vlc-media-player.exe

Program Setup

FunnelFlash (Fried Cookie Ltd)

The Fried Cookie installer utilizes the InstallCore download manager which may bundle additional offers for various ad-supported toolbars, extensions and utilities. The application vlc-media-player.exe by FunnelFlash (Fried Cookie) 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 installCore installer. The setup program uses the InstallCore engine which may bundle additional software offers including toolbars and browser extensions. 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:
SecuredDownload  (signed by FunnelFlash (Fried Cookie Ltd))

Product:
Program Setup

Version:
1.0.5.a0.1_54528

MD5:
d7d2191d13098ea68279d855f6aa95be

SHA-1:
5653eada299333bacc8c80a0a1f22429d58e0d74

SHA-256:
053541fa4a31ad3aa81b87614e81b8b79c44ebe5b27bf6ca26bf5cca56127bf3

Scanner detections:
1 / 68

Status:
Adware

Explanation:
Uses the InstallCore download manager to install additional potentially unwanted software which may include extensions such as DealPly and various toolbars.

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:
2/26/2025 1:56:58 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.InstallCore.FC.Installer (M)
16.3.26.2

File size:
1006.1 KB (1,030,280 bytes)

Product version:
1.0.5.a0.1_54528

Copyright:
SecuredDownload

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
installCore (using Inno Setup)

Language:
Swedish (Sweden)

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

Digital Signature
Authority:
GlobalSign nv-sa

Valid from:
12/17/2015 3:15:18 PM

Valid to:
6/2/2016 6:37:39 PM

Subject:
CN=FunnelFlash (Fried Cookie Ltd), O=FunnelFlash (Fried Cookie Ltd), L=Tel Aviv, C=IL

Issuer:
CN=GlobalSign CodeSigning CA - SHA256 - G2, O=GlobalSign nv-sa, C=BE

Serial number:
112174E2E69934660E5CFB4EA6713CBE4561

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
6/20/1992 1:22:17 AM

OS version:
1.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
2.25

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:Qkri+OiML1DPOUG6XcBZ6BeOm6x1eRhBcknHB/YPXsaEgc:QZ7h1iUTcBZ96x1wjcuW0aNc

Entry address:
0x9C40

Entry point:
55, 8B, EC, 83, C4, C4, 53, 56, 57, 33, C0, 89, 45, F0, 89, 45, DC, E8, 86, 94, FF, FF, E8, 8D, A6, FF, FF, E8, 1C, A9, FF, FF, E8, 53, C9, FF, FF, E8, 9A, C9, FF, FF, E8, C9, F2, FF, FF, E8, 30, F4, FF, FF, 33, C0, 55, 68, FC, A2, 40, 00, 64, FF, 30, 64, 89, 20, 33, D2, 55, 68, C5, A2, 40, 00, 64, FF, 32, 64, 89, 22, A1, 14, C0, 40, 00, E8, 96, FE, FF, FF, E8, C9, FA, FF, FF, 8D, 55, F0, 33, C0, E8, 83, CF, FF, FF, 8B, 55, F0, B8, 24, CE, 40, 00, E8, 32, 95, FF, FF, 6A, 02, 6A, 00, 6A, 01, 8B, 0D, 24, CE...
 
[+]

Packer / compiler:
Inno Setup v5.x - Installer Maker

Code size:
37 KB (37,888 bytes)

The file vlc-media-player.exe has been seen being distributed by the following 2 URLs.

Remove vlc-media-player.exe - Powered by Reason Core Security