MalwareTips
Threat LensFile scan report

Is Cartoon M.U.G.E.N.exe safe?

Verdict
Suspicious

Generic detections, unsigned UPX-style packing, and direct-IP activity warrant caution, although tier-1 engines and the completed sandbox provide no malware confirmation.

Eight of 76 engines flagged this executable, but none of the 17 tier-1 engines did, and no named malware family emerged. Its unsigned, packed structure and two direct-IP contacts justify caution because those addresses were not reputation-checked, though the sandbox found no offensive behavior, malicious verdict, persistence, or dropped payload.

Do not run it until verified

Avoid executing it until the original distributor and hash are verified. Keep security protection enabled and quarantine or test only in an isolated disposable environment.

Read the full analysis
Saved file evidenceAntivirus consensus
8of 76 flagged
Flagged 8No detection 68
Digital specimenCartoon M.U.G.E.N.exe0ecd998611d15f50eb…1a35abf504fa04
Size294.0 KB
Code signingUnsigned
SandboxRuntime complete
First seen14y ago
Evidence3 priority signals
1 high-confidence signature or behavior rule matched this file.

Recommended next actions

01

Before running

Do not run it until the source and publisher can be verified independently.

02

If you already ran it

Stop using it, scan the device, and watch for unexpected behavior or security alerts. Get a fresh copy from the developer's official site or an official app store.

Chapter 02

Intelligence

The saved assessment, checked against the scan evidence and recorded coverage.

MT AI Engine · Verdict analysis

The reasoning behind this verdict

This section explains the evidence supporting the verdict and keeps conflicting or missing signals visible.

72%Confidence
High
Analyst conclusion

Eight of 76 engines flagged this executable, but none of the 17 tier-1 engines did, and no named malware family emerged. Its unsigned, packed structure and two direct-IP contacts justify caution because those addresses were not reputation-checked, though the sandbox found no offensive behavior, malicious verdict, persistence, or dropped payload.

Where this verdict could be wrong4 caveats
  • All 17 tier-1 engines, including Avast, BitDefender, ESET-NOD32, Fortinet, and Ikarus, reported the sample undetected.
  • The completed sandbox produced no malicious verdict, no persistence indicators, and no dropped-file hashes.
  • externalIntel.malwareBazaar.hit=false and externalIntel.yaraify.ruleCount=0 provide no independent malware-family corroboration, although absence of hits does not prove benignity.
  • The file was first submitted in 2012 and has 16 unique sources, reducing concern that it is a newly introduced sample.

These are the assessment's weak points. If you believe one applies to your file, report the verdict and we'll re-review it.

Recommended action

Avoid executing it until the original distributor and hash are verified. Keep security protection enabled and quarantine or test only in an isolated disposable environment.

Scan transparency

Coverage & freshness

4 of 5 complete

Complete means the check returned a usable result. It does not mean the file is safe.

  • Antivirus

    Complete

    8 of 76 engines flagged the file.

  • Sandbox

    Complete

    1 isolated runtime environment contributed observations.

  • Network

    Partial

    2 runtime contacts were observed without a completed reputation cross-check.

  • YARA

    Complete

    3 signature or behavior rules matched.

  • External intel

    Complete

    3 of 3 independent reference sources completed.

Chapter 03

Behavior

Plain-English impact first, then the observed runtime evidence.

Runtime flight recorder

Capture complete
  • 1isolated sandbox run
  • 5MITRE ATT&CK techniques
  • 2spawned processes
  • 2network contacts
  • 7filesystem & mutex artifacts

What this file does

Observed actions and their security significance

  • High concern: Used an input-capture technique that can record credentials or keystrokes.

  • High concern: Manipulated how the operating system loads code, which can redirect execution.

  • Moderate concern: Contained obfuscated or packed code that makes inspection harder.

  • Note: Collects details about your system.

  • Note: Connected to 2 servers during sandbox analysis.

These are observed capabilities from an isolated analysis. A technique does not prove malicious intent on its own, and the file never ran on your device.

Recorded behavior

Attack story

Runtime observations grouped by analysis stage. Arrows organize the stages; they do not claim chronology or causality.

ObservedDerived

5 recorded facts from one runtime window. Every fact remains independently traceable in Analyst mode.

Chapter 04

Detection & Forensics

Consensus, attribution, signatures, code structure, prevalence, and identity.

Chapter 05

Safety & FAQ

Complete recovery guidance and answers for the next decision.

What to do now

We couldn't fully clear this file. Treat it with caution.

  1. Recovery step 01

    Don't run it unless you're certain it came from a source you trust.

  2. Recovery step 02

    Check where you got it — an unexpected attachment or a random download link is a red flag.

  3. Recovery step 03

    If its origin cannot be confirmed, delete this file and use a fresh copy from a trusted source. Get a fresh copy from the developer's official site or an official app store.

  4. Recovery step 04

    If you're still unsure, scan it again in a day or two — detections often catch up on newer files.

Safety FAQ

Direct answers grounded in the saved verdict and evidence in this report.

7 evidence-based answers
Is Cartoon M.U.G.E.N.exe safe, or is it malware?
Evidence-based answer
Cartoon M.U.G.E.N.exe is suspicious — treat it as unsafe until you're sure. 8 of 76 antivirus engines flag it; that detection signal contributes to the cautious verdict. Don't run it unless you fully trust where it came from. Get a fresh copy from the developer's official site or an official app store.
What is Cartoon M.U.G.E.N.exe?
Evidence-based answer
Cartoon M.U.G.E.N.exe is a Windows executable program, about 294 KB. We identify a file by its cryptographic hash rather than its name, because the same filename can be reused by completely different files — the hash below is the reliable fingerprint.
How many antivirus engines detected Cartoon M.U.G.E.N.exe?
Evidence-based answer
8 of 76 antivirus engines flagged Cartoon M.U.G.E.N.exe, 8 of them as outright malicious. The raw count alone does not establish safety or danger; we also weigh which engines flagged it and corroborating behavior, identity, reputation, and rule evidence.
What should I do if I already ran Cartoon M.U.G.E.N.exe?
Evidence-based answer
Act quickly. 1) Disconnect the device from the internet to stop the malware communicating or spreading. 2) Run a full scan with reputable anti-malware software (such as Malwarebytes) and quarantine everything it finds. 3) Change your important passwords from a DIFFERENT, clean device — many threats log keystrokes or steal saved credentials. 4) If you bank or shop on this device, watch closely for fraud and alert your bank. 5) For a confirmed infection, the most reliable fix is to back up your personal files and reinstall the operating system for a clean start.
How do I remove Cartoon M.U.G.E.N.exe?
Evidence-based answer
To remove Cartoon M.U.G.E.N.exe: 1) restart into Safe Mode (Safe Mode with Networking if you need to download a tool) so the malware doesn't auto-start. 2) Run a full scan with reputable anti-malware software and let it quarantine or delete the detections. 3) Delete this file from the device, then empty the Recycle Bin or Trash. 4) Check your browser extensions, startup items, and scheduled tasks for anything unfamiliar. 5) Reboot and scan again to confirm it's gone. If detections keep coming back, a clean operating-system reinstall is the most dependable cure.
What is the SHA-256 hash of Cartoon M.U.G.E.N.exe?
Evidence-based answer
The SHA-256 hash of Cartoon M.U.G.E.N.exe is 0ecd998611d15f50ebd188f1fcda8d8919b76bd9c6aab5dea61a35abf504fa04, and its MD5 is 9daeea495f200eb6f811b1429629c0f7. This hash is the file's unique fingerprint — two files with the same SHA-256 are identical. Use it to confirm you're looking at exactly this file (not just one with the same name) when comparing against antivirus databases or a download's published checksum.
How up to date is this analysis of Cartoon M.U.G.E.N.exe?
Evidence-based answer
This report reflects the scan run on September 22, 2026. Because a file's hash never changes, the identity of Cartoon M.U.G.E.N.exe is fixed — but antivirus coverage improves over time, so a file that looks clean today can pick up detections later (and vice-versa). If you need the latest picture, MalwareTips staff can re-run the analysis from scratch.
Chapter 06

Community

Member reviews and reports for this exact file hash.

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The raw file is processed temporarily and is not retained after processing. Its hash and report are public and permanent, so the next person who checks the same file gets an instant answer. Unknown files may be submitted to VirusTotal for analysis. If you ran this file on your computer and are worried, scan your system with an up-to-date antivirus and change critical passwords from a different device.