Phishers Send Fake Adobe Acrobat Notification to Attempt Credential Theft
In this phishing attack, cybercriminals impersonate Adobe Acrobat using a spoofed sender address to deliver a fraudulent document notification. The email, with the subject line “PCp #6DV7-NFQJ3P-RHW1]__Review__Docs,” claims that the recipient has received a document requiring their review and signature. To pressure immediate action, the message states the document will expire in seven days. Embedded in the email is a link the recipient can purportedly use to review the document. However, should the target click the button labeled “View Document,” they will be redirected to a phishing page designed to steal login credentials or other sensitive information by posing as a legitimate document-signing workflow. This phishing tactic is effective because it leverages the credibility of Adobe, mimics authentic notification formatting, and creates urgency with an artificial deadline.
Older, legacy email security tools struggle to accurately identify this email as an attack because it originates from a spoofed email address, lacks any attachments, and includes legitimate links in the message. Modern, AI-powered email security solutions flag that the sender domain does not match any domains in the message, recognize the sender is unknown to the recipient, and detect links with suspicious domains to correctly identify the email as an attack.
To defend against these attacks, users should avoid clicking on links in unsolicited document requests and instead verify any review or signature requests by logging into Adobe directly through a known, trusted source. Organizations should continue educating employees on phishing trends and adopt AI-driven email security tools that can detect nuanced signs of impersonation.
Fake shared document notification from attackers posing as Adobe Acrobat
How Does This Attack Bypass Email Defenses?
This email attack bypasses traditional security solutions for multiple reasons, including the following:
- Spoofed Email Address: The attacker spoofs a legitimate-sounding email address, bypassing basic email verification checks and adding perceived authenticity.
- Lack of Attachments: By not including any attachments, the email avoids detection by antivirus and anti-malware systems focused on attachment-based threats.
- Legitimate Links Included: The email includes links associated with recognizable domains, which can pass through basic link verification checks due to its legitimate structure.
How Did Abnormal Detect This Attack?
This attack was detected using AI and ML by analyzing various factors, including the following:
- Unusual Sending Behavior: The sender domain does not match any of the domains found in the body links, raising suspicion.
- Unknown Sender Consideration: The email is recognized as coming from an unknown sender who has never communicated with the recipient. Abnormal’s platform maintains a communication history and quickly flags deviations from established sender-recipient interaction patterns.
- Suspicious Link Analysis: Abnormal's systems scrutinize the presence of links leading to suspicious domains, triggering deeper analysis for possible malicious intent.
By recognizing established normal behavior and detecting these abnormal indicators, a modern email security solution has the ability to prevent this attack from reaching inboxes.
Please note the exact detection mechanism from Abnormal Security's system might include proprietary techniques and methodologies not disclosed here.