vlc.exe

Softpulse S.l.

This is the Softpulse installer which bundles applications with offers for additional 3rd party software, mostly unwanted adware, and may be installed with minimal consent. The application vlc.exe by Softpulse S.l 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 Softpulse SoftwareBundler installer. 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:
Softpulse S.l.  (signed and verified)

MD5:
d291cc928828fb6f718de299dda0765c

SHA-1:
6688f3ab5e41b577521d750390671ee7bd2a6a0e

SHA-256:
88571a23255f21d9befbbf8bd47e5507f13a99a03e4b89edae29a97a52408bdc

Scanner detections:
1 / 68

Status:
Adware

Note:
Our current pool of anti-malware engines have not currently detected this file, however based on our own detection heuristics we feel that this file is unwanted.

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:
5/13/2024 8:50:22 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Softpulse.SoftpulseSl.Bundler (M)
16.1.20.4

File size:
548.8 KB (561,960 bytes)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Softpulse SoftwareBundler

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\downloads\vlc.exe

Digital Signature
Signed by:

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
7/23/2014 7:00:00 AM

Valid to:
7/24/2015 6:59:59 AM

Subject:
CN=Softpulse S.l., O=Softpulse S.l., L=Guia de Isora, S=Santa Cruz de Tenerife, C=ES

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:
492522DB26914D38C21A797768B88A13

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
3/26/2015 8:49:32 PM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
9.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
12288:Al/NiIoYAbvZO7wNJgHO78VN4zN8EMDOVUjW3Xg8oSABBg:AZjoY4EEyHWqN6KjzbPg

Entry address:
0x1E3F00

Entry point:
60, BE, 00, 60, 56, 00, 8D, BE, 00, B0, E9, FF, 57, 89, E5, 8D, 9C, 24, 80, C1, FF, FF, 31, C0, 50, 39, DC, 75, FB, 46, 46, 53, 68, 29, 15, 1E, 00, 57, 83, C3, 04, 53, 68, FA, DE, 07, 00, 56, 83, C3, 04, 53, 50, C7, 03, 03, 00, 02, 00, 90, 90, 90, 90, 90, 55, 57, 56, 53, 83, EC, 7C, 8B, 94, 24, 90, 00, 00, 00, C7, 44, 24, 74, 00, 00, 00, 00, C6, 44, 24, 73, 00, 8B, AC, 24, 9C, 00, 00, 00, 8D, 42, 04, 89, 44, 24, 78, B8, 01, 00, 00, 00, 0F, B6, 4A, 02, 89, C3, D3, E3, 89, D9, 49, 89, 4C, 24, 6C, 0F, B6, 4A...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.9451  (probably packed)

Code size:
508 KB (520,192 bytes)

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

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