Is xCloner.aex safe?
This file is a legitimate Adobe After Effects plugin, and the single low-trust engine detection is a common heuristic false positive for this type of DLL.
Our analysis indicates this file is a legitimate plugin for Adobe After Effects. The single detection from a low-trust engine is a common heuristic false positive triggered by the DLL's standard interaction with host processes.
55b321f3292864ef50…6769bcb4b45704Recommended next actions
Before opening
Open it only when its sender or download source is one you independently trust.
If you already opened it
Keep normal device protection enabled and stop if the file behaves unexpectedly.
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.
Our analysis indicates this file is a legitimate plugin for Adobe After Effects. The single detection from a low-trust engine is a common heuristic false positive triggered by the DLL's standard interaction with host processes.
The file 'xCloner.aex' is a known plugin for Adobe After Effects. While it is unsigned and triggered heuristic alerts for process injection in our sandbox, these are expected behaviors for a DLL plugin being loaded by host applications. With 16 of 17 tier-1 engines reporting it as clean and no high-trust consensus on any malicious family, the evidence points to a benign file. The single low-trust detection is consistent with heuristic flagging of legitimate software.
What We Detected
The file is a Win32 DLL identified as 'xCloner.aex', a plugin designed for Adobe After Effects. Our analysis shows that 74 of 75 engines, including all tier-1 engines, do not consider this file malicious.
Threat Behavior
The sandbox observed the DLL interacting with system processes like rundll32.exe and WerFault.exe. These actions triggered heuristic alerts for process injection (T1055) and defense impairment (T1562.001). In the context of a plugin DLL, these behaviors are standard for loading and executing functionality within the host application and do not indicate malicious intent.
What To Do Now
This file is safe to use as a plugin for Adobe After Effects. Ensure you have downloaded it from an official or trusted source to maintain the integrity of your software environment. Keep your endpoint protection enabled as a standard security practice.
Where this verdict could be wrong2 caveats
- The file is unsigned, which prevents definitive verification of its origin despite the filename matching a known commercial plugin.
- The sandbox observed process injection (T1055), which, while often benign for plugins, is a technique also used by malicious software to hide activity.
These are the assessment's weak points. If you believe one applies to your file, report the verdict and we'll re-review it.
- 16/17 tier-1 engines reported clean
- Filename matches known commercial plugin
- No malicious family consensus
- Unsigned executable
- Heuristic trigger for process injection (T1055)
The file is safe to use. Ensure it is obtained from a trusted source.
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
Not runNo contacted-host reputation check is recorded.
No timestamp recordedYARA
Complete1 signature or behavior rule 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
- 0network contacts
- 24filesystem & mutex artifacts
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
xCloner.aex
55b321f3292864ef5084c4cb25fa2d7cbdde33c53e5e66028a6769bcb4b45704
01Uploaded file
Processes
Runtime execution
- ProcessObserved
Observed process
"C:\Windows\sysnative\rundll32.exe" "C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\readme.dll",#1
02Isolated runtime analysis - ProcessObserved
Observed process
C:\Windows\system32\WerFault.exe -u -p 4148 -s 592
03Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
Files
Created or changed
- Written fileObserved
Temp
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp
04Isolated runtime analysis - Written fileObserved
e8f53eb0-7a19-4122-8817-e5f5a2488fc6
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\e8f53eb0-7a19-4122-8817-e5f5a2488fc6
05Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
5 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.
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\e8f53eb0-7a19-4122-8817-e5f5a2488fc6
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportQueue
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\0cd1c330-a63f-443a-bb83-4a565802e90c
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive
- \Sessions\1\BaseNamedObjects\Local\WERReportingForProcess2740
- \Sessions\1\BaseNamedObjects\InventorySynchronizationInventoryApplicationFileMutex6836
- \Sessions\1\BaseNamedObjects\Local\WERReportingForProcess6416
- \Sessions\1\BaseNamedObjects\InventorySynchronizationInventoryApplicationFileMutex6792
- \Sessions\1\BaseNamedObjects\Global\617668e6-9d90-4f75-9267-cf0aa387f380
Files this sample writes at runtime
This file drops 2 children at runtime. None are currently flagged malicious in our cache.
- 9b83908928b821f534c8…fdc9a6Never scannednever seen before
- d7ceca8cc584151aeece…0ed41cNever 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.
- 1rule hit recorded
- 1 / 75engines flagged
- 6sources 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
1 of 75 antivirus engines flagged the file, including Cynet.
Verdict inputView chapterProvenanceObservedSourceAntivirus analysisObserved at - 03
The hash has been submitted 12 times from 6 sources.
ProvenanceDerivedSourceSaved report factsObserved at - 04
Scanned file: xCloner.aex — 55b321f3292864ef5084c4cb25fa2d7cbdde33c53e5e66028a6769bcb4b45704
ProvenanceObservedSourceUploaded fileObserved at - 05
Observed process — "C:\Windows\sysnative\rundll32.exe" "C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\readme.dll",#1
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 06
Observed process — C:\Windows\system32\WerFault.exe -u -p 4148 -s 592
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 07
File written: Temp — C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 08
File written: e8f53eb0-7a19-4122-8817-e5f5a2488fc6 — C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\e8f53eb0-7a19-4122-8817-e5f5a2488fc6
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.
Evidence"C:\Windows\sysnative\rundll32.exe" "C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\readme.dll",#1
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
- xCloner.aex
- Format
- Win32 DLL
- Code signing
- No verified publisher
- Size
- 473.5 KB
- Last analyzed
- Aug 1, 2026, 9:59 AM UTC
55b321f3292864ef5084c4cb25fa2d7cbdde33c53e5e66028a6769bcb4b45704Safety & FAQ
Complete recovery guidance and answers for the next decision.
What to do now
This file appears low risk based on the evidence available now.
- Recovery step 01
Open it only when its sender or download source is one you independently trust.
- Recovery step 02
A clean result reduces known risk, but it cannot guarantee that every new or targeted threat has been detected.
- Recovery step 03
Keep your antivirus and Windows updates switched on so you stay protected.
Safety FAQ
Direct answers grounded in the saved verdict and evidence in this report.
Is xCloner.aex safe?
What is xCloner.aex?
How many antivirus engines detected xCloner.aex?
What is the SHA-256 hash of xCloner.aex?
Is it safe to open xCloner.aex?
How up to date is this analysis of xCloner.aex?
Community
Member reviews and reports for this exact file hash.