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apnstub.exe

AskStub Application

Ask.com

This installer is part of the Ask.com (APN) network which will install the Ask.com branded toolbar or browser extension which will take control of the web browser's search functions. The application apnstub.exe by Ask.com has been detected as a potentially unwanted program by 5 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the APN Stub installer. This version of the installer will bundle the Ask.com Toolbar, a potentially unwanted web browser extension. It is also typically executed from an Internet Explorer cache folder. The file has been seen being downloaded from apnmedia.ask.com.
Publisher:
Ask.com  (signed and verified)

Product:
AskStub Application

Version:
5, 2, 0, 0

MD5:
9729d764b100f673f68a7c8ca0a03c63

SHA-1:
fcb07105f1d34d8dcea03e57603649e88385368b

SHA-256:
1f1a74c990abd0c4169a7e3e13f1563f5c4b1edd7abf305cbba515544197847b

Scanner detections:
5 / 68

Status:
Potentially unwanted

Explanation:
Bundles that Ask.com toolbar as a third-party offer, a web browser extension that may modify a user's search and home pages.

Analysis date:
4/25/2024 12:46:26 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Boost by Reason
Optional.Ask.H
188838

Dr.Web
Trojan.DownLoader7.16675
9.0.1.0175

ESET NOD32
Win32/Bundled.Toolbar.Ask (variant)
8.9366

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Ask.H
14.8.8.2

XVirus List
Win.Detected
2.3.31

File size:
347.7 KB (356,008 bytes)

Product version:
5, 2, 0, 0

Copyright:
Copyright (C) Ask 2011

Original file name:
AskStub.exe

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Installer:
APN Stub

Language:
English (United States)

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\appdata\local\microsoft\windows\temporary internet files\content.ie5\{random}\apnstub.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:
Ask.com

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
6/19/2011 9:00:00 PM

Valid to:
6/18/2014 8:59:59 PM

Subject:
CN=Ask.com, OU=Distribution, OU=Digital ID Class 3 - Microsoft Software Validation v2, O=Ask.com, L=Oakland, S=California, C=US

Issuer:
CN=VeriSign Class 3 Code Signing 2010 CA, OU=Terms of use at https://www.verisign.com/rpa (c)10, OU=VeriSign Trust Network, O="VeriSign, Inc.", C=US

Serial number:
0965F2AC7236C7E1BDCA44ED139B273A

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
10/3/2011 5:41:46 AM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
6144:MG+p8Znpv7/XLpY+lYLxGxeWdKtzmSMwpV7FiUJElw9hNuOXqqqqqqqqqqqqwq:gkpv7/XXHldKtaS5pV7FDJEmcOXqqqq1

Entry address:
0x7294

Entry point:
E8, A8, 3C, 00, 00, E9, 79, FE, FF, FF, 8B, FF, 55, 8B, EC, 81, EC, 28, 03, 00, 00, A3, 48, D4, 41, 00, 89, 0D, 44, D4, 41, 00, 89, 15, 40, D4, 41, 00, 89, 1D, 3C, D4, 41, 00, 89, 35, 38, D4, 41, 00, 89, 3D, 34, D4, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 15, 60, D4, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 0D, 54, D4, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 1D, 30, D4, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 05, 2C, D4, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 25, 28, D4, 41, 00, 66, 8C, 2D, 24, D4, 41, 00, 9C, 8F, 05, 58, D4, 41, 00, 8B, 45, 00, A3, 4C, D4, 41, 00, 8B, 45, 04, A3, 50, D4, 41, 00, 8D, 45, 08, A3, 5C, D4, 41...
 
[+]

Entropy:
6.5088

Code size:
78 KB (79,872 bytes)

The file apnstub.exe has been seen being distributed by the following URL.

http://apnmedia.ask.com/media/toolbar/supertoolbar/apnpartners/AD5/stub2.0/.../ApnStub.exe

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