Detection rules › Sublime MQL

Link: Direct download of executable file

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

Detects messages containing links that directly download executable (.exe) files, with a limited number of distinct links that are either unrelated to the sender's domain or not in the top 10k most popular websites.

Threat classification

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

CategoryValues
Attack typesMalware/Ransomware
Tactics and techniquesEvasion

Event coverage

Rule body MQL

type.inbound
// the link leads to a direct download of an EXE file
and any(body.current_thread.links,
        strings.iends_with(.href_url.url, '.exe')
        and not .href_url.domain.root_domain == sender.email.domain.root_domain
        and not (
          .href_url.domain.root_domain in $tranco_10k
          // if the link is to a free_file_hosts that is in tracno, still match (bitbucket, githubusercontent, etc.)
          and not .href_url.domain.root_domain in $free_file_hosts
        )
)

Detection logic

Scope: inbound message.

Detects messages containing links that directly download executable (.exe) files, with a limited number of distinct links that are either unrelated to the sender's domain or not in the top 10k most popular websites.

  1. inbound message
  2. any of body.current_thread.links where all hold:
    • .href_url.url ends with '.exe'
    • not:
      • .href_url.domain.root_domain is sender.email.domain.root_domain
    • not:
      • all of:
        • .href_url.domain.root_domain in $tranco_10k
        • not:
          • .href_url.domain.root_domain in $free_file_hosts

Inspects: body.current_thread.links, body.current_thread.links[].href_url.domain.root_domain, body.current_thread.links[].href_url.url, sender.email.domain.root_domain, type.inbound. Sensors: strings.iends_with. Reference lists: $free_file_hosts, $tranco_10k.

Indicators matched (1)

FieldMatchValue
strings.iends_withsuffix.exe