Is setup.exe safe?
Unsigned installer with process-injection behaviour and mixed low-trust detections.
Four of 75 engines flagged the file as unwanted software, none of them tier-1. The executable is unsigned, shows process-injection activity, and shares its imphash with previously malicious samples.
61f7fbaa098c534b2c…1e17bee6d03f9aRecommended next actions
Before installing
Do not install it until the source and publisher can be verified independently.
If you already installed it
Stop using it, scan the device, and watch for unexpected behavior or security alerts. Download a fresh installer from the developer's official site or an official app store.
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.
Four of 75 engines flagged the file as unwanted software, none of them tier-1. The executable is unsigned, shows process-injection activity, and shares its imphash with previously malicious samples.
The file is an unsigned Inno Setup installer that writes multiple temporary DLLs and exhibits process-injection techniques. Four engines label it as PUA or grayware, but no tier-1 engine concurs. Similar imphash matches have produced both malicious and suspicious verdicts in the past, leaving the overall risk profile mixed.
What We Detected
Four engines (AhnLab-V3, CrowdStrike, Malwarebytes, Webroot) flagged the sample as unwanted or grayware. No tier-1 engine returned a malicious result. The file is unsigned and contains process-injection code (T1055, T1134).
Threat Behavior
Runtime traces show the installer spawning temporary setup processes and loading several DLLs from the Temp folder. No malicious child files or sandbox verdicts were recorded, and no external-intel hits were found.
What To Do Now
Do not run the file unless you obtained it from a trusted source and verified its integrity. Keep endpoint protection enabled.
Where this verdict could be wrong2 caveats
- engines.tier1Malicious=0 and 16 tier-1 engines reported clean
- similarHashes[3].verdict=safe (benign_signed_installer) for same imphash
These are the assessment's weak points. If you believe one applies to your file, report the verdict and we'll re-review it.
- No tier-1 malicious detections
- No malicious dropped children
- Medium prevalence
- Unsigned executable
- Process-injection techniques observed
- Low-trust engine detections
- Imphash matches prior malicious samples
Treat the file as potentially unwanted; scan any system it has run on and avoid executing it unless its origin is verified.
Coverage & freshness
Complete means the check returned a usable result. It does not mean the file is safe.
Antivirus
Complete4 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
- 15MITRE ATT&CK techniques
- 5spawned processes
- 0network contacts
- 17filesystem & 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.
Moderate concern: Contained obfuscated or packed code that makes inspection harder.
Moderate concern: Runs hidden system commands (script or shell).
Moderate concern: Communicated over a common application protocol; malware can use this for command-and-control.
Moderate concern: Scans through your files and folders.
Moderate concern: Checked the environment for virtualisation or analysis tools.
Note: Reads your Windows user-account details.
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
setup.exe
61f7fbaa098c534b2cab6b98852fd0a44780bd6de71fffdd911e17bee6d03f9a
01Uploaded file
Processes
Runtime execution
- ProcessObserved
Observed process
"C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\setup.exe"
02Isolated runtime analysis - ProcessObserved
Observed process
"C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-NJHAP.tmp\setup.tmp" /SL5="$70058,914669,152064,C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\setup.exe"
03Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
Files
Created or changed
- Written fileObserved
setup.tmp
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-NJHAP.tmp\setup.tmp
04Isolated runtime analysis - Written fileObserved
_setup64.tmp
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-VGVCF.tmp\_isetup\_setup64.tmp
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:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-NJHAP.tmp\setup.tmp
- C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-VGVCF.tmp\_isetup\_setup64.tmp
- C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-VGVCF.tmp\_isetup\_shfoldr.dll
- C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-VGVCF.tmp\CallbackCtrl.dll
- C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-VGVCF.tmp\ISDone.dll
- \Sessions\1\BaseNamedObjects\Local\RstrMgr3887CAB8-533F-4C85-B0DC-3E5639F8D511
- \Sessions\1\BaseNamedObjects\Local\RstrMgr-3887CAB8-533F-4C85-B0DC-3E5639F8D511-Session0000
Files this sample writes at runtime
This file drops 7 children at runtime. None are currently flagged malicious in our cache.
- e77c3184d90f6e7a1276…8696daNever scannednever seen before
- 450b9b0ba25bf068afbc…fd0105Never scannednever seen before
- 9884e9d1b4f8a873ccbd…360d87Never scannednever seen before
- b9bdc4a0309aa47613a7…1dbe9dNever scannednever seen before
- 68f42a7823ed7ee88a5c…aa172dNever scannednever seen before
- c3729545522fcff70db6…c872b2Never scannednever seen before
- a4c86fc4836ac728d7bd…95fd81Never 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
- 4 / 75engines flagged
- 37sources 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
4 of 75 antivirus engines flagged the file, including AhnLab-V3 and CrowdStrike.
Verdict inputView chapterProvenanceObservedSourceAntivirus analysisObserved at - 03
The hash has been submitted 41 times from 37 sources.
ProvenanceDerivedSourceSaved report factsObserved at - 04
Scanned file: setup.exe — 61f7fbaa098c534b2cab6b98852fd0a44780bd6de71fffdd911e17bee6d03f9a
ProvenanceObservedSourceUploaded fileObserved at - 05
Observed process — "C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\setup.exe"
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 06
Observed process — "C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-NJHAP.tmp\setup.tmp" /SL5="$70058,914669,152064,C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\setup.exe"
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 07
File written: setup.tmp — C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-NJHAP.tmp\setup.tmp
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 08
File written: _setup64.tmp — C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-VGVCF.tmp\_isetup\_setup64.tmp
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at
Detection sources at a glance
Category: pua
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:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\setup.exe"
4 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
- setup.exe
- Format
- Win32 EXE
- Code signing
- No verified publisher
- Size
- 1.3 MB
- Last analyzed
- Aug 15, 2026, 4:21 PM UTC
61f7fbaa098c534b2cab6b98852fd0a44780bd6de71fffdd911e17bee6d03f9aSafety & 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 install 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. Download a fresh installer from the developer's official site or an official app store.
- 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 setup.exe safe, or is it malware?
What is setup.exe?
How many antivirus engines detected setup.exe?
What should I do if I already installed setup.exe?
How do I remove setup.exe?
What kind of malware is setup.exe?
What is the SHA-256 hash of setup.exe?
How up to date is this analysis of setup.exe?
Community
Member reviews and reports for this exact file hash.