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:
45376dee03bf6f6c9ceb4c5c5e9cadba

SHA-1:
4da2d54233b38308fe3da46b6d951bc3ca04e159

SHA-256:
8dd1956edc9bf37ab5d5e787c2aae5b91b45149b2b9963f38dbfcef6e2e9bca0

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:
12/26/2024 12:48:30 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.InstallMetrix.StartIns (M)
16.6.26.17

File size:
1.1 MB (1,148,056 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:
7/29/2014 5:00:00 PM

Valid to:
7/30/2015 4:59:59 PM

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 4:56:42 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
11.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:ytb20pkaCqT5TBWgNQ7aVQ8P/F25gB8It6NG6AE:/Vg5tQ7aVpP/FF+7A5E

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:
7.0568

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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