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Comments
These are simple, thin, aluminum parts that are attached either to the undercarriage or to the exhaust system and help deflect/dissipate heat from the exhaust away from the undercarriage of the car. They typically slip over studs and are held on by small 8mm nuts. So, these things can come loose either at the nut or at the stud, though a loose nut tends to illicit the most persistent rattle (I should know, being a loose nut myself - LOL).
If it is loose for this long, it can sometimes wear a small groove into the heat shield, which will make securing it more difficult. I've heard of some folks (especially on gen-1 Outbacks) tack welding them in order to silence the little heathens. Hopefully, yours is an easier fix than that.