flashplayer_updater.exe

Start Installer

This is the InstallMetrix bundle installer which bundles applications with offers for additional 3rd party software, mostly unwanted adware, and may be installed with minimal consent. The application flashplayer_updater.exe by Start Installer 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 InstallMetrix Software installer. The installer is marketed through download protals and search ads as the free Adobe Flash Player but will also install additional software offers which include adware, PUPs and browser toolbars.
Publisher:
Start Installer  (signed and verified)

MD5:
6a0f45b7c5fbe1dd6f757f7fe8f7a17f

SHA-1:
45b7d1cdf7fd313515242e7494c179c6d0e670e5

SHA-256:
c66d8c1596610e189646798b990900a6c7f2f6791e55dc518fb7d427232f2068

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 'download manager' is also considered bundleware, a utility designed to download software (possibly legitimate or opensource) and bundle it with a number of optional offers including ad-supported utilities, toolbars, shopping comparison tools and browser extensions.

Analysis date:
11/16/2024 5:59:00 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.InstallMetrix (M)
16.8.4.14

File size:
1.1 MB (1,149,080 bytes)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
InstallMetrix Software

Language:
English (United Kingdom)

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

Digital Signature
Signed by:

Authority:
COMODO CA Limited

Valid from:
7/30/2014 1:00:00 AM

Valid to:
7/31/2015 12:59:59 AM

Subject:
CN=Start Installer, OU=Start Installer, O=Start Installer, STREET="660 4th Street, Suite #427", L=San Francisco, S=California, PostalCode=94107, C=US

Issuer:
CN=COMODO Code Signing CA 2, O=COMODO CA Limited, L=Salford, S=Greater Manchester, C=GB

Serial number:
698FCE4EEDDA7C3853C0A7CDE049BA16

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
6/13/2015 9:42:46 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
11.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:xtb20pkaCqT5TBWgNQ7aqQ8P/F+5gB8It6ID8A36A7:CVg5tQ7aqpP/FN+7ID8c57

Entry address:
0x25F74

Entry point:
E8, 6A, CE, 00, 00, E9, 7F, FE, FF, FF, CC, CC, 57, 56, 8B, 74, 24, 10, 8B, 4C, 24, 14, 8B, 7C, 24, 0C, 8B, C1, 8B, D1, 03, C6, 3B, FE, 76, 08, 3B, F8, 0F, 82, 68, 03, 00, 00, 0F, BA, 25, 58, 01, 4C, 00, 01, 73, 07, F3, A4, E9, 17, 03, 00, 00, 81, F9, 80, 00, 00, 00, 0F, 82, CE, 01, 00, 00, 8B, C7, 33, C6, A9, 0F, 00, 00, 00, 75, 0E, 0F, BA, 25, 70, A3, 4B, 00, 01, 0F, 82, DA, 04, 00, 00, 0F, BA, 25, 58, 01, 4C, 00, 00, 0F, 83, A7, 01, 00, 00, F7, C7, 03, 00, 00, 00, 0F, 85, B8, 01, 00, 00, F7, C6, 03, 00...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.0581

Code size:
557.5 KB (570,880 bytes)

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

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