vlc-media-player.exe

Software Internet

Astro Superb (Fried Cookie Ltd.)

The Fried Cookie installer utilizes the InstallCore download manager which may bundle additional offers for various ad-supported toolbars, extensions and utilities. The application vlc-media-player.exe, “Software Internet Setup ” by Astro Superb (Fried Cookie) has been detected as adware by 1 anti-malware scanner with very strong indications that the file is a potential threat. The program is a setup application that uses the installCore installer. The setup program uses the InstallCore engine which may bundle additional software offers including toolbars and browser extensions. With this installer, users are expecting to download the VideoLAN VLC media player but before that occurs they may be presented with additional offers, mostly potentially unwanted software or adware.
Publisher:
Astro Superb (Fried Cookie Ltd.)  (signed and verified)

Product:
Software Internet

Description:
Software Internet Setup

Version:
5.2.3.7

MD5:
79fe0a34d459a1686c3ba4f2da03d565

SHA-1:
f030ac01a90eafd7a20b01976c78b036d4c955ba

SHA-256:
c60c777e73c51a5f7c192e9bd1664081d61c4c4af7da5f4433a3ffb8c3ea763f

Scanner detections:
1 / 68

Status:
Adware

Explanation:
Uses the InstallCore download manager to install additional potentially unwanted software which may include extensions such as DealPly and various toolbars.

Description:
This is also known as bundleware, or downloadware, which is an downloader designed to simply deliver ad-supported offers in the setup routine of an otherwise legitimate software.

Analysis date:
5/3/2024 5:24:44 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.InstallCore.Installer.Installer (M)
16.2.19.18

File size:
944.3 KB (966,992 bytes)

Product version:
3.5

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
installCore (using Inno Setup)

Language:
Language Neutral

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\appdata\local\microsoft\windows\inetcache\ie\{random}\vlc-media-player.exe

Digital Signature
Authority:
GlobalSign nv-sa

Valid from:
12/17/2015 12:57:20 PM

Valid to:
6/22/2016 5:03:14 PM

Subject:
CN=Astro Superb (Fried Cookie Ltd.), O=Astro Superb (Fried Cookie Ltd.), L=Tel Aviv, C=IL

Issuer:
CN=GlobalSign CodeSigning CA - SHA256 - G2, O=GlobalSign nv-sa, C=BE

Serial number:
1121A3B980ACCEBE32A4BE220BFCDAA8F3D0

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
6/20/1992 12:22:17 AM

OS version:
1.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
2.25

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:wKuxVbZ1DNQ4t/Z0/r4yGkrxWGmEiuYNeEzpSC:wbZJTVZQrFrHxEzpSC

Entry address:
0x9C40

Entry point:
55, 8B, EC, 83, C4, C4, 53, 56, 57, 33, C0, 89, 45, F0, 89, 45, DC, E8, 86, 94, FF, FF, E8, 8D, A6, FF, FF, E8, 1C, A9, FF, FF, E8, 53, C9, FF, FF, E8, 9A, C9, FF, FF, E8, C9, F2, FF, FF, E8, 30, F4, FF, FF, 33, C0, 55, 68, FC, A2, 40, 00, 64, FF, 30, 64, 89, 20, 33, D2, 55, 68, C5, A2, 40, 00, 64, FF, 32, 64, 89, 22, A1, 14, C0, 40, 00, E8, 96, FE, FF, FF, E8, C9, FA, FF, FF, 8D, 55, F0, 33, C0, E8, 83, CF, FF, FF, 8B, 55, F0, B8, 24, CE, 40, 00, E8, 32, 95, FF, FF, 6A, 02, 6A, 00, 6A, 01, 8B, 0D, 24, CE...
 
[+]

Packer / compiler:
Inno Setup v5.x - Installer Maker

Code size:
37 KB (37,888 bytes)

The file vlc-media-player.exe has been seen being distributed by the following URL.

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