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:
5fb88d326785622113bc13e170b015b3

SHA-1:
b2a39c0b24ca229e114c8a031ea1902667886fa4

SHA-256:
7c72d70ff66d805f3113720792b2692679d41955caf2c95e627269ede2cf378c

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 9:42:13 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.InstallCore.FC.Installer (M)
16.3.26.10

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:
Language Neutral

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

Digital Signature
Authority:
GlobalSign nv-sa

Valid from:
12/17/2015 6:15:18 AM

Valid to:
6/2/2016 9:37:39 AM

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:
6/19/1992 4:22:17 PM

OS version:
1.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
2.25

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:jkri+OiML1DPOUG6XcBZ6BeOm6x1eRhBcknHB/YPXsaEgc:jZ7h1iUTcBZ96x1wjcuW0aNc

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...
 
[+]

Entropy:
7.9152

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 URL.

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