Analysis

  • max time kernel
    150s
  • max time network
    149s
  • platform
    windows11-21h2_x64
  • resource
    win11-20260513-en
  • resource tags

    arch:x64arch:x86image:win11-20260513-enlocale:en-usos:windows11-21h2-x64systemwindows
  • submitted
    02/06/2026, 00:05

General

  • Target
    ep_setup.exe
  • Size 11.6MB
  • Sample260602-adap8aax4n
  • SHA256 f689c068d61e7339efc6eba266d9674b41c5ef96dff0cc90ab0ff80c11a84ae8
  • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

Malware Config

Signatures

  • Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Active Setup 2 TTPs 1 IoCs

    Adversaries may achieve persistence by adding a Registry key to the Active Setup of the local machine.

  • Event Triggered Execution: Component Object Model Hijacking 1 TTPs

    Adversaries may establish persistence by executing malicious content triggered by hijacked references to Component Object Model (COM) objects.

  • Loads dropped DLL 6 IoCs
  • Stops running service(s) 4 TTPs
  • Checks installed software on the system 1 TTPs

    Looks up Uninstall key entries in the registry to enumerate software on the system.

  • Enumerates connected drives 3 TTPs 2 IoCs

    Attempts to read the root path of hard drives other than the default C: drive.

  • Drops file in Program Files directory 9 IoCs
  • Drops file in Windows directory 5 IoCs
  • Launches sc.exe 4 IoCs

    Sc.exe is a Windows utlilty to control services on the system.

  • Enumerates physical storage devices 1 TTPs

    Attempts to interact with connected storage/optical drive(s).

  • Checks SCSI registry key(s) 3 TTPs 58 IoCs

    SCSI information is often read in order to detect sandboxing environments.

  • Enumerates system info in registry 2 TTPs 2 IoCs
  • Kills process with taskkill 1 IoCs
  • Modifies registry class 64 IoCs
  • Suspicious behavior: EnumeratesProcesses 2 IoCs
  • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken 48 IoCs
  • Suspicious use of FindShellTrayWindow 64 IoCs
  • Suspicious use of SendNotifyMessage 54 IoCs
  • Suspicious use of SetWindowsHookEx 5 IoCs
  • Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory 9 IoCs
  • Uses Task Scheduler COM API 1 TTPs

    The Task Scheduler COM API can be used to schedule applications to run on boot or at set times.

  • Uses Volume Shadow Copy WMI provider

    The Volume Shadow Copy service is used to manage backups/snapshots.

  • Uses Volume Shadow Copy service COM API

    The Volume Shadow Copy service is used to manage backups/snapshots.

Processes

  • C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\ep_setup.exe
    "C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\ep_setup.exe"
    1⤵
    • Drops file in Program Files directory
    • Drops file in Windows directory
    • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken
    • Suspicious use of FindShellTrayWindow
    • Suspicious use of SendNotifyMessage
    • Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory
    PID:4496
    • C:\Windows\system32\taskkill.exe
      "C:\Windows\system32\taskkill.exe" /f /im explorer.exe
      2⤵
      • Kills process with taskkill
      • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken
      PID:2036
    • C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe
      "C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe" /c ""C:\Windows\system32\sc.exe" stop ep_dwm_D17F1E1A-5919-4427-8F89-A1A8503CA3EB & "C:\Windows\system32\sc.exe" delete ep_dwm_D17F1E1A-5919-4427-8F89-A1A8503CA3EB & "
      2⤵
      • Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory
      PID:4328
      • C:\Windows\system32\sc.exe
        "C:\Windows\system32\sc.exe" stop ep_dwm_D17F1E1A-5919-4427-8F89-A1A8503CA3EB
        3⤵
        • Launches sc.exe
        PID:1880
      • C:\Windows\system32\sc.exe
        "C:\Windows\system32\sc.exe" delete ep_dwm_D17F1E1A-5919-4427-8F89-A1A8503CA3EB
        3⤵
        • Launches sc.exe
        PID:4324
    • C:\Windows\system32\sc.exe
      "C:\Windows\system32\sc.exe" stop ep_dwm_D17F1E1A-5919-4427-8F89-A1A8503CA3EB
      2⤵
      • Launches sc.exe
      PID:1704
    • C:\Windows\system32\sc.exe
      "C:\Windows\system32\sc.exe" start ep_dwm_D17F1E1A-5919-4427-8F89-A1A8503CA3EB
      2⤵
      • Launches sc.exe
      PID:4932
    • C:\Windows\system32\regsvr32.exe
      "C:\Windows\system32\regsvr32.exe" /s "C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\ep_weather_host.dll"
      2⤵
      • Loads dropped DLL
      • Modifies registry class
      PID:1048
    • C:\Windows\system32\regsvr32.exe
      "C:\Windows\system32\regsvr32.exe" /s "C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\ep_weather_host_stub.dll"
      2⤵
      • Loads dropped DLL
      • Modifies registry class
      PID:816
    • C:\Windows\explorer.exe
      "C:\Windows\explorer.exe"
      2⤵
      • Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Active Setup
      • Loads dropped DLL
      • Enumerates connected drives
      • Checks SCSI registry key(s)
      • Modifies registry class
      • Suspicious behavior: EnumeratesProcesses
      • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken
      • Suspicious use of FindShellTrayWindow
      • Suspicious use of SendNotifyMessage
      • Suspicious use of SetWindowsHookEx
      PID:2188
  • C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe
    "C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe" -ServerName:App.AppXywbrabmsek0gm3tkwpr5kwzbs55tkqay.mca
    1⤵
    • Loads dropped DLL
    • Modifies registry class
    • Suspicious use of SetWindowsHookEx
    PID:1648
  • C:\Windows\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchHost.exe
    "C:\Windows\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchHost.exe" -ServerName:CortanaUI.AppXstmwaab17q5s3y22tp6apqz7a45vwv65.mca
    1⤵
    • Enumerates system info in registry
    • Modifies registry class
    • Suspicious use of SetWindowsHookEx
    PID:988

Network

        MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v16

        Replay Monitor

        Loading Replay Monitor...

        Downloads

        WebView2Loader.dll

        • Path C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\WebView2Loader.dll
        • Size 155KB
        • SHA256 ae26d6ef7c8f6b533585ead76318b6cbf8efad708064953a312dd97f4761ba45
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        ep_gui.dll

        • Path C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\ep_gui.dll
        • Size 827KB
        • SHA256 97a47364127595870353f82886221797ac5363fa46ae7940a09701b519cab70f
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        ep_weather_host.dll

        • Path C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\ep_weather_host.dll
        • Size 239KB
        • SHA256 b5ff17b52dbce8fcbbde233e51182194cedd008e1b89af35c28ce5c7a2dd77a8
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        ep_weather_host_stub.dll

        • Path C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\ep_weather_host_stub.dll
        • Size 105KB
        • SHA256 ae8e7f0c0d935a698def96c3bd0f78a98c49f00eaa88f1fe1138d35ca0857a6b
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        Properties (ExplorerPatcher).lnk

        • Path C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\ExplorerPatcher\Properties (ExplorerPatcher).lnk
        • Size 1KB
        • SHA256 d3d9edb8a0feea04072a136c79637e051cb2939765e982f3e3da5485c0998824
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

        AppCache134248323530586062.txt

        • Path C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Packages\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\DeviceSearchCache\AppCache134248323530586062.txt
        • Size 80KB
        • SHA256 fffbd0a8c694783bcd1582295ab4b86480f0608836e534ae63c54b8366e46063
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        StartDocked.pdb

        • Path C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\ExplorerPatcher\StartDocked.pdb
        • Size 16.4MB
        • SHA256 9ac8bf7c0a79fe47bea4ca8d364aa3e7b3f92b02a27507d704528b89e7e0e776
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        StartUI.pdb

        • Path C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\ExplorerPatcher\StartUI.pdb
        • Size 34.0MB
        • SHA256 095ad9d4d095282aa10038b86be989e543da3a547e07142ceab6f955c155b9cf
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        twinui.pcshell.pdb

        • Path C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\ExplorerPatcher\twinui.pcshell.pdb
        • Size 24.0MB
        • SHA256 745f3e5f484b42c4650847b82ea36ff132b228d4096f49c493a2a7b1e32d5dce
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        dxgi.dll

        • Path C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\dxgi.dll
        • Size 580KB
        • SHA256 d75b29ad314d6af52c2f4a94dd0916e5846d231aeea1c08799338d9d940996c0
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        wincorlib.DLL

        • Path C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\wincorlib.DLL
        • Size 163KB
        • SHA256 45f2705ca9fbbbd0afa59af4eaba5fd0653046d721e5e3567ec332910b5c3779
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        dxgi.dll

        • Path C:\Windows\dxgi.dll
        • Size 580KB
        • SHA256 fe677e93e6ebcb4b02689cd2b9b0719f9def46faf6851139706d4afdfbec197c
        • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

        memory/988-367-0x00000262CA800000-0x00000262CC205000-memory.dmp

        memory/988-157-0x0000026ACC210000-0x0000026ACC310000-memory.dmp

        memory/988-159-0x0000026ACC210000-0x0000026ACC310000-memory.dmp

        memory/988-199-0x0000026ADFB00000-0x0000026ADFB20000-memory.dmp

        memory/988-108-0x00000262CA800000-0x00000262CC205000-memory.dmp

        memory/988-200-0x0000026ADFAE0000-0x0000026ADFB00000-memory.dmp

        memory/988-204-0x0000026ADFAA0000-0x0000026ADFAC0000-memory.dmp

        memory/988-232-0x0000026BF1500000-0x0000026BF1520000-memory.dmp

        memory/988-251-0x0000026ADF940000-0x0000026ADFA40000-memory.dmp

        memory/988-298-0x0000026BF2680000-0x0000026BF2780000-memory.dmp

        memory/988-370-0x00000262CA800000-0x00000262CC205000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-58-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-37-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-79-0x00007FFAAD610000-0x00007FFAAD620000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-76-0x00007FFAAD610000-0x00007FFAAD620000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-74-0x00007FFAAD610000-0x00007FFAAD620000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-72-0x00007FFADE280000-0x00007FFADE2D9000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-71-0x00007FFADE280000-0x00007FFADE2D9000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-70-0x00007FFADA250000-0x00007FFADAA83000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-69-0x00007FFAAD610000-0x00007FFAAD620000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-65-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-64-0x00007FFAAD610000-0x00007FFAAD620000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-62-0x00007FFAAD610000-0x00007FFAAD620000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-59-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-81-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-54-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-53-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-52-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-51-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-49-0x00007FF5C9F40000-0x00007FF5C9F50000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-46-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-45-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-43-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-42-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-40-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-39-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-80-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-36-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-35-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-44-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-34-0x00007FFAED300000-0x00007FFAED4AC000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-26-0x00007FFAAD610000-0x00007FFAAD620000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-47-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-77-0x00007FFAED4C0000-0x00007FFAEDC6E000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-67-0x00007FFAAD610000-0x00007FFAAD620000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-60-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-90-0x0000000003700000-0x0000000003701000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-57-0x00007FFAD9210000-0x00007FFAD97DB000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-56-0x00007FFAAD610000-0x00007FFAAD620000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-48-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-41-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-38-0x00007FF609D10000-0x00007FF60A1D4000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-27-0x00007FFAD8A10000-0x00007FFAD8C81000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-23-0x00007FFAAD610000-0x00007FFAAD620000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-25-0x00007FFAD8A10000-0x00007FFAD8C81000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-24-0x00007FFAED4C0000-0x00007FFAEDC6E000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-28-0x00007FFAD8A10000-0x00007FFAD8C81000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-29-0x00007FFAD8A10000-0x00007FFAD8C81000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-30-0x00007FFAD8A10000-0x00007FFAD8C81000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-31-0x00007FFAD8A10000-0x00007FFAD8C81000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-33-0x00007FFAAD610000-0x00007FFAAD620000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-32-0x00007FFAD8A10000-0x00007FFAD8C81000-memory.dmp

        memory/2188-22-0x00007FFAED4C0000-0x00007FFAEDC6E000-memory.dmp