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:
2fa5e52b84b14e01a143d013c075727d

SHA-1:
fb51161835294e0ae89d17db176d358f2d037df8

SHA-256:
ab1cc078b70b5ee5bf1d8d075726eb172eb70544c584084af186cf37c1a1cfd6

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 6:00:01 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.InstallMetrix.StartIns (M)
16.6.10.8

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 8:00:00 PM

Valid to:
7/30/2015 7:59:59 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:
6/14/2015 8:37:45 PM

OS version:
5.1

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
11.0

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:ytb20pkaCqT5TBWgNQ7adQ8P/Fo5gB8It6+R6Au:/Vg5tQ7adpP/Fz+7s5u

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.

Remove flashplayer_updater.exe - Powered by Reason Core Security