Is kernel32.dll safe?
Unsigned DLL with zero engine detections and no malicious sandbox findings.
All 75 engines returned clean. The file is unsigned and newly observed, but no malicious indicators were found in sandbox or external intelligence.
5d76fd7874569a4bcb…ed576e0774e472Recommended next actions
Before using
Use it only as part of software obtained from the developer's official site or another source you independently trust.
If you already used 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.
All 75 engines returned clean. The file is unsigned and newly observed, but no malicious indicators were found in sandbox or external intelligence.
Zero detections across tier-1, tier-2 and low-trust engines removes the usual malware signal. Sandbox execution produced only ambient techniques and no malicious verdict. The single direct-IP contact triggered a low-severity heuristic that explicitly notes legitimate installers can behave the same way. Lack of signing and rarity are neutral for a system DLL that may be a test build or renamed component.
What We Detected
75 antivirus engines scanned the file; none flagged it malicious or suspicious. The DLL is unsigned and first appeared four days ago from a single source.
Threat Behavior
One sandbox execution recorded 18 ambient MITRE techniques and one direct-IP connection (162.159.36.2) with no domain. No offensive techniques, dropped children, or persistence mechanisms were observed. External intelligence sources returned no matches.
What To Do Now
Keep Windows Defender and other endpoint protection enabled. If the file is required, place it in an isolated test environment and monitor for unexpected outbound traffic until its legitimacy is confirmed by the software vendor.
Where this verdict could be wrong1 caveat
- contactedHosts is null — host-reputation cross-check incomplete; cannot confirm whether 162.159.36.2 is known malicious.
These are the assessment's weak points. If you believe one applies to your file, report the verdict and we'll re-review it.
- Zero detections across 75 engines
- No malicious sandbox verdict
- No external-intel hits
- Unsigned DLL
- Rare and recently observed
- Direct-IP contact without domain recorded
The file shows no malicious indicators; retain normal endpoint protection and exercise standard caution with any unsigned system component.
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
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
- 18MITRE ATT&CK techniques
- 8spawned processes
- 1network contacts
- 1filesystem & 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
kernel32.dll
5d76fd7874569a4bcbbb29fbb3cbd8d4cbfa13f759d0381f51ed576e0774e472
01Uploaded file
Processes
Runtime execution
- ProcessObserved
Observed process
"C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe" "C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\kernel32.dll",#1
02Isolated runtime analysis - ProcessObserved
Observed process
C:\Windows\System32\loaddll32.exe loaddll32.exe "C:\Users\user\Desktop\kernel32.dll"
03Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
Files
Created or changed
- Written fileObserved
Connect
\Device\ConDrv\\Connect
04Isolated runtime analysis
Network
Hosts contacted
- Contacted hostObserved
162.159.36.2
Contact observed during runtime.
05Isolated runtime analysis
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.
- 162.159.36.2
- \Device\ConDrv\\Connect
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
- 0 / 75engines flagged
- 1sources in submission history
Why these facts are shown
Each statement identifies whether it was directly recorded or derived from saved scan facts.
- 01
0 of 75 antivirus engines flagged the file.
Verdict inputView chapterProvenanceObservedSourceAntivirus analysisObserved at - 02
The hash has been submitted 1 time from 1 source.
ProvenanceDerivedSourceSaved report factsObserved at - 03
Scanned file: kernel32.dll — 5d76fd7874569a4bcbbb29fbb3cbd8d4cbfa13f759d0381f51ed576e0774e472
ProvenanceObservedSourceUploaded fileObserved at - 04
Observed process — "C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe" "C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\kernel32.dll",#1
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 05
Observed process — C:\Windows\System32\loaddll32.exe loaddll32.exe "C:\Users\user\Desktop\kernel32.dll"
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 06
File written: Connect — \Device\ConDrv\\Connect
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 07
Contacted host: 162.159.36.2 — 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
Low-severity pattern matches — worth noting but not on their own cause for alarm.
The 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.
Evidence162.159.36.2
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
Barely seen in the wild and first surfaced recently. That limits reputation evidence, but rarity alone is not proof of malware.
Fingerprint and provenance
- File name
- kernel32.dll
- Format
- Win32 DLL
- Code signing
- No verified publisher
- Size
- 865.0 KB
- Last analyzed
- Sep 2, 2026, 1:46 PM UTC
5d76fd7874569a4bcbbb29fbb3cbd8d4cbfa13f759d0381f51ed576e0774e472Safety & 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
Use it only as part of software obtained from the developer's official site or another source 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 kernel32.dll safe?
What is kernel32.dll?
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Community
Member reviews and reports for this exact file hash.