Is Adobe Installer safe?
Single low-trust detection, unverified Adobe signature, and community YARA hits create mixed signals.
One low-trust engine flagged the file as Riskware.Repack while 17 tier-1 engines remained silent. The signature claims Adobe Inc. but is unverified, and 20 YARA rules fired. Similar signed Adobe installers were previously rated safe, yet the combination of process-injection techniques and researcher annotations keeps the file in mixed-signals territory.
4460dd8114b5609ea4…33628b3ade7c31Recommended next actions
Before opening
Do not open it until the source can be verified independently.
If you already opened it
Stop using it, scan the device, and watch for unexpected behavior or security alerts. Get a fresh copy from the original trusted source and verify its exact hash when possible.
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.
One low-trust engine flagged the file as Riskware.Repack while 17 tier-1 engines remained silent. The signature claims Adobe Inc. but is unverified, and 20 YARA rules fired. Similar signed Adobe installers were previously rated safe, yet the combination of process-injection techniques and researcher annotations keeps the file in mixed-signals territory.
The engine profile shows only a single low-trust detection, which normally points to a false positive. However, the signature is unverified and the file triggered multiple high-severity heuristics including process injection and direct-IP traffic. External YARA coverage is substantial, and community comments raise additional suspicion. Three prior Adobe-signed samples with the same imphash or signer were rated safe, but the current sample’s behavioural footprint and unverified certificate prevent a clean classification.
What We Detected
75 engines scanned the sample; only Webroot returned a malicious label (W32.Riskware.Repack). Seventeen tier-1 engines reported clean. The PE carries an Adobe Inc. code-signing subject, yet the certificate chain is unverified. Sandbox execution recorded seven MITRE techniques commonly associated with malware (T1055 process injection, T1134 token manipulation, persistence via T1543/T1547, credential access via T1555.004, and defense evasion via T1562.001). Twenty community YARA rules matched, including debugger checks and script-injection detectors.
Threat Behavior
The sample wrote multiple temporary files under Creative Cloud paths and created several thumbnail-cache mutexes. It contacted 12 external IPs directly without domain names and performed certificate-revocation checks against DigiCert. No malicious child processes or known-malicious hosts were observed. The file’s high entropy sections and overlay data are consistent with a repacked installer.
What To Do Now
Do not execute the file on production systems. Keep Windows Defender and other endpoint protection enabled. If Adobe software installation is required, obtain the official installer directly from Adobe’s website. Consider submitting the sample to additional sandboxes for deeper behavioural logging.
Where this verdict could be wrong1 caveat
- communityComments contain multiple researcher annotations labeling the file as malware or suspicious, but these are user-generated and not corroborated by tier-1 engines.
These are the assessment's weak points. If you believe one applies to your file, report the verdict and we'll re-review it.
- 17 tier-1 engines reported clean
- Three prior Adobe-signed samples rated safe on identical signer or imphash
- No malicious dropped children or contacted hosts
- Unverified code signature claiming Adobe Inc.
- Process-injection and persistence techniques observed
- 20 community YARA rules triggered
- Direct-IP network traffic without domain resolution
Treat the file as suspicious; obtain official Adobe installers from trusted sources and keep all security software active.
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
Partial5 of 25 contacted hosts were cross-checked; coverage is incomplete.
YARA
Complete7 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
- 43MITRE ATT&CK techniques
- 15spawned processes
- 30network contacts
- 40filesystem & mutex artifacts
What this file does
Observed actions and their security significance
High concern: Created or modified a scheduled task, which can provide persistence.
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.
High concern: Created or modified a system service, which can keep code running.
High concern: Changed an auto-start location that can make code run after sign-in or restart.
High concern: Accessed browser or password-store data that may contain saved logins.
High concern: Attempted to impair or bypass security controls.
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
Adobe Installer
4460dd8114b5609ea4e9644a659de0f5b188696d27dc8846d633628b3ade7c31
01Uploaded file
Processes
Runtime execution
- ProcessObserved
Observed process
C:\Windows\system32\services.exe
02Isolated runtime analysis - ProcessObserved
Observed process
"C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\executable.exe"
03Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
Files
Created or changed
- Written fileObserved
HDInstaller.log
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\CreativeCloud\ACC\AdobeDownload\HDInstaller.log
04Isolated runtime analysis - Written fileObserved
DiscoverCacheData.dat
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PenWorkspace\DiscoverCacheData.dat
05Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
Network
Hosts contacted
- Contacted hostObserved
172.16.255.255
Contact observed during runtime.
06Isolated runtime analysis - Contacted hostObserved
8.8.8.8
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.
- 172.16.255.255
- 8.8.8.8
- 8.8.4.4
- a83f:8110:0:0:1b00:100:2800:0
- 104.18.10.39
- 104.18.11.39
- 131.253.33.203
- a83f:8110:4747:47ff:4747:47ff:4747:47ff
- 192.168.0.1
- 20.80.129.13
- http://crl3.digicert.com/DigiCertHighAssuranceEVRootCA.crl
- http://ocsp.digicert.com/MFEwTzBNMEswSTAJBgUrDgMCGgUABBSPwl+rBFlJbvzLXU1bGW08VysJ2wQUj+h+8G0yagAFI8dwl2o6kP9r6tQCEAbyTZ9NsHvX7K0Gf17ibCk=
- http://ocsp.digicert.com/MFEwTzBNMEswSTAJBgUrDgMCGgUABBTfqhLjKLEJQZPin0KCzkdAQpVYowQUsT7DaQP4v0cB1JgmGggC72NkK8MCEAPxtOFfOoLxFJZ4s9fYR1w=
- http://crl4.digicert.com/EVCodeSigningSHA2-g1.crl
- http://crl3.digicert.com/EVCodeSigningSHA2-g1.crl
- http://ctldl.windowsupdate.com/msdownload/update/v3/static/trustedr/en/disallowedcertstl.cab?9ce02a5cff6c20f9
- C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\CreativeCloud\ACC\AdobeDownload\HDInstaller.log
- C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PenWorkspace\DiscoverCacheData.dat
- C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\UPnP Device Host\upnphost\udhisapi.dll
- C:\Windows\System32\Tasks\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser
- C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\CreativeCloud\ACC\AdobeDownload\HDInstaller.log
- C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\GameDVR\KnownGameList.update
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER10E3.tmp.WERInternalMetadata.xml
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER11BE.tmp.csv
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER11EE.tmp.txt
- C:\Windows\System32\spp\store\2.0\cache\cache.dat
- HDInstaller.log
- Global\C::Users:admin:AppData:Local:Microsoft:Windows:Explorer:thumbcache_idx.db!rwWriterMutex
- Global\C::Users:admin:AppData:Local:Microsoft:Windows:Explorer:thumbcache_32.db!dfMaintainer
- Global\C::Users:admin:AppData:Local:Microsoft:Windows:Explorer:thumbcache_96.db!dfMaintainer
- Global\C::Users:admin:AppData:Local:Microsoft:Windows:Explorer:thumbcache_256.db!dfMaintainer
Files this sample writes at runtime
This file drops 10 children at runtime. None are currently flagged malicious in our cache.
- 51b2c06fd50425da09ff…ad3ebbNever scannednever seen before
- 6559a328567ed381c04c…beb39dNever scannednever seen before
- f35238da1e9a739caf6d…928e9bNever scannednever seen before
- d72ae5c7989cb04a89e5…37b751Never scannednever seen before
- a54cc0121fcc7295601a…4bc621Never scannednever seen before
- 51b8958b4c39cc85d3de…a501abNever scannednever seen before
- 68095e77b9a1a8ae411a…55315fNever scannednever seen before
- 13c0e1644f4615865c6b…345981Never scannednever seen before
- 18832661a26ffc55b6b1…0be9e1Never scannednever seen before
- 3d3848130c82d8ecce6a…49f95cNever 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.
- 7rule hits recorded
- 1 / 75engines flagged
- 3,700sources 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 Webroot.
Verdict inputView chapterProvenanceObservedSourceAntivirus analysisObserved at - 03
The hash has a long, established submission history across 3,700 sources.
ProvenanceDerivedSourceSubmission historyObserved at - 04
Scanned file: Adobe Installer — 4460dd8114b5609ea4e9644a659de0f5b188696d27dc8846d633628b3ade7c31
ProvenanceObservedSourceUploaded fileObserved at - 05
Observed process — C:\Windows\system32\services.exe
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 06
Observed process — "C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\executable.exe"
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 07
File written: HDInstaller.log — C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\CreativeCloud\ACC\AdobeDownload\HDInstaller.log
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 08
File written: DiscoverCacheData.dat — C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\PenWorkspace\DiscoverCacheData.dat
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 09
Contacted host: 172.16.255.255 — Contact observed during runtime.
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 10
Contacted host: 8.8.8.8 — 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
- Check_OutputDebugStringA_iat
- CP_Script_Inject_Detector
- DebuggerCheck__API
- Detect_Login_Form
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.
Evidencea83f:8110:0:0:1b00:100:2800:0 · 104.18.10.39 · 104.18.11.39
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
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
- Adobe Installer
- Format
- Win32 EXE
- Code signing
- Signature not verified: Adobe Inc.
- Size
- 7.3 MB
- Last analyzed
- Aug 18, 2026, 1:07 PM UTC
4460dd8114b5609ea4e9644a659de0f5b188696d27dc8846d633628b3ade7c31Safety & 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 open 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. Get a fresh copy from the original trusted source and verify its exact hash when possible.
- 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 Adobe Installer safe, or is it malware?
What is Adobe Installer?
How many antivirus engines detected Adobe Installer?
What should I do if I already opened Adobe Installer?
How do I remove Adobe Installer?
Is Adobe Installer digitally signed?
What is the SHA-256 hash of Adobe Installer?
How up to date is this analysis of Adobe Installer?
Community
Member reviews and reports for this exact file hash.