File Analysis
A Palo Alto Networks firewall configured with a WildFire
analysis profile forwards samples for WildFire analysis based on
file type (including email links). Additionally, the firewall decodes
files that have been encoded or compressed up to four times (such
as files in ZIP format); if the decoded file matches WildFire Analysis
profile criteria, the firewall forwards the decoded file for WildFire
analysis.
The WildFire analysis capabilities can also be enabled on the
firewall to provide inline antivirus protection. The WildFire inline
ML option present in the Antivirus profiles enables the firewall
dataplane to apply machine learning analysis on PE and ELF files
as well as PowerShell scripts in real-time. Each inline ML model
dynamically detects malicious files of a specific type by evaluating
file details, including decoder fields and patterns, to formulate
a high probability classification of a file. This protection extends
to currently unknown as well as future variants of threats that
match characteristics that Palo Alto Networks has identified as
malicious. To keep up with the latest changes in the threat landscape,
inline ML models are added or updated via content releases. See WildFire Inline ML for
more information.
The WildFire cloud is also capable of analyzing certain file
types which are used as secondary payloads as part of multi-stage
PE, APK, and ELF malware packages. Analysis of secondary payloads
can provide additional coverage to disrupt sophisticated attacks
by advanced threats. These advanced threats operate by executing
code which activate additional malicious payloads, including those
designed to assist in the circumvention of security measures as
well as facilitate proliferation of the primary payload. WildFire
analyzes the multi-stage threats by processing them in static, dynamic,
or bare metal analysis environments. Files referenced by multi-stage
malware are treated independently during analysis; as a result,
verdicts and protections are delivered as soon as they finish for
each file. The overall verdict for the multi-stage file is determined
based on a threat assessment of malicious content found in all analyzed
stages of the attack. Any malicious content discovered during analysis
of the multi-stage file immediately marks the file as malicious.
Organizations with safe-handling procedures for malicious content
can manually submit password-protected samples using the RAR format
through the API or WildFire portal. When the WildFire cloud receives
a sample that has been encrypted using the password
infected
or virus
,
the WildFire cloud decrypts and analyzes the archive file. You can
view the WildFire verdict and analysis results for the file in the
format that it was received, in this case, an archive.While the firewall can forward all the file types listed below,
WildFire analysis support can vary depending on the WildFire cloud
to which you are submitted samples. Review WildFire
File Type Support to learn more.
File Types Supported
for WildFire Forwarding | Description |
|---|---|
apk | Android Application Package (APK) files. DEX
files contained within APK files are analyzed as part of the APK
file analysis. |
flash | Adobe Flash applets and Flash content embedded
in web pages. |
jar | Java applets (JAR/class files types). |
ms-office | Files used by Microsoft Office, including
documents (DOC, DOCX, RTF), workbooks (XLS, XLSX), PowerPoint (PPT,
PPTX) presentations, and Office Open XML (OOXML) 2007+ documents.
Internet Query (IQY) and Symbolic Link (SLK) files are supported with
content version 8462. |
pe | Portable Executable (PE) files. PEs include
executable files, object code, DLLs, FON (fonts), and LNK files.
MSI files are supported with content version 8462. A subscription
is not required to forward PE files for WildFire analysis, but is
required for all other supported file types. |
pdf | Portable Document Format (PDF) files. |
MacOSX | Mach-O, DMG, and PKG files are supported
with content version 599. You can also manually or programmatically
submit all Mac OS X supported file types for analysis (including
application bundles, for which the firewall does not support automatic
forwarding). |
email-link | HTTP/HTTPS links contained
in SMTP and POP3 email messages. See Email
Link Analysis. |
archive | Roshal Archive (RAR) and 7-Zip
(7z) archive files. Multi-volume archives are that are split into
several smaller files cannot be submitted for analysis. Only
RAR files encrypted with the password infected or virus are
decrypted and analyzed by the WildFire cloud.While
the firewall is capable of forwarding supported files contained
within ZIP archives after it has been decoded, it cannot forward
complete ZIP files in its encoded state. If you want to submit complete
ZIP files, you can manually upload a ZIP file using the WildFire
portal or through the WildFire API. |
linux | Executable and Linkable Format
(ELF) files. |
script | Various script files.
|
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