vlc.exe

App secure LLC

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 App secure 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. The installer is marketed through download protals and search ads as the VideoLAN VLC media player but will also install additional software offers which include adware, PUPs and browser toolbars.
Publisher:
App secure LLC  (signed and verified)

MD5:
0c46feb9a0b2cedbc5c295b095ba422c

SHA-1:
741123d40ac74615421cdc717e1224d6831efa37

SHA-256:
714b39fb05dd36d4e7c300f03fe6226a28b560a19b900b7a6798fb80788901b3

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 an installer which may bundle legitimate applications with offers for additional 3rd-party applications that may be unwanted by the user. While the installer contains an 'opt-out' feature this is not set be defult and is usually overlooked.

Analysis date:
5/15/2024 6:13:59 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.Softpulse.Appsecur.Bundler (M)
16.5.22.15

File size:
623.1 KB (638,008 bytes)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
Softpulse SoftwareBundler (using Nullsoft Install System)

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

Digital Signature
Signed by:

Authority:
VeriSign, Inc.

Valid from:
12/16/2014 7:00:00 PM

Valid to:
12/17/2015 6:59:59 PM

Subject:
CN=App secure LLC, O=App secure LLC, L=Wilmington, S=Delaware, 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:
5D0A1845D85007CD040B350F48C5F721

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
2/24/2012 2:20:04 PM

OS version:
5.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
10.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
12288:h0gm6vn/e6aGf562DRz3Hxh3tCvJujtdA8cNtsQuLFtuKtGDA:OP6ne6aGB9zhRtjhd3+tsQoFtuKtJ

Entry address:
0x38AF

Entry point:
81, EC, D4, 02, 00, 00, 53, 55, 56, 57, 6A, 20, 33, ED, 5E, 89, 6C, 24, 18, C7, 44, 24, 10, 68, A2, 40, 00, 89, 6C, 24, 14, FF, 15, 30, 90, 40, 00, 68, 01, 80, 00, 00, FF, 15, B4, 90, 40, 00, 55, FF, 15, C0, 92, 40, 00, 6A, 08, A3, 98, EB, 47, 00, E8, 36, 2A, 00, 00, 55, 68, B4, 02, 00, 00, A3, B0, EA, 47, 00, 8D, 44, 24, 38, 50, 55, 68, 64, A2, 40, 00, FF, 15, 84, 91, 40, 00, 68, 4C, A2, 40, 00, 68, A0, 6A, 47, 00, E8, 18, 27, 00, 00, FF, 15, B0, 90, 40, 00, 50, BF, A0, F0, 4C, 00, 57, E8, 06, 27, 00, 00...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.9626

Packer / compiler:
Nullsoft install system v2.x

Code size:
29 KB (29,696 bytes)

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

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