domain.subdomain) is 40
    • .href_url.domain.subdomain matches '^[a-f0-9]{40}'
    • any of strings.scan_base64(.href_url.fragment) where:
      • . is recipients.to[0].email.email

Inspects: body.links, body.links[].href_url.domain.subdomain, body.links[].href_url.fragment, recipients.to[0].email.email, type.inbound. Sensors: regex.match, strings.scan_base64.

Indicators matched (1)

FieldMatchValue
regex.matchregex^[a-f0-9]{40}