A Palo Alto Networks firewall configured with a WildFire analysis profile forwards samples for Advanced 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 Advanced WildFire Analysis profile criteria, the firewall forwards the decoded file for analysis.

The Advanced WildFire analysis capabilities can also be enabled on the firewall to provide inline antivirus protection. The Advanced 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 Advanced WildFire Inline ML for more information.

The Advanced 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. Advanced WildFire analyzes the multi-stage threats by processing them in static and dynamic 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 Advanced WildFire cloud receives a sample that has been encrypted using the password infected or virus, the Advanced WildFire cloud decrypts and analyzes the archive file. You can view the 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, Advanced WildFire analysis support can vary depending on the Advanced WildFire cloud to which you are submitted samples. Review Advanced WildFire File Type Support to learn more.