Is Setup.exe safe?
Unsigned installer with process-injection and direct-IP behaviour but zero engine detections and common-old prevalence.
74 engines report clean, yet the file is unsigned and exhibits T1055/T1134 techniques plus direct-IP traffic. Similar imphash matches include confirmed cracks, but all lack signer correlation. The combination of offensive runtime signals and unsigned status outweighs the clean engine results.
29ac1e27a909e4779e…be9ec57ff8a9daRecommended next actions
Before installing
Do not install it until the source and publisher can be verified independently.
If you already installed it
Stop using it, scan the device, and watch for unexpected behavior or security alerts. Download a fresh installer from the developer's official site or an official app store.
Intelligence
The saved assessment, checked against the scan evidence and recorded coverage.
The reasoning behind this verdict
This section explains the evidence supporting the verdict and keeps conflicting or missing signals visible.
74 engines report clean, yet the file is unsigned and exhibits T1055/T1134 techniques plus direct-IP traffic. Similar imphash matches include confirmed cracks, but all lack signer correlation. The combination of offensive runtime signals and unsigned status outweighs the clean engine results.
Zero detections across 74 engines including 16 tier-1 is a strong clean signal, but the file is unsigned and the sandbox recorded process-injection and token-manipulation techniques. Direct-IP connections without domain resolution add uncertainty. Five prior imphash matches show mixed malicious verdicts, all framework collisions without signer context. Prevalence is common_old, yet the absence of a verified publisher and the presence of offensive MITRE techniques keep the file in mixed-signals territory.
What We Detected
74 antivirus engines scanned the 1.8 MB Setup.exe; none flagged malicious code. The binary is unsigned despite being an installer. Sandbox execution revealed MITRE T1055 (process injection) and T1134 (token manipulation) plus direct-IP connections to 17 addresses.
Threat Behavior
Offensive techniques observed are commonly used by both legitimate installers and malware. No malicious child processes were dropped and no sandbox verdict was malicious. Host-reputation cross-check data is unavailable.
What To Do Now
Because the file is unsigned and shows process-injection behaviour, treat it with caution. Run it only in an isolated environment or obtain a signed copy from the original vendor. Keep endpoint protection enabled.
Where this verdict could be wrong1 caveat
- similarHashes show 3/5 prior imphash matches flagged malicious as crack or kepavll, but all are signerCoMatch=false framework collisions; no signer history available to corroborate.
These are the assessment's weak points. If you believe one applies to your file, report the verdict and we'll re-review it.
- 0/74 engines flagged malicious
- common_old prevalence with 455 sources
- no malicious dropped children
- no malicious sandbox verdict
- unsigned executable claiming installer role
- observed T1055 and T1134 techniques
- direct-IP traffic without domain resolution
- imphash matches to prior crack-family samples
Do not execute on production systems until a signed version from the legitimate publisher is obtained or the file is re-scanned after additional host-reputation data becomes available.
Coverage & freshness
Complete means the check returned a usable result. It does not mean the file is safe.
Antivirus
Complete0 of 74 engines flagged the file.
Sandbox
Complete1 isolated runtime environment contributed observations.
Network
Partial20 runtime contacts were observed without a completed reputation cross-check.
YARA
Complete2 signature or behavior rules matched.
External intel
Complete3 of 3 independent reference sources completed.
Behavior
Plain-English impact first, then the observed runtime evidence.
Runtime flight recorder
Capture complete- 1isolated sandbox run
- 17MITRE ATT&CK techniques
- 15spawned processes
- 20network contacts
- 40filesystem & mutex artifacts
What this file does
Observed actions and their security significance
High concern: Injected code into another process, a technique that can conceal execution.
High concern: Used an input-capture technique that can record credentials or keystrokes.
Moderate concern: Contained obfuscated or packed code that makes inspection harder.
Moderate concern: Runs hidden system commands (script or shell).
Moderate concern: Communicated over a common application protocol; malware can use this for command-and-control.
Moderate concern: Scans through your files and folders.
Moderate concern: Decoded or unpacked concealed content while running.
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.
Attack story
Runtime observations grouped by analysis stage. Arrows organize the stages; they do not claim chronology or causality.
Input file
The submitted object
- FileObserved
Setup.exe
29ac1e27a909e4779e7a447da7a5310cb67394b08652c8a159be9ec57ff8a9da
01Uploaded file
Processes
Runtime execution
- ProcessObserved
Observed process
"C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\executable.exe"
02Isolated runtime analysis - ProcessObserved
Observed process
"C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-O935H.tmp\executable.tmp" /SL5="$20182,1329244,251904,C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\executable.exe"
03Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
Files
Created or changed
- Written fileObserved
996E.tmp
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\is-JO767.tmp\996E.tmp
04Isolated runtime analysis - Written fileObserved
_shfoldr.dll
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\is-7U72A.tmp\_isetup\_shfoldr.dll
05Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
Network
Hosts contacted
- Contacted hostObserved
23.206.222.123
Contact observed during runtime.
06Isolated runtime analysis - Contacted hostObserved
23.216.147.76
Contact observed during runtime.
07Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
7 recorded facts from one runtime window. Every fact remains independently traceable in Analyst mode.
What this file did when executed
This file was detonated in 1 sandbox and its runtime behaviour was observed.
Adversary techniques mapped to the MITRE ATT&CK framework.
- 23.206.222.123
- 23.216.147.76
- 20.99.132.105
- a83f:8110:6100:7900:6f00:7500:7400:5000
- 192.168.0.24
- 23.216.147.64
- 20.99.184.37
- 20.99.185.48
- 192.229.211.108
- 20.99.186.246
- C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\is-JO767.tmp\996E.tmp
- C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\is-7U72A.tmp\_isetup\_shfoldr.dll
- C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\is-7U72A.tmp\ISDone.dll
- C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\is-7U72A.tmp\image.bmp
- C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\is-7U72A.tmp\wintb.dll
- C:\Windows\System32\spp\store\2.0\cache\cache.dat
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER2A47.tmp.WERInternalMetadata.xml
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER2B02.tmp.csv
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER2B32.tmp.txt
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER3034.tmp.WERInternalMetadata.xml
- Local\RstrMgr3887CAB8-533F-4C85-B0DC-3E5639F8D511
- Local\RstrMgr-3887CAB8-533F-4C85-B0DC-3E5639F8D511-Session0000
- CTF.LBES.MutexDefaultS-1-5-21-1482476501-1645522239-1417001333-500
- CTF.Compart.MutexDefaultS-1-5-21-1482476501-1645522239-1417001333-500
- CTF.Asm.MutexDefaultS-1-5-21-1482476501-1645522239-1417001333-500
Files this sample writes at runtime
This file drops 10 children at runtime. None are currently flagged malicious in our cache.
- 634e3907d4a61c2c7098…47e4ceNever scannednever seen before
- d92f7c60256509f74e36…62ea29Never scannednever seen before
- 41009b294943ce9e1270…0f0207Never scannednever seen before
- f3eda901a4926e6d8b09…a370f4Never scannednever seen before
- 0c661bad5df7f74a0e82…2267f7Never scannednever seen before
- 9884e9d1b4f8a873ccbd…360d87Never scannednever seen before
- e1b6f4dc9ba12e110b33…9ff38eNever scannednever seen before
- 0911757eecca98408c99…f91ed7Never scannednever seen before
- 0176f93f9e9dc776f794…87fe8dNever scannednever seen before
- 1cfa41921dce01991640…81391eNever scannednever seen before
Detection & Forensics
Consensus, attribution, signatures, code structure, prevalence, and identity.
Evidence integrity
Chain of custody for the facts preserved in this report.
- 2rule hits recorded
- 0 / 74engines flagged
- 455sources in submission history
Why these facts are shown
Each statement identifies whether it was directly recorded or derived from saved scan facts.
- 01
1 high-confidence signature or behavior rule matched this file.
Verdict inputView chapterProvenanceDerivedSourceSignature and behavior rulesObserved at - 02
0 of 74 antivirus engines flagged the file.
ProvenanceObservedSourceAntivirus analysisObserved at - 03
The hash has a long, established submission history across 455 sources.
ProvenanceDerivedSourceSubmission historyObserved at - 04
Scanned file: Setup.exe — 29ac1e27a909e4779e7a447da7a5310cb67394b08652c8a159be9ec57ff8a9da
ProvenanceObservedSourceUploaded fileObserved at - 05
Observed process — "C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\executable.exe"
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 06
Observed process — "C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-O935H.tmp\executable.tmp" /SL5="$20182,1329244,251904,C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\executable.exe"
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 07
File written: 996E.tmp — C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\is-JO767.tmp\996E.tmp
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 08
File written: _shfoldr.dll — C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\is-7U72A.tmp\_isetup\_shfoldr.dll
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 09
Contacted host: 23.206.222.123 — Contact observed during runtime.
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 10
Contacted host: 23.216.147.76 — Contact observed during runtime.
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at
Detection sources at a glance
The available sources did not agree on a named threat category.
MalwareBazaar, YARAify, and CIRCL hashlookup completed and returned no entries for this hash.
Signatures and behavior heuristics
A community signature or high-severity behavioral heuristic matched. Signatures identify known patterns; heuristics are strong leads but are not proof on their own.
The saved runtime evidence maps this activity to MITRE T1055 (Process Injection). The mapping supports possible process injection, but it does not prove the exact injection method or the operator's intent.
EvidenceC:\Windows\Explorer.EXEThe sample contacted an external IP address directly and no application domain was recorded. Direct-IP traffic also occurs in legitimate installers and infrastructure, so this is supporting context only and requires corroboration from host reputation and other runtime evidence.
Evidence23.206.222.123 · 23.216.147.76 · 20.99.132.105
0 of 74 engines flagged this file
View all 74 engine results
Section entropy & packers
No high-entropy executable section or known packer signature was detected. Data and resource sections can still have high entropy without indicating packed code.
How widely this file has been seen
Widely seen in the wild for a long time. High prior this is legitimate; isolated detections on common-old files are usually false positives.
Fingerprint and provenance
- File name
- Setup.exe
- Format
- Win32 EXE
- Code signing
- No verified publisher
- Size
- 1.8 MB
- Last analyzed
- Sep 5, 2026, 4:36 PM UTC
29ac1e27a909e4779e7a447da7a5310cb67394b08652c8a159be9ec57ff8a9daSafety & 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.
- Recovery step 01
Don't install it unless you're certain it came from a source you trust.
- Recovery step 02
Check where you got it — an unexpected attachment or a random download link is a red flag.
- Recovery step 03
If its origin cannot be confirmed, delete this file and use a fresh copy from a trusted source. Download a fresh installer from the developer's official site or an official app store.
- 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.
Is Setup.exe safe, or is it malware?
What is Setup.exe?
How many antivirus engines detected Setup.exe?
What should I do if I already installed Setup.exe?
How do I remove Setup.exe?
What is the SHA-256 hash of Setup.exe?
How up to date is this analysis of Setup.exe?
Community
Member reviews and reports for this exact file hash.