Enhancing Phishing Attack Detection: A Case Study on Tycoon2FA

It takes just one email to compromise an entire system. A single expertly crafted message can bypass filters, deceive employees, and grant attackers the access they require. Left undetected, these threats can result in credential theft, unauthorized access, and even extensive breaches. As phishing techniques evolve to become more sophisticated, reliance solely on automated solutions for detection is no longer viable.

To address this issue effectively, Security Operations Center (SOC) teams must implement strategies that ensure rapid and precise detection of even the most elusive phishing attacks. A prime example of a prevalent phishing threat in corporate environments today is Tycoon2FA.

Step 1: Upload a Suspicious File or URL to the Sandbox

Consider a scenario where a suspicious email is flagged by your detection system, but its malicious nature remains uncertain. The quickest method to verify its authenticity is to conduct an analysis within a malware sandbox.

A sandbox serves as an isolated virtual machine, allowing users to safely open files, click links, and observe behaviors without risking their actual systems. This is how SOC analysts investigate malware, phishing attempts, and other suspicious activities without triggering any local risks.

Initiating this process is straightforward. Upload the suspected file or paste a URL, select the operating system (Windows, Linux, or Android), adjust any necessary settings, and within moments, you will be operating within a fully interactive virtual machine, ready for investigation.

To illustrate the efficacy of phishing detection, we will analyze a real phishing email utilizing ANY.RUN, one of the most efficient and user-friendly sandboxes available.

Analysis Setup Inside ANY.RUN Sandbox

The suspicious email in our example features a prominent green “Play Audio” button, a common bait intended to entice the victim into clicking.

Step 2: Detonate the Full Attack Chain

Using tools like ANY.RUN, it becomes feasible to detonate every stage of an attack, from the initial click to the final payload. Even novice SOC members can navigate this process effortlessly. The user interface is intuitive and designed to simplify complex analyses.

The phishing email begins with a sizeable green “Play Audio” button embedded within a conversation. However, what transpires after the click?

Within the sandbox session, the sequence of events unfolds:

Upon clicking the button, a series of redirects—a common evasion technique—lead to a page presenting a CAPTCHA challenge. Automated tools typically falter here; they cannot click buttons, solve CAPTCHAs, or mimic human behavior, causing them to miss the actual threat.

In the ANY.RUN Interactive Sandbox, this challenge is manageable. Users can either solve the CAPTCHA manually or activate an automated mode for the sandbox to handle it. In either case, the analysis progresses seamlessly, enabling visibility into the eventual phishing page and the complete attack chain.

CAPTCHA Challenge Solved Inside the Interactive Sandbox

Once the CAPTCHA is resolved, the user is directed to a counterfeited Microsoft login page. While seemingly legitimate at first glance, further inspection reveals its true nature:

– The URL is clearly unrelated to Microsoft, filled with random characters.
– The favicon (browser tab icon) is absent, a subtle yet significant red flag.

Without the Interactive Sandbox, these indicators may remain obscured. However, in this environment, every action is documented, and each step is traceable, thus simplifying the detection of phishing infrastructure before it ensnares someone within your organization.

If not promptly identified, a victim may unwittingly input their credentials into the counterfeit login page, granting sensitive access directly to the attacker.

Integrating sandbox analysis into your security protocols enables your team to scrutinize suspicious links or files swiftly. In most scenarios, ANY.RUN can generate an initial verdict in under 40 seconds.

Step 3: Analyze and Collect Indicators of Compromise (IOCs)

Once the entire phishing chain has been activated, the subsequent crucial task for security teams is the collection of indicators of compromise (IOCs) that can be utilized for detection, response, and preventative measures in the future.

Solutions like ANY.RUN streamline this process significantly. Key findings from our phishing sample include:

The process tree displayed in the top-right corner aids in tracing suspicious activities. A particular process labeled “Phishing” is prominently highlighted, pinpointing precisely where the malicious activity took place.

Malicious Process Identified by Sandbox

Alongside this, the Network Connections tab allows for inspection of all HTTP/HTTPS requests, revealing the external infrastructure involved in the attack: domains, IP addresses, and more.

Additionally, the Threats section provides a Suricata alert indicating: “PHISHING [ANY.RUN] Suspected Tycoon2FA’s Phishing-Kit Domain.” This acknowledgment confirms the phishing kit employed and offers valuable context for threat classification.

In the top panel, tags immediately identify it as a Tycoon2FA-related threat, allowing analysts to recognize the nature of the threat with ease.

To access all IOCs centrally, simply click the IOC button to obtain a comprehensive list of domains, hashes, URLs, and other pertinent details, eliminating the need for navigating between tools or manually collating data.

These IOCs can then be employed to:

– Block malicious domains within your infrastructure.
– Update email filters and detection protocols.
– Augment your threat intelligence database.
– Support incident response and SOC workflows.

Finally, ANY.RUN generates a well-organized, shareable report encompassing all critical information, from behavioral logs and network traffic to visual evidence and IOCs. This report is ideally suited for documentation, team transitions, or sharing with external stakeholders, consequently saving valuable time during response efforts.

Why Sandboxing Should Be Part of Your Security Workflow

Interactive sandboxing empowers teams to move past the noise, swiftly uncovering actual threats and enhancing incident response efficiency.

Solutions like ANY.RUN make this procedure accessible to both seasoned teams and those developing their threat detection capabilities:

– Speed Up Alert Triage and Incident Response: Immediate visibility into threat behavior facilitates faster decisions.
– Increase Detection Rate: Trace multi-stage attacks with detailed insights from origin to execution.
– Improve Training: Analysts gain practical experience by working with real threats.
– Boost Team Coordination: Real-time data sharing and process oversight enhance collaboration among team members.
– Reduce Infrastructure Maintenance: A cloud-based sandbox eliminates setup requirements, enabling analysis at any time, from anywhere.

In conclusion, phishing attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated; however, identifying them effectively does not have to be a complex task. By employing interactive sandboxing, threats can be detected early, the full attack chain can be traced, and all the necessary evidence for a swift and confident response can be gathered.