File Attack

Understanding the Attack

Definition

A file attack is a type of cyber attack where malicious files are sent via email as attachments or links to web pages hosting the files. These files come in various formats, such as .exe, .SVG, Word macros, and Excel macros. The attack is successful if the user downloads, opens, and executes the file, with the executed data sent to Lucy.

This is an example of a File Attack, using a downloaded SVG to redirect to a malicious site

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Checklist

• Register an Attack Domain

• Add a File Attack to your Campaign

• Choose a success action: File Download; File Data Received or File Opened

• Ensure the File is excluded from Anti-Virus scanning in your infrastructure

• Ensure the sending Domain is whitelisted

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Real-world Examples

• An employee in the finance department receives an email appearing to be from HR, prompting them to download and fill out a timesheet attached as a Word document with a macro. Upon enabling and executing the macro, the malicious payload is delivered.

• An employee receives an email with a link to an .SVG file purportedly containing new branding materials. When the file is downloaded and opened, it executes a script that compromises the user's system.

• A finance executive receives an urgent email seemingly from the CEO, with an attached .exe file labeled as critical software for an emergency task. When the file is downloaded and executed, it installs malware, and the executed data is sent to the attacker.

Ready to set up your File Attack? See our platform reference article on Adding an Attack to your campaign.

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File Attack Simulation Templates

Lucy can compile different custom Malware Simulations:

Each file type can be modified (layout, filetype, name) before using it in a campaign. Currently, Lucy comes with the following file types:

Want to start adapting your File Attack template? Navigate to Templates -> File Templates

Setting Name	Description	Success Action	Preferable Delivery Method
Console Interactive	Establishes a reverse HTTP/HTTPS channel to Lucy. Runs in memory and allows command execution in Windows shell. Only works with Windows 7/8 with IE and Firefox.	File download	Landing page
Console Outlook	Executes commands and sends the output back via Outlook to a predefined email address.	File download	Landing page
Console post	Executes commands within Windows shell and sends output to Lucy. Allows a limited set of commands.	File download	Landing page
Console (POST-only)	Pings back to Lucy when the user opens the executable file, without collecting any data.	File download/open	Landing page
Excel Macros (GET-only)	Pings back to Lucy when the document is opened, without sending any data.	Click/download/open	Email/Landing page
GoggleDocs	Pings back to Lucy when the document is opened, without collecting any data.	File download	Email/Portable device (USB)
HTML (Redirect)	Redirects to the phishing website when opened, without transferring any data.	File download	Landing page
Keylogger	Records keys pressed on the keyboard.	File download/submit	Email/Landing page
Macros	Runs console commands through an Office file that contains a Macro.	File download/open	Email/Landing page
Malware Testing Toolkit	Tests if the target system is vulnerable to miscellaneous malware technologies.	File download/open	Email/Portable device (USB)
Microphone	Gets audio recordings from the microphone.	File download/submit	Portable device (USB)
Ransomware (Screen Locker)	Locks the PC screen and asks the user to enter a password. Intended to prompt user to call helpdesk for password, enhancing learning effect.	File download/submit	Email/Portable device (USB)
Recent Documents	Sends back a predefined number of documents listed in the recent doc cache to Lucy.	File download/submit	Email/Portable device (USB)
Screen Recorder	Records screenshots and attempts to access the webcam to record a few seconds.	File download/submit	Email/Portable device (USB)
SVG (Redirect)	Redirects to the phishing website when opened, without transferring any data.	File download/click/submit	Email/Portable device (USB)

Email file attacks might be blocked by server security policies. Admins should ensure that such emails aren't filtered out before running the campaign. This can involve excluding the file by path using GPO or whitelisting the file name.

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User Detection Methods

To help employees recognize and respond to file-based phishing attempts effectively, the following user detection methods can be incorporated into training programs:

Email Analysis

Check Sender Details: Verify the sender's email address and domain to ensure they match the legitimate source.

Look for Red Flags: Be wary of emails with poor grammar, spelling errors, or unusual formatting.

File Inspection

Verify Attachments: Be cautious of unsolicited attachments, especially those with executable or macro-enabled formats.

Content Verification

Suspicious Attachments: Avoid opening unexpected attachments or downloading files from unknown sources.

Urgency and Threats: Be cautious of emails that create a sense of urgency, pressure to act quickly, or threaten negative consequences.

Execution Verification

Disable Macros: By default, keep macros disabled in Office documents and only enable them if absolutely necessary and from a trusted source.

Manual File Type Checks: Instead of clicking on attachments, manually verify the file type and source before opening.

Communication Verification

Cross-Check Requests: If an email or message asks to download or execute a file, verify the request through a separate communication channel, such as a phone call to the supposed sender.

Incident Reporting

Report Suspicious Files: Immediately report any suspicious files or download links to the IT or security department for further analysis.

Use Reporting Tools: Deploy the Lucy Phish Button for all users to use as a reporting tool.

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