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Verdict Malicious

Analyzed , 1 day ago

Is app.exe safe? No, we rate this exact file malicious.

53 of the 71 antivirus engines that checked it flag this unsigned .NET program, with major engines such as ESET, Kaspersky and DrWeb agreeing it is the XWorm remote-access trojan.

Read the whole reasonShow less

Strong evidence · Two or more major antivirus engines agree.

Don't run this file

Do not run this file; delete it and run a full security scan. If it was executed, change your passwords from a clean device.

What to do now4 steps

This file is harmful. Don't run it, and remove it.

If you haven't run it

  1. Don't run this file. Delete it, then empty the Recycle Bin.

If you already ran it

  1. Disconnect the device from the internet, then run a full antivirus scan. Microsoft Defender Offline (Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options) also finds malware that hides while Windows runs.

  2. From another device you trust, change the passwords of your important accounts (email and banking first) and turn on two-step verification.

  3. If the scan keeps finding it, or the device still acts strangely, scan again with a second-opinion scanner from another company; if that doesn't fix it, back up your personal files and reinstall Windows.

If you already ran it, do these in order.

If you opened or installed it

Avoid banking and sign-ins on that device until it is clean. These free MalwareTips guides walk you through it.

Paste this report's link in your topic so helpers can see what was found.

Why we think so

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app.exe: Malicious — MalwareTips file scan

The link always shows the latest result for this exact file (its SHA-256 fingerprint).

Antivirus results

53 of 71 flagged

  • Flagged 53
  • No detection 18
  • No result 4
Fileapp.exe38.9 kBSHA-256 ed398e0d1909…f3f536
  • Code signing Unsigned
  • Test run Partial
  • First seen 1d ago
2 strong detection rules matched this file.

Chapter 02

Why we think so

5 points against it and 0 in its favour, checked against the scan evidence.

MT AI Engine · Verdict analysis

The reasoning behind this verdict

Analyst conclusion

Our static analysis matched one of our AsyncRAT-family malware rules. It also found code able to log keystrokes, take screenshots, talk to a control server and download and run files.

7 sources checked · 5 complete · 1 partial · 1 not needed or not applicable. See every source

Chapter 03

What it did in our test

No completed test run is saved for this file.

Threat context

How remote-access malware works

This opens a secret way into the computer. Once it runs, an attacker can control the PC from anywhere: see the screen, read files, install more malware or use the machine to attack others.

Bottom line:It is built to stay hidden and keep that connection open for as long as possible.

Chapter 04

Technical details

53 of the 71 antivirus engines that checked it flag it; no publisher signature.

Our file inspection

What the file contains

We opened the uploaded Windows program in an isolated sandbox and read its structure without running it.

CompleteWindows program3 findings
  • HighT1056.001 · KeyloggingT1113

    An unsigned program combines several spyware capabilities (for example injection, keystroke or screen capture, credential access, command-and-control).

    Matched: keylogging, screen, c2

  • High

    One of our malware-specific YARA rules (a family, exploit or attack-tool signature) matched the file's bytes.

    Matched: ByteCode_MSIL_Backdoor_AsyncRAT

  • MediumT1056.001 · Keylogging

    The code can record keystrokes (keyboard hooks or key-state polling); hotkey tools and games do this too.

    Matched: log keystrokes; log keystrokes via polling

Capabilities in the code (65)

What the code can do, found by Mandiant capa rules, not behaviour that was seen.

  • capture screenshotT1113
  • download and write a fileT1105 · Network file transfer
  • log keystrokesT1056.001 · Keylogging
  • log keystrokes via pollingT1056.001 · Keylogging
  • reference WMI statementsT1213
  • self deleteT1070.004 · Covers its tracks
  • receive and write data from server to client
  • save image in .NET
  • write and execute a file
  • access WMI data in .NETT1047
Our YARA rules (1)
  • ByteCode_MSIL_Backdoor_AsyncRATMalware family

Checked on Nov 1, 2026 while the file was uploaded. MalwareTips deleted its copy afterwards; VirusTotal keeps the uploaded file.

Sources checked

Every check behind this verdict

7 sources checked · 5 complete · 1 partial · 1 not needed or not applicable. Complete means the check returned a usable result; it does not mean the file is safe.

SourceStatusResultChecked
Antivirus enginesVirusTotal · 75 enginesCompleteRisk signal: 53 of 71 engines flagged it · 4 gave no result Details for antivirus engines
Sandbox runVirusTotal sandboxesPartialRuntime data is present, but no completed sandbox run is recorded
Contacted hostsMalwareTips URL scannerNot neededNo sandbox run, so there were no contacted hosts to checkNo date recorded
Static analysisMalwareTips, without running the fileCompleteRisk signal: 2 high-severity, 1 medium-severity findings Details for static analysis
Signature rulesYARAify community rules + MalwareTips rulesCompleteNo rule matched
Malware sample databaseabuse.ch MalwareBazaarCompleteNot listed
Known-software referenceCIRCL hashlookupCompleteNo match

Engines that flagged it 53

  • Avast (major engine)Win32:MalwareX-gen [Bd]
  • AVG (major engine)Win32:MalwareX-gen [Bd]
  • Avira (major engine)TR/Spy.Gen
  • BitDefender (major engine)IL:Trojan.AsyncRAT.475
  • DrWeb (major engine)BackDoor.XWormNET.9
  • Emsisoft (major engine)IL:Trojan.AsyncRAT.475 (B)
  • ESET-NOD32 (major engine)MSIL/XWorm.C trojan
  • F-Secure (major engine)Trojan.TR/Spy.Gen
45 more in the full engine list

File fingerprint

Last analyzed
Nov 1, 2026, 1:03 AM UTC
SHA-256
ed398e0d1909c69fab94627e426a6c1017e72e4e23ae3a1495970b696ef3f536
SHA-1
8f2312b2030502a6a822b8a1f19c9eb1ff2027dd
MD5
c0319b3963ca623d44f8507f68736b39

About this file

app.exe is a Win32 EXE file of 38.9 kB.

Original name
app.exeMatches the shared file name.
Type and size
Win32 EXE · 38.9 kB
Signer
UnsignedNo code signature.
First seen
Nov 1, 2026On VirusTotal.
Submitted by
1 sourceRarely seen: few people have submitted this exact file.
Packer
None detected
Entropy
5.57 of 8

First scanned

Chapter 05

Questions & answers

Short answers to the 8 questions people ask most about this file.

Is app.exe malware?
Yes. This copy of app.exe (SHA-256 ed398e0d…f536) is malicious. Other files with the same name can be different, so check the hash. Don't run it. Delete it, then empty the Recycle Bin. 53 of the 71 antivirus engines that checked it flag it, some as XWorm. Antivirus engines classify it as a remote-access trojan that lets an attacker control the device. If you've already run it, see the steps below.
What is app.exe?
app.exe is a Windows program, about 38.9 kB. It carries no version information saying what it is or who made it. VirusTotal first saw it on Nov 1, 2026.
How many antivirus engines detected app.exe?
53 of the 71 antivirus engines that checked it flag app.exe, including Microsoft and Kaspersky. We weigh which engines flagged it and what else the scan found, not just the count. The rating comes from all the evidence together, not from this count alone.
I already downloaded and ran app.exe — what should I do?
Act quickly. 1) Disconnect the device from the internet. 2) Run a full scan with your antivirus and let it remove what it finds. 3) Change your important passwords from another device you trust, starting with email and banking, and turn on two-step verification. 4) If you bank or shop on this device, watch your accounts and tell your bank about payments you don't recognise. 5) If the scan keeps finding it, back up your personal files and reinstall Windows.
How do I remove app.exe?
To remove app.exe: 1) run a full scan with your antivirus and let it remove what it finds. 2) Delete it, then empty the Recycle Bin. 3) Check Settings > Apps, your browser extensions, startup apps (Task Manager > Startup apps) and scheduled tasks for anything you don't recognise. 4) Restart and scan again. If it keeps coming back, scan from Safe Mode with Networking, or back up your files and reinstall Windows.
What kind of malware is app.exe?
Antivirus engines classify app.exe as a remote-access trojan that lets an attacker control the device. Engines attribute it to the XWorm family.
What is the SHA-256 hash of app.exe?
The SHA-256 fingerprint of app.exe is ed398e0d1909c69fab94627e426a6c1017e72e4e23ae3a1495970b696ef3f536, and its MD5 is c0319b3963ca623d44f8507f68736b39. Two files with the same SHA-256 are identical, so use it to check you have exactly this file, not just one with the same name.
How up to date is this analysis of app.exe?
This report reflects the scan on Nov 1, 2026. A file's fingerprint never changes, but antivirus engines keep learning, so a rating can change later. To get a newer result, scan the file again: we refresh the antivirus results when the saved ones are out of date.
Chapter 06

Community

Member reviews and reports for this exact file hash.

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This report and its SHA-256 fingerprint are public, so the next person who checks the same file gets an instant answer; documents and images are listed by type instead of their file name. A file we had not seen before is uploaded to VirusTotal, whose security partners and subscribers can download it; MalwareTips deletes its own copy after the scan. If you ran this file and are worried, scan your device with up-to-date security software.