File scan report
Verdict Suspicious
Is Gen
This widely shared, unsigned UPX-packed game-patching utility is flagged by 14 of the 71 antivirus engines that checked it using only generic labels, while sandbox runs showed…
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Why Suspicious? 14 antivirus engines flag it and one of our detection rules matched it.
Moderate evidence · More than one sign points to a problem, but nothing confirms it is harmful.
If it came from a link, an attachment or a stranger, delete it.
What to do now4 steps
Some signs point to a problem, but nothing confirms it is harmful. Treat it with caution.
What to do
Don't run it unless you're sure where it came from.
Check where you got it: an unexpected attachment, a link someone sent you or a re-upload is a red flag.
If you can't confirm where it came from, delete it. If you need the program, download it again from the publisher's own website.
If you already ran it
Stop using it, run a full scan with your antivirus and watch for unexpected behavior or security alerts.
Not sure what to do?
Ask the MalwareTips community before you run it. If you already ran it, follow the cleanup guide.
- Ask for free help on the MalwareTips forumWindows malware removal help, answered by volunteers. (opens malwaretips.com in a new tab)
- Remove malware from WindowsStep-by-step cleanup with free tools. (opens malwaretips.com in a new tab)
Paste this report's link in your topic so helpers can see what was found.
Reads the latest antivirus results for this file's hash. Nothing is uploaded.
Antivirus results
14 of 71 flagged
- Flagged 14
- No detection 57
- No result 4
- Code signing Unsigned
- Test run Completed
- First seen 9mo ago
Chapter 02
Why we think so
4 points against it and 3 in its favour, checked against the scan evidence.
The reasoning behind this verdict
14 of the 71 antivirus engines that checked it flag this unsigned, UPX-packed executable, including three major antivirus engines, but none name a malware family. In sandbox runs it launched hidden PowerShell windows to check versions and unpack a local archive, with no network contacts or injection recorded. The signals are mixed, so caution is warranted.
Fortinet, Symantec and Trellix flag the file, but only with generic or machine-learning labels, and no family consensus exists. The file is unsigned and UPX-packed, which a minority of engines often treat as risky on its own. Across four sandbox runs it spawned hidden PowerShell processes that read version information and expanded a temporary archive, and it created AutoHotkey program markers. No contacted hosts, injection targets or malicious dropped files were recorded. The file has been submitted by hundreds of sources over several months, which fits a niche utility rather than a fresh threat, but the detections cannot be fully dismissed.
What We Detected
14 of the 71 antivirus engines that checked it flag this file, including Fortinet, Symantec and Trellix, all with generic or machine-learning labels. Malwarebytes calls it riskware. No engine names a specific malware family. The executable is unsigned and compressed with UPX.
Threat Behavior
In four sandbox runs the program, built with AutoHotkey, started hidden PowerShell windows. These checked the PowerShell version, read the Windows version from the registry and unpacked a temporary archive into its own folder. No network contacts, injection into other processes or persistence were recorded.
What To Do Now
Only run this tool if you obtained it from the developer's official release channel and need it. Keep your antivirus enabled, and remove the file if you did not knowingly download it.
Where this verdict could be wrong2 caveats
- The detections are all generic or machine-learning labels with no named malware family, and the observed PowerShell commands only check versions and unpack a local archive, which supports a false positive on a niche utility.
- Three major antivirus engines still flag it, and an unsigned UPX-packed executable that runs hidden PowerShell is also the shape of a loader.
These are the assessment's weak points. If you believe one applies to your file, report the verdict and we'll re-review it.
- Widely submitted by hundreds of sources over several months
- No network contacts, process injection or persistence observed in four sandbox runs
- No engine names a specific malware family
- Three major antivirus engines flag the file, alongside 11 other engines
- The executable is unsigned and compressed with a packer
- It launches PowerShell in hidden windows
- One engine labels it as a riskware hacking tool
6 sources checked · 5 complete · 1 not needed or not applicable. See every source
Chapter 03
What it did in our test
It ran in 4 isolated tests; no test environment rated what it did as risky.
Test run summary
Capture complete- 4isolated sandbox runs
- 11sandbox rule tags
- 9spawned processes
- 0network contacts
- 24filesystem & mutex artifacts
What the test run showed
What the file did on a test computer
Confirmed in the test run
Moderate concern: Contains packed or scrambled code that is harder to inspect (common in installers too).
Moderate concern: Ran commands or a script on the test computer.
Moderate concern: Checked whether it was running on a test computer.
Note: Listed the programs running on the test computer.
Note: Read basic details of the test computer, such as its Windows version.
Note: Loaded extra code modules while running.
Sandbox labels we could not confirm (common in safe files too)
Not confirmed: A sandbox rule tagged this run as code injection, but no injected program was recorded.
Not confirmed: A sandbox rule tagged this run as recording keystrokes; no keylogging was confirmed.
This file was run on a test computer (a sandbox), not on yours. Labels we could not confirm are listed so you can see them, but they are not treated as evidence against the file.
Recorded behavior
What happened in the test
Grouped by step. The order is not a timeline.
- 1
Input file
The submitted object
- Evidence 1 of 5: FileSeen in the test run
GenPatcher.exe
9c940f59503e099b9eead096d2092608896e9553075652e71653bfb798b7c0a1
Uploaded file
- 2
Processes
What ran
- Evidence 2 of 5: ProcessSeen in the test run
powershell.exe
powershell.exe -WindowStyle Hidden -InputFormat None -NonInteractive -Command "$PSVersionTable"
Test run - Evidence 3 of 5: ProcessSeen in the test run
powershell.exe
powershell.exe -WindowStyle Hidden -InputFormat None -OutputFormat None -NonInteractive -Command "Expand-Archive \"C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\GP2\validation.zip\" \"C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\GP2\\""
Test run - +1 more recorded observation
- 2
Files
Created or changed
- Evidence 4 of 5: Written fileSeen in the test run
validation.zip
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\GP2\validation.zip
Test run - Evidence 5 of 5: Written fileSeen in the test run
Connect
\Device\ConDrv\Connect
Test run - +1 more recorded observation
5 facts from the test run. See the full activity list.
What this file did when executed
This file was detonated in 4 sandboxes and its runtime behaviour was observed.
Techniques observed in the sandbox
11MITRE ATT&CK techniques the sandbox mapped. Highlighted ones are rare in normal software; the others are common in legitimate programs too.
- T1027· Obfuscated code
- T1027.002· Obfuscated code
- T1036
- T1055· Process injection
- T1056· Keylogging
- T1057· Lists programs
- T1059.001· Runs commands
- T1082· System recon
- T1129· Loads modules
- T1497· Sandbox evasion
- T1497.001· Sandbox evasion
Observed activity
Processes started
9Programs the file ran, with their command lines.
powershell.exepowershell.exe -WindowStyle Hidden -InputFormat None -NonInteractive -Command "$PSVersionTable"powershell.exepowershell.exe -WindowStyle Hidden -InputFormat None -OutputFormat None -NonInteractive -Command "Expand-Archive \"C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\GP2\validation.zip\" \"C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\GP2\\""powershell.exepowershell.exe -WindowStyle Hidden -InputFormat None -NonInteractive -Command "Get-ItemProperty Registry::\"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\""powershell.exeC:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe powershell.exe -WindowStyle Hidden -InputFormat None -NonInteractive -Command "$PSVersionTable"powershell.exeC:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe powershell.exe -WindowStyle Hidden -InputFormat None -OutputFormat None -NonInteractive -Command "Expand-Archive \"C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\GP2\validation.zip\" \"C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\GP2\\""GenPatcher.exe"C:\Users\<USER>\Desktop\GenPatcher.exe"
Show all 9 entries for processes started
cmd.exe"C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe" /kGenPatcher.exe"C:\Users\user\Desktop\GenPatcher.exe"cmd.exeC:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe "C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe" /k
Files
20Files the file created, changed or deleted.
- Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\GP2\validation.zip - Written
\Device\ConDrv\Connect - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\StartupProfileData-NonInteractive - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\CLR_v4.0\UsageLogs\powershell.exe.log - Written
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\GP2\ps.txt - Written
C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\FontCache\Fonts\Download-1.tmp
Show all 20 entries for files
- Written
C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\StartupProfileData-NonInteractive - Written
C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\GP2 - Written
C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\GP2\ - Written
C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\GP2\validation.zip - Written
C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\__PSScriptPolicyTest_p2oe3hbx.nx5.psm1 - Written
C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\__PSScriptPolicyTest_poql3123.r0q.ps1 - Written
C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming - Written
C:\Users\user\Documents\20260121 - Written
C:\Users\user\Documents\20260121\PowerShell_transcript.LAPTOP-TYD902.t0CruX7p.20260121063647.txt - Deleted
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\GP2\ps.txt - Deleted
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\GP2\validation.zip - Deleted
C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Temp\GP2\ - Deleted
C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\__PSScriptPolicyTest_p2oe3hbx.nx5.psm1 - Deleted
C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Temp\__PSScriptPolicyTest_poql3123.r0q.ps1
Mutexes
4Named locks a program uses so only one copy runs; malware families often reuse them.
AHK KeybdAHK Mouse\Sessions\1\BaseNamedObjects\AHK Keybd\Sessions\1\BaseNamedObjects\AHK Mouse
Sandbox background — not the file
6The analysis machine's own processes and connections, recorded in every run.
- VM process
services.exeC:\Windows\system32\services.exe - VM process
svchost.exeC:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe -k NetworkService -p - VM process
svchost.exeC:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe -k UnistackSvcGroup - VM process
svchost.exeC:\Windows\System32\svchost.exe -k LocalSystemNetworkRestricted -p -s StorSvc - VM process
lsass.exeC:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe - VM process
svchost.exeC:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe -k LocalService -s W32Time
Files this sample writes at runtime
This file drops 6 children at runtime. None are currently flagged malicious in our cache. 6 have no saved verdict and were not checked; that is missing coverage, not a finding.
- 18f41f7bc26c3dcb92f3…ccae06Not checkedno saved verdict
- bb88a220ed4dcd3d717e…a07301Not checkedno saved verdict
- 16997134e8eb21f83bd8…5e929cNot checkedno saved verdict
- 66c19e0d8ef58a13a1ac…519a5cNot checkedno saved verdict
- 17a2e80e4b43466ea84c…280669Not checkedno saved verdict
- 54f842f90a23ebe45baf…a1403dNot checkedno saved verdict
Chapter 04
Technical details
14 of the 71 antivirus engines that checked it flag it; no publisher signature.
Sources checked
Every check behind this verdict
6 sources checked · 5 complete · 1 not needed or not applicable. Complete means the check returned a usable result; it does not mean the file is safe.
Engines that flagged it 14
- Fortinet (major engine)W32/PossibleThreat
- Symantec (major engine)ML.Attribute.HighConfidence
- TrellixENS (major engine)Artemis!92014EC670D7
- alibabacloudTrojan:Win/Lakaboy.LY
- CrowdStrikewin/grayware_confidence_60% (D)
- CylanceUnsafe
- DeepInstinctMALICIOUS
- Elasticmalicious (moderate confidence)
File fingerprint
- Last analyzed
- Oct 19, 2026, 6:47 AM UTC
- SHA-256
9c940f59503e099b9eead096d2092608896e9553075652e71653bfb798b7c0a1- SHA-1
6fa0cbd596467aee35cfd3493be2d57159271348- MD5
92014ec670d77862ed008b20f0a82fdc
About this file
GenPatcher.exe is a Win32 EXE file of 11.7 MB.
- Type and size
- Win32 EXE · 11.7 MB
- Signer
- UnsignedNo code signature.
- First seen
- Jan 21, 2026On VirusTotal.
- Submitted by
- 662 distinct sources
- Packer
- UPX 4.24 (DetectItEasy packer)Packing hides code; legitimate installers use it too.
- Entropy
- 7.98 of 8A code section is highly compressed or encrypted.
First scanned
Antivirus consensus
14 of 71 engines flagged this file
4 of the 75 engines returned no result for this file (file type not supported, or the scan did not finish), so they did not check it.
The 14 detections come from 13 independent scan engines: several vendors license the same engine, so their results are one vote.
- Tier-118 engines3flagged
- Tier-236 engines7flagged
- Low-trust17 engines4flagged
View all 75 engine results
- alibabacloudMalicious: Trojan:Win/Lakaboy.LY
- CrowdStrikeMalicious: win/grayware_confidence_60% (D)
- CylanceMalicious: Unsafe
- DeepInstinctMalicious: MALICIOUS
- ElasticMalicious: malicious (moderate confidence)
- FortinetMalicious: W32/PossibleThreat
- GridinsoftMalicious: Trojan.Win64.Agent.cl
- JiangminMalicious: Trojan.Agent.fdfk
- MalwarebytesMalicious: RiskWare.HackTool
- PaloaltoMalicious: generic.ml
- SkyhighMalicious: BehavesLike.Win64.Injector.wc
- SymantecMalicious: ML.Attribute.HighConfidence
- TrellixENSMalicious: Artemis!92014EC670D7
- XcitiumMalicious: ApplicUnwnt@#1rl6oe2pq95kc
- AcronisClean
- AhnLab-V3Clean
- AlibabaClean
- ALYacClean
- Antiy-AVLClean
- APEXClean
- ArcabitClean
- AvastClean
- Avast-MobileNo result
- AVGClean
- AviraClean
- BitDefenderClean
- BitDefenderFalxNo result
- BkavClean
- CAT-QuickHealClean
- ClamAVClean
- CMCClean
- CTXClean
- CynetClean
- DrWebClean
- EmsisoftClean
- ESET-NOD32Clean
- F-SecureClean
- GDataClean
- GoogleClean
- huorongClean
- IkarusClean
- K7AntiVirusClean
- K7GWClean
- KasperskyClean
- KingsoftClean
- LionicClean
- MaxSecureClean
- McAfeeDClean
- MicrosoftClean
- MicroWorld-eScanClean
- NANO-AntivirusClean
- PandaClean
- RisingClean
- SangforClean
- SentinelOneClean
- SophosClean
- SUPERAntiSpywareClean
- SymantecMobileInsightNo result
- TACHYONClean
- tehtrisClean
- TencentClean
- TrapmineClean
- TrendMicroClean
- TrendMicro-HouseCallClean
- TrustlookNo result
- VaristClean
- VBA32Clean
- VIPREClean
- VirITClean
- ViRobotClean
- WebrootClean
- YandexClean
- ZillyaClean
- ZoneAlarmClean
- ZonerClean
Signatures and behavior heuristics
Behavioral heuristics matched patterns associated with malware. Corroborating evidence determines how much weight they carry.
- upx_largefilegeneric
- win_upx_packedgeneric
Sample spawned PowerShell with a hidden window AND execution-policy bypass / inline command. Not definitive — legit Intune/SCCM scripts do this too — but combined with other signals it reinforces the loader profile.
Evidencepowershell.exe -WindowStyle Hidden -InputFormat None -NonInteractive -Command "$PSVersionTable"VirusTotal's sandbox summary maps this run to MITRE T1055 (Process Injection), but no injected process of the sample's own was recorded (the analysis VM's own WMI adapter, crash handlers and Chrome updater are not counted). VirusTotal maps T1055 on about half of all files no engine flags, so the mapping alone is not evidence of injection.
EvidenceT1055 (sandbox MITRE mapping)PE is packed (high-entropy code or known packer) AND unsigned AND at least one engine flagged it. Packing alone is common in legit software; packing + unsigned + signal is the malware-dropper pattern.
Evidencepackers: UPX 4.24 (DetectItEasy packer)
Section entropy & packers
Executable sections have high entropy (7.2+) — the code is compressed or encrypted and only decrypted at runtime. Classic packing behaviour.
Packers compress or encrypt the executable and only unpack it at runtime. Legitimate commercial software uses them too — but if the file is also unsigned and rare, it's a strong malware signal.
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.
Chapter 05
Questions & answers
Short answers to the 6 questions people ask most about this file.
Is GenPatcher.exe safe, or is it malware?
What is GenPatcher.exe?
How many antivirus engines detected GenPatcher.exe?
What should I do if I already ran GenPatcher.exe?
What is the SHA-256 hash of GenPatcher.exe?
How up to date is this analysis of GenPatcher.exe?
Community
Member reviews and reports for this exact file hash.