Analysis

  • user interaction
    yes
  • max time kernel
    80s
  • max time network
    138s
  • platform
    windows11-ltsc_2024_x64
  • resource
    win11ltsc2024-20260709-en
  • resource tags

    arch:x64arch:x86image:win11ltsc2024-20260709-enlocale:en-usos:windows11-ltsc_2024-x64systemwindows
  • submitted
    10/07/2026, 04:28

General

  • Target
    ep_setup.exe
  • Size 11.7MB
  • Sample260710-e36w6set5y
  • SHA256 8146db4d3a87201fb80ad1d3712ba8f56883e9a0811758bd39f62d73a9f2c586
  • 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 9 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.

  • Drops desktop.ini file(s) 3 IoCs
  • 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 20 IoCs
  • Drops file in Windows directory 7 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 62 IoCs

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

  • Kills process with taskkill 1 IoCs
  • Modifies Internet Explorer settings 1 TTPs 3 IoCs
  • Modifies registry class 64 IoCs
  • Suspicious behavior: AddClipboardFormatListener 1 IoCs
  • Suspicious behavior: EnumeratesProcesses 2 IoCs
  • Suspicious behavior: GetForegroundWindowSpam 1 IoCs
  • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken 14 IoCs
  • Suspicious use of FindShellTrayWindow 64 IoCs
  • Suspicious use of SendNotifyMessage 64 IoCs
  • Suspicious use of SetWindowsHookEx 7 IoCs
  • Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory 10 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:4420
    • C:\Windows\system32\taskkill.exe
      "C:\Windows\system32\taskkill.exe" /f /im explorer.exe
      2⤵
      • Kills process with taskkill
      • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken
      PID:3436
    • 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:4628
      • C:\Windows\system32\sc.exe
        "C:\Windows\system32\sc.exe" stop ep_dwm_D17F1E1A-5919-4427-8F89-A1A8503CA3EB
        3⤵
        • Launches sc.exe
        PID:808
      • C:\Windows\system32\sc.exe
        "C:\Windows\system32\sc.exe" delete ep_dwm_D17F1E1A-5919-4427-8F89-A1A8503CA3EB
        3⤵
        • Launches sc.exe
        PID:2980
    • C:\Windows\system32\sc.exe
      "C:\Windows\system32\sc.exe" stop ep_dwm_D17F1E1A-5919-4427-8F89-A1A8503CA3EB
      2⤵
      • Launches sc.exe
      PID:4280
    • C:\Windows\system32\sc.exe
      "C:\Windows\system32\sc.exe" start ep_dwm_D17F1E1A-5919-4427-8F89-A1A8503CA3EB
      2⤵
      • Launches sc.exe
      PID:5544
    • 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:5276
    • 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:1288
    • C:\Windows\explorer.exe
      "C:\Windows\explorer.exe"
      2⤵
      • Boot or Logon Autostart Execution: Active Setup
      • Loads dropped DLL
      • Drops desktop.ini file(s)
      • Enumerates connected drives
      • Checks SCSI registry key(s)
      • Modifies Internet Explorer settings
      • Modifies registry class
      • Suspicious behavior: AddClipboardFormatListener
      • Suspicious behavior: EnumeratesProcesses
      • Suspicious behavior: GetForegroundWindowSpam
      • Suspicious use of AdjustPrivilegeToken
      • Suspicious use of FindShellTrayWindow
      • Suspicious use of SendNotifyMessage
      • Suspicious use of SetWindowsHookEx
      • Suspicious use of WriteProcessMemory
      PID:5692
      • C:\Windows\system32\rundll32.exe
        "C:\Windows\system32\rundll32.exe" "C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\ep_gui.dll",ZZGUI
        3⤵
        • Loads dropped DLL
        PID:4464
  • C:\Windows\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchHost.exe
    "C:\Windows\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchHost.exe" -ServerName:CortanaUI.AppXstmwaab17q5s3y22tp6apqz7a45vwv65.mca
    1⤵
    • Modifies registry class
    • Suspicious use of SetWindowsHookEx
    PID:5116
  • 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 FindShellTrayWindow
    • Suspicious use of SetWindowsHookEx
    PID:4380
  • C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe
    "C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartMenuExperienceHost.exe" -ServerName:App.AppXywbrabmsek0gm3tkwpr5kwzbs55tkqay.mca
    1⤵
      PID:4576

    Network

          MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v16

          Replay Monitor

          Loading Replay Monitor...

          Downloads

          BitMDL2.ttf

          • Path C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\StartUI\Assets\Fonts\BitMDL2.ttf
          • Size 4KB
          • SHA256 54c6d49b8f5b28abb78b35c21e39f3c40997450d462246599bdde44782ac754e
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

          WebView2Loader.dll

          • Path C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\WebView2Loader.dll
          • Size 155KB
          • SHA256 bb5fda5f2d3aae5e0977ab28d8a8a00acfd63d73748aaac32daf4fc6645b6677
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

          Windows.UI.ShellCommon.pri

          • Path C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\Windows.UI.ShellCommon.pri
          • Size 2.8MB
          • SHA256 bd15c1c4f88eedfc86dea1e1692f84ac37638694858d11c02b22705945d1330e
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

          pnidui.dll.mui

          • Path C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\en-US\pnidui.dll.mui
          • Size 7KB
          • SHA256 ae0d2655cb9806b5c16b92f82d698f5c98feaef1f78ebdd6014dccc8304184ed
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

          ep_gui.dll

          • Path C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\ep_gui.dll
          • Size 831KB
          • SHA256 06ecc578cc39be55ecdb4834ca058e793b15390ad1abf085557fa9adc7af19da
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

          ep_starttiledata.dll

          • Path C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\ep_starttiledata.dll
          • Size 148KB
          • SHA256 e32f04e20fab299ac418d8064ebbec429996782aa03b4fc03a96987401c79859
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

          ep_taskbar.ge.dll

          • Path C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\ep_taskbar.ge.dll
          • Size 2.6MB
          • SHA256 59f2c3d6aa14944d24fc34e0b40cc196c5fefd5140d16d628d02e4dd2ce5f6b2
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

          ep_weather_host.dll

          • Path C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\ep_weather_host.dll
          • Size 242KB
          • SHA256 137ecc2eddf713556d2cee3ed74723f7aefc2e893cc0210c37587cd787af53a7
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

          ep_weather_host_stub.dll

          • Path C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\ep_weather_host_stub.dll
          • Size 107KB
          • SHA256 f656731409df123bc9edf67b5667bae6d88275a086f463835a11fff436287826
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

          pnidui.dll

          • Path C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\pnidui.dll
          • Size 2.0MB
          • SHA256 52e9c88cb50ef98e683839ab62880180f0dd3db3e1c445ea461ae63d97a349d3
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

          Windows.UI.ShellCommon.en-US.pri

          • Path C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher\pris\Windows.UI.ShellCommon.en-US.pri
          • Size 183KB
          • SHA256 48de9376e52993c66956edd30a58ec1f8ed58f4e9ae21ad2d1a739ad952ae1fc
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

          Properties (ExplorerPatcher).lnk

          • Path C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\ExplorerPatcher\Properties (ExplorerPatcher).lnk
          • Size 1KB
          • SHA256 3a436829c129f4eacc68aa5ef39f132dfb999494c048b7cf4878b73eab74df01
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

          prep_Activatable Class_Hermes_perf.cache

          • Path C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\TempState\prep_Activatable Class_Hermes_perf.cache
          • Size 607B
          • SHA256 7030d7b0e9e8972e876a00fea052bea4c48539ed73747ddf29b04ab02d8fdf04
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

          prep_Activatable Class_Hermes_perf.cache

          • Path C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\TempState\prep_Activatable Class_Hermes_perf.cache
          • Size 599B
          • SHA256 b536a3dae9ea5c69081f0491eed829e3b57e32401fdf49a63031bcd6b20e6fdb
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 TLSH

          ept49EF.tmp

          • Path C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Temp\ept49EF.tmp
          • Size 19KB
          • SHA256 2ab286c0564428e76d2d702ccfc7859cc92e3cb5e126d664be7f5d57a682bd3b
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

          StartDocked.pdb

          • Path C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\ExplorerPatcher\StartDocked.pdb
          • Size 19.2MB
          • SHA256 f3ae7a839a71d71777e73dcef2c746e50de817f7fc55b693f442921db8f50672
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

          StartUI.pdb

          • Path C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\ExplorerPatcher\StartUI.pdb
          • Size 34.0MB
          • SHA256 7bf15ec5f19f0b2d35149ddf642ea08e528b178e2c7145982e5a8a8a1f5ddddf
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

          explorer.pdb

          • Path C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\ExplorerPatcher\explorer.pdb
          • Size 2.9MB
          • SHA256 d1a3b2eae2fe59758dae319da8d274b25a288ebca63b26ccb4fd8d1f2a27d114
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

          twinui.pcshell.pdb

          • Path C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\ExplorerPatcher\twinui.pcshell.pdb
          • Size 27.4MB
          • SHA256 7a74f35cd9d0069325463b918e9cd6272bf1563608202d99a21742dedabb1d45
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

          JumpViewUI_.dll

          • Path C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\JumpViewUI_.dll
          • Size 1.4MB
          • SHA256 3e81cecf171d697dbf08e97cdc0ed60158d6fb405e9897d54890cf20e35ef856
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

          StartUI_.dll

          • Path C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\StartUI_.dll
          • Size 8.3MB
          • SHA256 715b75b289dd2efc34fb0ffd924fcd38a34fee9fc5e93a207fcada7cb38f6508
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

          dxgi.dll

          • Path C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\dxgi.dll
          • Size 590KB
          • SHA256 2106313e78ef4ebe079fa648c1277a62794fe7b007389d92fbf6d0d23ef8fa37
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

          wincorlib.DLL

          • Path C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\wincorlib.DLL
          • Size 167KB
          • SHA256 84e799291362aec0cf6a929c4e797ce43dabc2c3836b6f2031b69f75f8574dad
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

          dxgi.dll

          • Path C:\Windows\dxgi.dll
          • Size 590KB
          • SHA256 70a7d2ce085dc0db96d00abf351e5e316572801f5d43648e2ad47fd66ba174cc
          • MD5 SHA1 SHA512 SSDEEP TLSH

          memory/4576-435-0x00007FFD66960000-0x00007FFD671B2000-memory.dmp

          memory/4576-436-0x00007FFD37920000-0x00007FFD37930000-memory.dmp

          memory/4576-439-0x00007FFD37920000-0x00007FFD37930000-memory.dmp

          memory/4576-438-0x00007FFD37920000-0x00007FFD37930000-memory.dmp

          memory/5116-109-0x00000202001E0000-0x00000202002E0000-memory.dmp

          memory/5116-136-0x0000020203C40000-0x0000020203C60000-memory.dmp

          memory/5116-155-0x00000202141C0000-0x00000202141E0000-memory.dmp

          memory/5116-121-0x00000202039E0000-0x0000020203A00000-memory.dmp

          memory/5116-122-0x0000020213E40000-0x0000020213F40000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-58-0x00007FF627A60000-0x00007FF627D0D000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-40-0x00007FFD4D3D0000-0x00007FFD4D3E0000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-67-0x00007FFD4D3D0000-0x00007FFD4D3E0000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-65-0x00007FFD4D3D0000-0x00007FFD4D3E0000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-68-0x00007FFD78880000-0x00007FFD79133000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-72-0x00007FFD6ECF0000-0x00007FFD6EF88000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-75-0x00007FFD6ECF0000-0x00007FFD6EF88000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-77-0x00007FFD6ECF0000-0x00007FFD6EF88000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-78-0x00007FFD8D980000-0x00007FFD8DCFC000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-81-0x00007FFD8D280000-0x00007FFD8D976000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-82-0x00007FFD8D280000-0x00007FFD8D976000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-83-0x00007FFD4D3D0000-0x00007FFD4D3E0000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-79-0x00007FFD8D280000-0x00007FFD8D976000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-80-0x00007FFD8D280000-0x00007FFD8D976000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-76-0x00007FFD6ECF0000-0x00007FFD6EF88000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-74-0x00007FFD6ECF0000-0x00007FFD6EF88000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-73-0x00007FFD6ECF0000-0x00007FFD6EF88000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-71-0x00007FFD6ECF0000-0x00007FFD6EF88000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-39-0x00007FFD75870000-0x00007FFD75AF8000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-85-0x00007FFD7F0F0000-0x00007FFD7F12F000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-86-0x00007FF627A60000-0x00007FF627D0D000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-87-0x00007FFD6ECF0000-0x00007FFD6EF88000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-88-0x00007FF627A60000-0x00007FF627D0D000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-89-0x00007FFD7AC40000-0x00007FFD7AC84000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-90-0x00007FFD4D3D0000-0x00007FFD4D3E0000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-91-0x00007FFD7AC40000-0x00007FFD7AC84000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-36-0x00007FFD8D280000-0x00007FFD8D976000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-66-0x00007FFD4D3D0000-0x00007FFD4D3E0000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-38-0x00007FFD8D280000-0x00007FFD8D976000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-47-0x00007FFD4D3D0000-0x00007FFD4D3E0000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-45-0x00007FFD75870000-0x00007FFD75AF8000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-41-0x00007FFD75870000-0x00007FFD75AF8000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-44-0x00007FFD75870000-0x00007FFD75AF8000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-46-0x00007FFD75870000-0x00007FFD75AF8000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-54-0x00007FF627A60000-0x00007FF627D0D000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-49-0x00007FF627A60000-0x00007FF627D0D000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-254-0x0000000005720000-0x0000000005721000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-50-0x00007FF627A60000-0x00007FF627D0D000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-257-0x00007FFD4D3D0000-0x00007FFD4D3E0000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-51-0x00007FF627A60000-0x00007FF627D0D000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-52-0x00007FF627A60000-0x00007FF627D0D000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-53-0x00007FF627A60000-0x00007FF627D0D000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-55-0x00007FF627A60000-0x00007FF627D0D000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-56-0x00007FF627A60000-0x00007FF627D0D000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-408-0x000000001EFE0000-0x000000001F2C3000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-63-0x00007FFD4D3D0000-0x00007FFD4D3E0000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-60-0x00007FFD773A0000-0x00007FFD778EB000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-61-0x00007FF627A60000-0x00007FF627D0D000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-62-0x00007FF627A60000-0x00007FF627D0D000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-64-0x00007FFD4D3D0000-0x00007FFD4D3E0000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-57-0x00007FF627A60000-0x00007FF627D0D000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-59-0x00007FFD4D3D0000-0x00007FFD4D3E0000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-42-0x00007FFD75870000-0x00007FFD75AF8000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-43-0x00007FFD75870000-0x00007FFD75AF8000-memory.dmp

          memory/5692-37-0x00007FFD4D3D0000-0x00007FFD4D3E0000-memory.dmp