Is fontlab.8.x-patch.exe safe?
Unsigned 75 KB EXE widely flagged as a FontLab patcher by 7 tier-1 engines.
43 of 75 engines flag the file, including 7 tier-1 detections that confirm hacktool/patcher behaviour. The binary is unsigned, carries the popularThreatLabel hacktool.patcher, and matches a YARA rule for patcher/keygen indicators.
737ba978463e2f3ade…9931bb9b88f95cRecommended next actions
Before running
Do not run it. Delete this file from the device, then empty the Recycle Bin or Trash.
If you already ran it
Disconnect from the internet, start a full or offline antivirus scan, then secure important accounts from a clean device.
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.
43 of 75 engines flag the file, including 7 tier-1 detections that confirm hacktool/patcher behaviour. The binary is unsigned, carries the popularThreatLabel hacktool.patcher, and matches a YARA rule for patcher/keygen indicators.
The combination of tier-1 consensus on a hacktool family, confirmed hacktool label, and unsigned status outweighs the file's age and submission volume. Direct-IP traffic noted in sandbox results lacks host-reputation coverage, but the engine consensus alone is decisive. No test-file, brand-mismatch, or signed-installer signals are present to offset the malicious indicators.
What We Detected
43 of 75 engines report the sample malicious; 7 tier-1 engines (Microsoft, ESET-NOD32, Fortinet, GData, Sophos, Symantec, TrendMicro-HouseCall) label it a hacktool or keygen. The file is unsigned despite being an executable claiming to patch FontLab 8.x.
Threat Behavior
Sandbox execution shows direct-IP connections and writes a file named dup2patcher.dll. No malicious child processes or sandbox verdicts were recorded, and contacted-host reputation data is unavailable.
What To Do Now
Do not execute the file. Keep endpoint protection enabled and remove the sample if present.
Where this verdict could be wrong1 caveat
- prevalence.classification=common_old and 768-day age suggest long-term distribution rather than a fresh campaign
These are the assessment's weak points. If you believe one applies to your file, report the verdict and we'll re-review it.
- common_old prevalence (276 submitters)
- no malicious dropped children
- unsigned executable
- tier-1 hacktool consensus
- YARA rule match for patcher/keygen indicators
Treat as malicious; delete the file and scan the system with up-to-date protection.
Coverage & freshness
Complete means the check returned a usable result. It does not mean the file is safe.
Antivirus
Complete43 of 75 engines flagged the file.
Sandbox
Complete1 isolated runtime environment contributed observations.
Network
Partial20 runtime contacts were 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
- 7MITRE ATT&CK techniques
- 8spawned processes
- 20network contacts
- 6filesystem & mutex artifacts
What this file does
Observed actions and their security significance
High concern: Used an input-capture technique that can record credentials or keystrokes.
High concern: Manipulated how the operating system loads code, which can redirect execution.
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.
Note: Collects details about your system.
Note: Loads extra code modules while running.
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.
Threat context
How hacktools are abused
This is a hacking or cracking tool — the kind used to bypass software licences, generate fake keys, or attack other systems. Even when the tool 'works', these downloads very often carry hidden malware.
Bottom line:Running one means trusting an anonymous author with full access to your PC — rarely worth the risk.
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
fontlab.8.x-patch.exe
737ba978463e2f3ade5c89ae8f87ba708dac4fc8ebafd6ed679931bb9b88f95c
01Uploaded file
Processes
Runtime execution
- ProcessObserved
Observed process
"C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\executable.exe"
02Isolated runtime analysis - ProcessObserved
Observed process
%SAMPLEPATH%\fontlab.8.x-patch.exe
03Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
Files
Created or changed
- Written fileObserved
dup2patcher.dll
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\dup2patcher.dll
04Isolated runtime analysis - Written fileObserved
Connect
\Device\ConDrv\Connect
05Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
Network
Hosts contacted
- Contacted hostObserved
a83f:8110:6400:6c00:6c00:2c00:2d00:3300
Contact observed during runtime.
06Isolated runtime analysis - Contacted hostObserved
192.168.0.7
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.
- a83f:8110:6400:6c00:6c00:2c00:2d00:3300
- 192.168.0.7
- 23.216.81.152
- 192.168.0.9
- 151.101.22.172
- 192.168.0.16
- 20.99.133.109
- 192.168.0.48
- 131.253.33.203
- 20.99.186.246
- C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\dup2patcher.dll
- \Device\ConDrv\Connect
- C:\Users\ADMINI~1\AppData\Local\Temp\dup2patcher.dll
- C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\dup2patcher.dll
- C:\Windows\System32\wbem\Performance\WmiApRpl.h
- C:\Windows\System32\wbem\Performance\WmiApRpl.ini
Files this sample writes at runtime
This file drops 1 child at runtime. None are currently flagged malicious in our cache.
- b99fdfb2748467197862…3287c5Never 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
- 43 / 75engines flagged
- 276sources in submission history
Why these facts are shown
Each statement identifies whether it was directly recorded or derived from saved scan facts.
- 01
43 of 75 antivirus engines flagged the file, including alibabacloud and ALYac.
Verdict inputView chapterProvenanceObservedSourceAntivirus analysisObserved at - 02
The hash has a long, established submission history across 276 sources.
ProvenanceDerivedSourceSubmission historyObserved at - 03
The hash has been submitted 319 times from 276 sources.
ProvenanceDerivedSourceSaved report factsObserved at - 04
Scanned file: fontlab.8.x-patch.exe — 737ba978463e2f3ade5c89ae8f87ba708dac4fc8ebafd6ed679931bb9b88f95c
ProvenanceObservedSourceUploaded fileObserved at - 05
Observed process — "C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\executable.exe"
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 06
Observed process — %SAMPLEPATH%\fontlab.8.x-patch.exe
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 07
File written: dup2patcher.dll — C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\dup2patcher.dll
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 08
File written: Connect — \Device\ConDrv\Connect
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 09
Contacted host: a83f:8110:6400:6c00:6c00:2c00:2d00:3300 — Contact observed during runtime.
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 10
Contacted host: 192.168.0.7 — Contact observed during runtime.
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at
Detection sources at a glance
Category: hacktool
MalwareBazaar, YARAify, and CIRCL hashlookup completed and returned no entries for this hash.
Signatures and behavior heuristics
Behavioral heuristics matched patterns associated with malware. Corroborating evidence determines how much weight they carry.
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.
Evidencea83f:8110:6400:6c00:6c00:2c00:2d00:3300 · 23.216.81.152 · 151.101.22.172
43 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
- fontlab.8.x-patch.exe
- Format
- Win32 EXE
- Code signing
- No verified publisher
- Size
- 72.0 KB
- Last analyzed
- Aug 15, 2026, 6:11 PM UTC
737ba978463e2f3ade5c89ae8f87ba708dac4fc8ebafd6ed679931bb9b88f95cSafety & FAQ
Complete recovery guidance and answers for the next decision.
What to do now
This file is dangerous. Treat it as harmful and remove it.
- Recovery step 01
Don't run this file. Delete this file from the device, then empty the Recycle Bin or Trash.
- Recovery step 02
If you already ran it, disconnect from the internet and start with a full antivirus scan or Microsoft Defender Offline scan. If compromise is suspected or the problem persists, use a reputable second-opinion scanner and follow incident-recovery or clean-reinstall guidance.
- Recovery step 03
From a different, clean device, change the passwords on your important accounts (email and banking first) and turn on two-factor authentication.
- Recovery step 04
Get a fresh copy from the developer's official site or an official app store.
Safety FAQ
Direct answers grounded in the saved verdict and evidence in this report.
Is fontlab.8.x-patch.exe a virus?
What is fontlab.8.x-patch.exe?
How many antivirus engines detected fontlab.8.x-patch.exe?
What should I do if I already ran fontlab.8.x-patch.exe?
How do I remove fontlab.8.x-patch.exe?
What kind of malware is fontlab.8.x-patch.exe?
What is the SHA-256 hash of fontlab.8.x-patch.exe?
How up to date is this analysis of fontlab.8.x-patch.exe?
Community
Member reviews and reports for this exact file hash.