Is Fishstrap.dll safe?
Only APEX flagged this unsigned file, but process-injection telemetry and 21 community YARA matches justify caution despite otherwise limited corroboration.
The antivirus result strongly resembles a false positive: only 1 of 75 engines flagged the file, and no tier-1 engine agreed. However, the unsigned executable produced T1055 process-injection telemetry and matched 21 community YARA rules, so those unresolved signals warrant caution until the file's source and behavior are independently verified.
3b4e1547513565abf4…1699a4864efe07Recommended next actions
Before using
Do not use it until the source and publisher can be verified independently.
If you already used it
Stop using it, scan the device, and watch for unexpected behavior or security alerts. Reinstall the parent software from the developer's official site instead of replacing this component by itself.
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.
The antivirus result strongly resembles a false positive: only 1 of 75 engines flagged the file, and no tier-1 engine agreed. However, the unsigned executable produced T1055 process-injection telemetry and matched 21 community YARA rules, so those unresolved signals warrant caution until the file's source and behavior are independently verified.
APEX was the only engine to flag the sample among 75 engines, while all 17 tier-1 engines reported no detection. That pattern substantially favors a false positive, and the completed sandbox did not issue a malicious verdict. However, runtime telemetry mapped activity to T1055 Process Injection, and 21 community YARA rules matched the file, creating meaningful counter-evidence. Those YARA rules appear broad and do not converge on a named family, while no inspected child was identified as malicious. The host-reputation cross-check covered only part of the observed network set, so it cannot establish that every no complete contacted-host reputation result was available. Overall, the evidence remains mixed rather than supporting either a confident malware attribution or an unqualified benign assessment.
What We Detected
Only APEX flagged the sample: 1 of 75 engines, with no detections from the 17 tier-1 engines. This low-trust-only pattern often indicates a false positive. The executable is unsigned, however, and externalIntel.yaraify.ruleCount=21 shows numerous community-rule matches, including Any_SU_Domain, DebuggerCheck__API, DetectEncryptedVariants, and dsc.
Threat Behavior
One completed sandbox run mapped activity to T1055 Process Injection, an offensive technique that deserves caution, although the sandbox itself did not issue a malicious verdict. Ten additional techniques were benign-common, no persistence indicators were recorded, and droppedChildren.hasMaliciousChild=false after five children were inspected. The host cache inspected 20 contacts without finding a malicious or suspicious entry, but that did not cover every distinct observed domain and IP, so no complete network-reputation result is available.
What To Do Now
Verify the file came from the project's official release channel and compare its SHA-256 value, 3b4e1547513565abf4c69f0b4bc43725db75c0b70ddce102001699a4864efe07, with a publisher-provided checksum. Keep endpoint protection enabled and avoid running the file on a production system until its provenance and process-injection behavior are explained.
Where this verdict could be wrong4 caveats
- The low-trust-only detection pattern normally favors a false positive: APEX alone flagged the sample while all 17 tier-1 engines reported no detection.
- The completed sandbox did not issue a malicious verdict, and no inspected child was identified as malicious.
- The 21 YARAify matches may include generic string or capability rules rather than malware-specific signatures; the supplied names do not establish a family.
- No complete contacted-host reputation result is available because 20 inspected hosts do not cover every distinct observed domain and IP.
These are the assessment's weak points. If you believe one applies to your file, report the verdict and we'll re-review it.
- Only 1/75 engines flagged the sample
- engines.tier1Malicious=0 across 17 tier-1 engines
- behaviour.hasMaliciousSandboxVerdict=false
- droppedChildren.hasMaliciousChild=false
- peAnalysis.highEntropyCode=false and peAnalysis.likelyPacked=false
- Unsigned Win32 executable despite signing.applicable=true
- T1055 Process Injection mapped during one sandbox run
- externalIntel.yaraify.ruleCount=21
- Incomplete reputation coverage for the observed network contacts
- Three of four imphash-only similar samples previously received cautious assessments
Do not run this file unless its hash and origin can be verified through the project's official release channel. Keep endpoint protection enabled and use an isolated test environment if further validation is necessary.
Coverage & freshness
Complete means the check returned a usable result. It does not mean the file is safe.
Antivirus
Complete1 of 75 engines flagged the file.
Sandbox
Complete1 isolated runtime environment contributed observations.
Network
Partial20 of 40 contacted hosts were cross-checked; coverage is incomplete.
YARA
Complete6 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
- 11MITRE ATT&CK techniques
- 6spawned processes
- 40network contacts
- 16filesystem & 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: Manipulated how the operating system loads code, which can redirect execution.
Moderate concern: Contained obfuscated or packed code that makes inspection harder.
Moderate concern: Communicated over a common application protocol; malware can use this for command-and-control.
Moderate concern: Checked the environment for virtualisation or analysis tools.
Note: Reads your Windows user-account details.
Note: Collects details about your system.
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
Fishstrap.dll
3b4e1547513565abf4c69f0b4bc43725db75c0b70ddce102001699a4864efe07
01Uploaded file
Processes
Runtime execution
- ProcessObserved
Observed process
"C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\file.exe"
02Isolated runtime analysis - ProcessObserved
Observed process
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe" --single-argument https://aka.ms/dotnet-core-applaunch?framework=Microsoft.NETCore.App&framework_version=6.0.0&arch=x64&rid=win-x64&os=win10&gui=true
03Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
Files
Created or changed
- Written fileObserved
netcore,securifybv.PropertyStore,0.1.0
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\NetFramework\BreadcrumbStore\netcore,securifybv.PropertyStore,0.1.0
04Isolated runtime analysis - Written fileObserved
netcore,CommunityToolkit.Mvvm
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\NetFramework\BreadcrumbStore\netcore,CommunityToolkit.Mvvm
05Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
Network
Hosts contacted
- Contacted hostDerived
aka.ms
Saved reputation verdict: safe.
06Contacted-host cross-check - Contacted hostObserved
edge-mobile-static.azureedge.net
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.
- aka.ms
- edge-mobile-static.azureedge.net
- business.bing.com
- js.monitor.azure.com
- microsoftmscompoc.tt.omtrdc.net
- uhf-exp-fd-gbcrdgggfbggh0g3.b02.azurefd.net
- westus2-0.in.applicationinsights.azure.com
- xpaywalletcdn.azureedge.net
- www.clarity.ms
- scripts.clarity.ms
- 173.223.2.155
- 150.171.109.183
- 150.171.74.13
- 20.9.155.148
- 4.153.187.221
- 150.171.28.10
- 52.184.222.228
- 151.101.193.91
- 23.205.110.43
- 208.89.12.153
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\SlowContextMenuEntries
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\Cache\Cookies\CachePrefix
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\Cache\History\CachePrefix
- HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-4270068108-2931534202-3907561125-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.exe\OpenWithProgids\exefile
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\NetFramework\BreadcrumbStore\netcore,securifybv.PropertyStore,0.1.0
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\NetFramework\BreadcrumbStore\netcore,CommunityToolkit.Mvvm
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\NetFramework\BreadcrumbStore\netcore,Microsoft.WindowsDesktop.App.Runtime.win-x64
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\NetFramework\BreadcrumbStore\netcore,CommunityToolkit.Mvvm,8.4.0
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\NetFramework\BreadcrumbStore\netcore,runtime.win-x64.Microsoft.NETCore.DotNetHostPolicy
- \Sessions\1\BaseNamedObjects\DBWinMutex
Files this sample writes at runtime
This file drops 5 children at runtime. None are currently flagged malicious in our cache.
- 109d62b1dd65f5eb6bb4…f54e31Never scannednever seen before
- 7e3192df844f922b73d3…8b35e4Never scannednever seen before
- 0d20debb26fc8b2bc84f…798941Clean0/74 enginestrust 91from our cache
- e3b0c44298fc1c149afb…52b855Never scannednever seen before
- 0dde9588872265fd859c…3fdab8Never 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.
- 6rule hits recorded
- 1 / 75engines flagged
- 3,211sources in submission history
Why these facts are shown
Each statement identifies whether it was directly recorded or derived from saved scan facts.
- 01
6 high-confidence signature or behavior rules matched this file.
Verdict inputView chapterProvenanceDerivedSourceSignature and behavior rulesObserved at - 02
1 of 75 antivirus engines flagged the file, including APEX.
Verdict inputView chapterProvenanceObservedSourceAntivirus analysisObserved at - 03
YARAify matched 21 researcher rules to this file.
ProvenanceDerivedSourceSaved report factsObserved at - 04
Scanned file: Fishstrap.dll — 3b4e1547513565abf4c69f0b4bc43725db75c0b70ddce102001699a4864efe07
ProvenanceObservedSourceUploaded fileObserved at - 05
Observed process — "C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\file.exe"
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 06
Observed process — "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe" --single-argument https://aka.ms/dotnet-core-applaunch?framework=Microsoft.NETCore.App&framework_version=6.0.0&arch=x64&rid=win-x64&os=win10&gui=true
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 07
File written: netcore,securifybv.PropertyStore,0.1.0 — C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\NetFramework\BreadcrumbStore\netcore,securifybv.PropertyStore,0.1.0
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 08
File written: netcore,CommunityToolkit.Mvvm — C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\NetFramework\BreadcrumbStore\netcore,CommunityToolkit.Mvvm
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 09
Contacted host: aka.ms — Saved reputation verdict: safe.
ProvenanceDerivedSourceContacted-host cross-checkObserved at - 10
Contacted host: edge-mobile-static.azureedge.net — Contact observed during runtime.
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at
Detection sources at a glance
The available sources did not agree on a named threat category.
One or more independent reference databases matched 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.
- Any_SU_Domain
- DebuggerCheck__API
- dependsonpythonailib
- DetectEncryptedVariants
- dsc
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.
Evidence"C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\file.exe"
1 of 75 engines flagged this file
View all 75 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
Moderate prevalence — neither rare nor common. No strong prior applies.
Fingerprint and provenance
- File name
- Fishstrap.dll
- Format
- Win32 EXE
- Code signing
- No verified publisher
- Size
- 14.9 MB
- Last analyzed
- Oct 3, 2026, 5:14 PM UTC
3b4e1547513565abf4c69f0b4bc43725db75c0b70ddce102001699a4864efe07Safety & 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 use 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
Do not delete or replace the component manually. Quarantine it with your antivirus or repair the parent software from its official source. Reinstall the parent software from the developer's official site instead of replacing this component by itself.
- 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 Fishstrap.dll safe, or is it malware?
What is Fishstrap.dll?
How many antivirus engines detected Fishstrap.dll?
I already downloaded and used Fishstrap.dll — what should I do?
How do I remove Fishstrap.dll?
What is the SHA-256 hash of Fishstrap.dll?
How up to date is this analysis of Fishstrap.dll?
Community
Member reviews and reports for this exact file hash.