Is setup.exe safe?
Unsigned installer with two tier-1 detections and process-injection indicators but no malicious children or host hits.
Two tier-1 engines flag the file as a trojan while sandbox shows process injection and direct-IP traffic. No malicious dropped children or known-bad hosts were observed, and the file has been submitted thousands of times over years.
8df42fa48c67a866fe…4d5cb12037cbedRecommended 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.
Two tier-1 engines flag the file as a trojan while sandbox shows process injection and direct-IP traffic. No malicious dropped children or known-bad hosts were observed, and the file has been submitted thousands of times over years.
The combination of two tier-1 detections, offensive MITRE techniques, and an imphash match to a previously malicious sample outweighs the lack of malicious children or host reputation hits. Unsigned status and installer filename further reduce trust. Mixed RAG verdicts and common_old prevalence keep the file from a definitive malicious call.
What We Detected
DrWeb and TrendMicro-HouseCall (tier-1) plus Malwarebytes flagged the sample. Sandbox recorded T1055 process injection and T1134 privilege escalation. Nineteen external IPs were contacted, mostly Microsoft domains for redistributables.
Threat Behavior
The file writes multiple temporary DLLs and executables, creates several mutexes, and spawns child processes from %TEMP%. No persistence registry keys were observed. External-intel sources returned no additional hits.
What To Do Now
Do not execute the file. Keep endpoint protection enabled. If this installer is required, obtain it from the original trusted source and verify its digital signature.
Where this verdict could be wrong2 caveats
- contactedHosts.maliciousHosts.length=0 and droppedChildren.hasMaliciousChild=false — no confirmed malicious network or child activity.
- prevalence.classification=common_old with 2254 submissions — long-standing file rather than new threat.
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 malicious dropped children
- no complete contacted-host reputation result was available
- Widely submitted over 8 years
- Unsigned executable
- Tier-1 trojan detections
- Process-injection technique observed
- Direct-IP network traffic
Treat as untrusted; obtain a signed copy from the legitimate publisher or avoid running altogether.
Coverage & freshness
Complete means the check returned a usable result. It does not mean the file is safe.
Antivirus
Complete5 of 75 engines flagged the file.
Sandbox
Complete1 isolated runtime environment contributed observations.
Network
Partial1 of 21 contacted hosts were cross-checked; coverage is incomplete.
YARA
Complete2 signature or behavior rules 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
- 21MITRE ATT&CK techniques
- 15spawned processes
- 26network contacts
- 40filesystem & 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.
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: 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.
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
8df42fa48c67a866fea80a7e7c6ace2485050b17195507fe334d5cb12037cbed
01Uploaded file
Processes
Runtime execution
- ProcessObserved
Observed process
"C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\executable.exe"
02Isolated runtime analysis - ProcessObserved
Observed process
"C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-BDFJ7.tmp\executable.tmp" /SL5="$30172,3742188,140800,C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\executable.exe"
03Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
Files
Created or changed
- Written fileObserved
996E.tmp
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\is-KO7QE.tmp\996E.tmp
04Isolated runtime analysis - Written fileObserved
_shfoldr.dll
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\is-L6TML.tmp\_isetup\_shfoldr.dll
05Isolated runtime analysis - +1 more recorded observation in Analyst mode
Network
Hosts contacted
- Contacted hostObserved
204.79.197.203
Contact observed during runtime.
06Isolated runtime analysis - Contacted hostObserved
23.216.147.76
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.
- 204.79.197.203
- 23.216.147.76
- 23.216.147.64
- 20.99.132.105
- 20.99.133.109
- a83f:8110:cce1:d301:1bbb:ccef:3fc:d801
- 20.99.184.37
- a83f:8110:cce1:d301:af4:881e:e676:d901
- 20.99.185.48
- 192.229.211.108
- http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/6/5/165255E7-1014-4D0A-B094-B6A430A6BFFC/vcredist_x64.exe
- http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/6/5/165255E7-1014-4D0A-B094-B6A430A6BFFC/vcredist_x86.exe
- http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/6/7/167F0D79-9317-48AE-AEDB-17120579F8E2/NDP451-KB2858728-x86-x64-AllOS-ENU.exe
- http://download.microsoft.com/download/2/d/6/2d61c766-107b-409d-8fba-c39e61ca08e8/vcredist_x64.exe
- http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/5/A/95A9616B-7A37-4AF6-BC36-D6EA96C8DAAE/dotNetFx40_Full_x86_x64.exe
- http://download.microsoft.com/download/d/d/9/dd9a82d0-52ef-40db-8dab-795376989c03/vcredist_x86.exe
- C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\is-KO7QE.tmp\996E.tmp
- C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\is-L6TML.tmp\_isetup\_shfoldr.dll
- C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\is-L6TML.tmp\idp.dll
- C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\is-L6TML.tmp\innocallback.dll
- C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\is-L6TML.tmp\ISDone.dll
- C:\Windows\System32\spp\store\2.0\cache\cache.dat
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER3E6B.tmp.WERInternalMetadata.xml
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER3FB3.tmp.csv
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER3FE3.tmp.txt
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER44E4.tmp.WERInternalMetadata.xml
- Local\RstrMgr3887CAB8-533F-4C85-B0DC-3E5639F8D511
- Local\RstrMgr-3887CAB8-533F-4C85-B0DC-3E5639F8D511-Session0000
- Local\DirectSound DllMain mutex (0x000009F4)
- CTF.LBES.MutexDefaultS-1-5-21-1482476501-1645522239-1417001333-500
- CTF.Compart.MutexDefaultS-1-5-21-1482476501-1645522239-1417001333-500
Files this sample writes at runtime
This file drops 10 children at runtime. None are currently flagged malicious in our cache.
- b0d7c1a9a73b7f39be60…b3c8a1Never scannednever seen before
- 209508a30a8aa7774ebc…4c11a8Never scannednever seen before
- 450b9b0ba25bf068afbc…fd0105Never scannednever seen before
- 7429467f7a2b73f0aaf6…3d171cNever scannednever seen before
- 19a5466ab1834f953662…6072f5Never scannednever seen before
- 9884e9d1b4f8a873ccbd…360d87Never scannednever seen before
- 35dc89a6107e4f409e67…a07edeNever scannednever seen before
- cbc1d8a42ac2ff81c1f0…13b9e0Never scannednever seen before
- 19b0633a0e37993f25eb…f00e6eNever scannednever seen before
- 4cb2243d60b3c84683f8…bf902eNever 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.
- 2rule hits recorded
- 5 / 75engines flagged
- 1,810sources 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
5 of 75 antivirus engines flagged the file, including alibabacloud and DrWeb.
Verdict inputView chapterProvenanceObservedSourceAntivirus analysisObserved at - 03
The hash has a long, established submission history across 1,810 sources.
ProvenanceDerivedSourceSubmission historyObserved at - 04
Scanned file: setup.exe — 8df42fa48c67a866fea80a7e7c6ace2485050b17195507fe334d5cb12037cbed
ProvenanceObservedSourceUploaded fileObserved at - 05
Observed process — "C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\executable.exe"
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 06
Observed process — "C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\is-BDFJ7.tmp\executable.tmp" /SL5="$30172,3742188,140800,C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\executable.exe"
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 07
File written: 996E.tmp — C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\is-KO7QE.tmp\996E.tmp
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 08
File written: _shfoldr.dll — C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\is-L6TML.tmp\_isetup\_shfoldr.dll
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 09
Contacted host: 204.79.197.203 — Contact observed during runtime.
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at - 10
Contacted host: 23.216.147.76 — Contact observed during runtime.
ProvenanceObservedSourceIsolated runtime analysisObserved at
Detection sources at a glance
Category: generic-trojan
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>\AppData\Local\Temp\executable.exe"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.
Evidence204.79.197.203 · 23.216.147.76 · 23.216.147.64
5 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
- setup.exe
- Format
- Win32 EXE
- Code signing
- No verified publisher
- Size
- 4.1 MB
- Last analyzed
- Sep 1, 2026, 11:34 AM UTC
8df42fa48c67a866fea80a7e7c6ace2485050b17195507fe334d5cb12037cbedSafety & 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?
I already downloaded and installed setup.exe — what should I do?
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.