According to statistics from Check Point Research, malicious emails come in various forms, but a significant portion involves malicious files or attachments. Notably, 1 out of every 246 email attachments and 1 out of every 287 links are malicious. Furthermore, 62% of all malicious files have been distributed via email in the last month. PDFs, commonly used and seemingly harmless, have now become the leading source of malicious activity.
The Rise of Malicious PDFs
Check Point Research has found that, over the last 30 days, .pdf files account for 69.1% of all malicious files globally. The next closest is .exe, at 15.7%.
This rapid rise of PDF-related malware can be traced through Check Point’s annual security reports. In the 2022 report, PDFs represented 16% of malicious files sent over email. In 2023, this number rose to 20%. Now, we are witnessing an explosion of PDF-related malware.
Malicious PDFs pose a significant threat across various industries. In healthcare, for instance, 83% of malicious file types delivered via email are PDFs. This underscores the necessity for robust security measures in all sectors.
Why PDFs Pose a Challenge
Traditional security scanners often rely on signature-based detection, which looks for known malicious files. While effective for blocking straightforward threats, this method falls short against more sophisticated attacks. Malicious actors exploit this by embedding harmful elements such as URLs, scripts, or hidden content within PDFs to bypass basic checks.
Example: Malicious PDF Attack
A common example involves a malicious PDF masquerading as a legitimate ‘DocuSign’ document. Users are lured to a fraudulent webpage and asked to enter their login credentials. Deep PDF detects the phishing URL and blocks the malicious webpage, protecting the user.
Further analysis often reveals that such phishing pages are created using platforms like ‘glitch.com’ and contain JavaScript code designed to steal information. These malicious scripts redirect users to fake login pages, deceiving them into providing their credentials.
The Power of Deep Learning in PDF Analysis
To combat these advanced threats, Check Point has developed an innovative AI-powered engine called Deep PDF. This solution goes beyond traditional detection methods by utilizing deep learning algorithms to analyze the entire structure of a PDF document. Deep PDF examines:
- Internal structure of the PDF
- Embedded images and their placement
- Embedded URLs and their context within the document
- Raw content within the PDF
By scrutinizing these intricate details, Deep PDF can identify even the most cleverly disguised malicious elements, significantly enhancing detection accuracy compared to traditional methods.
When an attacker sends an email with a malicious PDF, Check Point ThreatCloud AI leverages Deep PDF and over 300 machine learning features to thoroughly analyze the entire email, not just the document. These features include understanding the social graph, natural language processing, and detecting impersonation.
In Conclusion
Email threats continue to pose a significant risk to organizations of all sizes. As attackers increasingly leverage sophisticated tactics like weaponized PDFs, traditional security solutions often fall short. AI-powered technology like Deep PDF by Check Point Harmony offers a powerful solution, enabling organizations to gain a significant advantage in the ongoing battle against email-borne malware. By implementing such advanced security measures, organizations can safeguard their sensitive data and protect their employees from the ever-evolving threats lurking within their inboxes.
Stay protected with Check Point’s AI-powered solutions and ensure your organization is equipped to handle the latest email threats.