vlc-media-player.exe

Program Setup

Astro Superb (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 Astro Superb (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. The installer is marketed through download protals and search ads as the VideoLAN VLC media player but will also install additional software offers which include adware, PUPs and browser toolbars.
Publisher:
SecuredDownload  (signed by Astro Superb (Fried Cookie Ltd.))

Product:
Program Setup

Version:
1.0.5.a0.1_53303

MD5:
668383e3f78ab3a1689f331d58fb740c

SHA-1:
f8436dd3283c4dddb0f5a7fb6219280f66e3867e

SHA-256:
f69694ff01197be65277d98eda195ca71313fad75996774a5d3988309f5086d0

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 an installer which may bundle legitimate applications with offers for additional 3rd-party applications that may be unwanted by the user. While the installer contains an 'opt-out' feature this is not set be defult and is usually overlooked.

Analysis date:
12/25/2024 5:08:16 PM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.InstallCore.FC.Installer (M)
16.3.6.3

File size:
1 MB (1,087,976 bytes)

Product version:
1.0.5.a0.1_53303

Copyright:
SecuredDownload

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
installCore (using Inno Setup)

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

Digital Signature
Authority:
GlobalSign nv-sa

Valid from:
12/17/2015 12:57:20 PM

Valid to:
6/22/2016 5:03:14 PM

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

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

Serial number:
1121A3B980ACCEBE32A4BE220BFCDAA8F3D0

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
6/20/1992 12:22:17 AM

OS version:
1.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
2.25

CTPH (ssdeep):
24576:+SsZeTpVzldAIFsUDg/OR0ai46IKMY/ezqOt9CiYI6:+FYTjzldxsUDg/O2ai4HKMY/ezft9Ci

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 URL.

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