vststubsetup.exe

Astro Network (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 vststubsetup.exe by Astro Network (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.
Publisher:
Astro Network (Fried Cookie Ltd.)  (signed and verified)

MD5:
405f88677db9d61806cad472ec4e470a

SHA-1:
3b3bc4581e982811d7c4b2bb0f6e4356ade8c5ad

SHA-256:
652ccbc342e9dc1ce38aff1223b887b89280c2b5e2d89cd264f47f39a85bdbfe

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:
1/13/2025 7:18:41 AM UTC  (today)

Scan engine
Detection
Engine version

Reason Heuristics
PUP.InstallCore.FC (M)
17.1.25.22

File size:
86 KB (88,032 bytes)

File type:
Executable application (Win32 EXE)

Bundler/Installer:
installCore

Common path:
C:\users\{user}\appdata\local\temp\vststubsetup.exe

Digital Signature
Authority:
GlobalSign nv-sa

Valid from:
12/3/2014 2:45:40 PM

Valid to:
12/4/2015 2:45:40 PM

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

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

Serial number:
11218A773E9DB57322B93ED4AD64BBEF92D6

File PE Metadata
Compilation timestamp:
6/19/1992 7:22:17 PM

OS version:
4.0

OS bitness:
Win32

Subsystem:
Windows GUI

Linker version:
2.25

Entry address:
0x1342C

Entry point:
55, 8B, EC, 83, C4, F0, B8, CC, 33, 41, 00, E8, CC, 15, FF, FF, E8, AB, F2, FE, FF, 83, F8, 63, 75, 68, EF, 40, 03, 00, E2, CD, 02, 00, 65, CC, 39, 00, A7, 9F, 0B, 00, E1, 48, 53, 00, CB, B3, 06, 00, 8B, 52, 00, 00, FA, 00, 02, 00, DD, 40, 03, 00, F2, DB, 02, 00, 2F, D2, 12, 02, C7, E8, 74, 00, F9, A9, 57, 00, 07, 91, 06, 00, 7D, 62, 00, 00, FA, 00, 02, 00, DB, 40, 03, 00, 69, 1E, 87, 00, 0B, A1, 06, 00, 71, 7D, 00, 00, 2A, E7, 04, 00, DB, 40, 03, 00, 69, 1E, 87, 00, 0B, A1, 06, 00, 71, 7D, 00, 00, 2A, E7...
 
[+]

Developed / compiled with:
Microsoft Visual C++

Code size:
73.5 KB (75,264 bytes)

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