Our call: Is soft_oal.dll safe?Suspicious
- 6 high-confidence signature or behavior rules matched this file.Derived · Signature and behavior rules
- 0 of 75 antivirus engines flagged the file.Observed · Antivirus analysis
- The hash has a long, established submission history across 2,933 sources.Derived · Submission history
5a42440a18a75ce588…56d871db42Recommended 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.
Coverage & freshness
Complete means the check returned a usable result. It does not mean the file is safe.
Antivirus
Complete0 of 75 engines flagged the file.
Sandbox
Complete1 isolated runtime environment contributed observations.
Network
Partial1 runtime contact was observed without a completed reputation cross-check.
YARA
Complete7 signature or behavior rules matched.
External intel
Complete3 of 3 independent reference sources completed.
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
soft_oal.dll
5a42440a18a75ce588659158d74d26ab1850eabd34f3b25abd969a56d871db42
01Uploaded file
Processes
Runtime execution
- ProcessObserved
Observed process
"C:\Windows\sysnative\rundll32.exe" "C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\library.dll",#1
02Isolated runtime analysis - ProcessObserved
Observed process
C:\Windows\System32\loaddll64.exe loaddll64.exe "C:\Users\user\Desktop\attachment.dll"
03Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
Files
Created or changed
- Written fileObserved
Connect
\Device\ConDrv\\Connect
04Isolated runtime analysis - Dropped fileDerived
8df0190608b744da48b30150d804286119c7247420e05dbdb8b5dc89f6f5a6cb
No child-file verdict was available.
05Dropped-file analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
Network
Hosts contacted
- Contacted hostObserved
135.233.45.222
Contact observed during runtime.
06Isolated runtime analysis
6 recorded facts from one runtime window. Every fact remains independently traceable in Analyst mode.
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
0 of 75 antivirus engines flagged the file.
ProvenanceObservedSourceAntivirus analysisObserved at - 03
The hash has a long, established submission history across 2,933 sources.
ProvenanceDerivedSourceSubmission historyObserved at - 04
Scanned file: soft_oal.dll — 5a42440a18a75ce588659158d74d26ab1850eabd34f3b25abd969a56d871db42
ProvenanceObservedSourceUploaded fileObserved at - 05
Observed process — "C:\Windows\sysnative\rundll32.exe" "C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\library.dll",#1
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 06
Observed process — C:\Windows\System32\loaddll64.exe loaddll64.exe "C:\Users\user\Desktop\attachment.dll"
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 07
File written: Connect — \Device\ConDrv\\Connect
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 08
Dropped file: 8df0190608b744da48b30150d804286119c7247420e05dbdb8b5dc89f6f5a6cb — No child-file verdict was available.
ProvenanceDerivedSourceDropped-file analysisObserved at - 09
Contacted host: 135.233.45.222 — Contact observed during runtime.
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at
Intelligence
The saved assessment, checked against the scan evidence and recorded coverage.
No saved analyst narrative
This report keeps the verified scan facts available below without inventing an analysis that was not saved with the scan.
Behavior
Plain-English impact first, then the observed runtime evidence.
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.
High concern: Attempted to impair or bypass security controls.
High concern: Loaded code directly into memory instead of from a normal file.
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: Scans through your files and folders.
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.
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.
- 135.233.45.222
- \Device\ConDrv\\Connect
- \Sessions\1\BaseNamedObjects\DBWinMutex
Files this sample writes at runtime
This file drops 3 children at runtime. None are currently flagged malicious in our cache.
- 8df0190608b744da48b3…f5a6cbNever scannednever seen before
- 92bf2ae2683a42ed4c1f…21635bNever scannednever seen before
- 3c269b4937d5ae31eb0e…e7f261Never scannednever seen before
Detection & Forensics
Consensus, attribution, signatures, code structure, prevalence, and identity.
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.
- Check_OutputDebugStringA_iat
- DebuggerCheck__API
- pe_detect_tls_callbacks
- SEH__vectored
- ThreadControl__Context
MITRE T1055 (Process Injection) observed — CreateRemoteThread / APC / reflective-DLL injection. The payload is being smuggled into a legitimate process to bypass AV hooks.
Evidence"C:\Windows\sysnative\rundll32.exe" "C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\library.dll",#1The 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.
Evidence135.233.45.222
0 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
- soft_oal.dll
- Format
- Win32 DLL
- Code signing
- No verified publisher
- Size
- 1.7 MB
- Last analyzed
- Jun 10, 2026, 1:31 PM UTC
5a42440a18a75ce588659158d74d26ab1850eabd34f3b25abd969a56d871db42Safety & 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.
Don't use it unless you're certain it came from a source you trust.
Check where you got it — an unexpected attachment or a random download link is a red flag.
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.
If you're still unsure, scan it again in a day or two — detections often catch up on newer files.
Safety FAQ
- soft_oal.dll is suspicious — treat it as unsafe until you're sure. No antivirus engine flagged it; the cautious verdict comes from other saved evidence such as identity, prevalence, signing, or runtime signals. Don't use it unless you fully trust where it came from. Reinstall the parent software from the developer's official site instead of replacing this component by itself.
- soft_oal.dll is a Windows library or loadable module, about 1.7 MB. 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.
- None — 0 of 75 antivirus engines flagged soft_oal.dll. That's reassuring, though it is not proof that a file is safe, so we also weigh its behaviour, identity, and reputation.
- 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.
- To remove soft_oal.dll: 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) Quarantine this component with your antivirus, then repair or reinstall the parent software from its official source. Do not delete or replace the component manually. 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.
- The SHA-256 hash of soft_oal.dll is 5a42440a18a75ce588659158d74d26ab1850eabd34f3b25abd969a56d871db42, and its MD5 is ff08ba3a9dfe6bd0b26f9055094c9550. 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.
- This report reflects the scan run on June 10, 2026. Because a file's hash never changes, the identity of soft_oal.dll 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.