Malware analysis Microsoft-activation.exe Malicious activity

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File name:	Microsoft-activation.exe
Full analysis:	https://app.any.run/tasks/e2894446-80f5-4809-a01a-4e21f5e7e09a
Verdict:	Malicious activity
Analysis date:	September 21, 2025, 20:10:19
OS:	Windows 10 Professional (build: 19044, 64 bit)
Indicators:
MIME:	application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable
File info:	PE32+ executable (GUI) x86-64, for MS Windows, 6 sections
MD5:	C0459BAE2E5E8038B1E02A3622D2C9E8
SHA1:	DDFDB854C45E87534A08660889DC7E16ADC2FD78
SHA256:	4E57DE65E7BB6BF090729F09FE41CBF5D23F76C76A93E1E8FB3CA97478F83488
SSDEEP:	6144:coDQ1obDNeV8h+FZNE1xDGpW2VOSGaibsJ5oKLWMzdV:cMS0hI8bAJ5o6L

ANY.RUN is an interactive service which provides full access to the guest system. Information in this report could be distorted by user actions and is provided for user acknowledgement as it is. ANY.RUN does not guarantee maliciousness or safety of the content.

Launch configuration

Task duration:: 300 seconds
Heavy Evasion option:: off
Network geolocation:: off
Additional time used:: 240 seconds
MITM proxy:: off
Privacy:: Public submission
Fakenet option:: off
Route via Tor:: off
Autoconfirmation of UAC:: on
Network:: on

Software preset

Internet Explorer 11.3636.19041.0
Adobe Acrobat (64-bit) (23.001.20093)
Adobe Flash Player 32 NPAPI (32.0.0.465)
Adobe Flash Player 32 PPAPI (32.0.0.465)
CCleaner (6.20)
FileZilla 3.65.0 (3.65.0)
Google Chrome (133.0.6943.127)
Google Update Helper (1.3.36.51)
Java 8 Update 271 (64-bit) (8.0.2710.9)
Java Auto Updater (2.8.271.9)
Microsoft Edge (133.0.3065.92)
Microsoft Office Professional 2019 - de-de (16.0.16026.20146)
Microsoft Office Professional 2019 - en-us (16.0.16026.20146)
Microsoft Office Professional 2019 - es-es (16.0.16026.20146)
Microsoft Office Professional 2019 - it-it (16.0.16026.20146)
Microsoft Office Professional 2019 - ja-jp (16.0.16026.20146)
Microsoft Office Professional 2019 - ko-kr (16.0.16026.20146)
Microsoft Office Professional 2019 - pt-br (16.0.16026.20146)
Microsoft Office Professional 2019 - tr-tr (16.0.16026.20146)
Microsoft Office Professionnel 2019 - fr-fr (16.0.16026.20146)
Microsoft Office профессиональный 2019 - ru-ru (16.0.16026.20146)
Microsoft OneNote - en-us (16.0.16026.20146)
Microsoft Update Health Tools (3.74.0.0)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable (x64) - 12.0.30501 (12.0.30501.0)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 x64 Additional Runtime - 12.0.21005 (12.0.21005)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 x64 Minimum Runtime - 12.0.21005 (12.0.21005)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64) - 14.36.32532 (14.36.32532.0)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x86) - 14.36.32532 (14.36.32532.0)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2022 X64 Additional Runtime - 14.36.32532 (14.36.32532)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2022 X64 Minimum Runtime - 14.36.32532 (14.36.32532)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2022 X86 Additional Runtime - 14.36.32532 (14.36.32532)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2022 X86 Minimum Runtime - 14.36.32532 (14.36.32532)
Mozilla Firefox (x64 en-US) (136.0)
Mozilla Maintenance Service (136.0)
Notepad++ (64-bit x64) (7.9.1)
Office 16 Click-to-Run Extensibility Component (16.0.15726.20202)
Office 16 Click-to-Run Licensing Component (16.0.16026.20146)
Office 16 Click-to-Run Localization Component (16.0.15726.20202)
Office 16 Click-to-Run Localization Component (16.0.15928.20198)
PowerShell 7-x64 (7.3.5.0)
Update for Windows 10 for x64-based Systems (KB4023057) (2.59.0.0)
Update for Windows 10 for x64-based Systems (KB4023057) (2.63.0.0)
Update for Windows 10 for x64-based Systems (KB4480730) (2.55.0.0)
Update for Windows 10 for x64-based Systems (KB5001716) (8.93.0.0)
VLC media player (3.0.11)
WinRAR 5.91 (64-bit) (5.91.0)
Windows PC Health Check (3.6.2204.08001)

Hotfixes

Client LanguagePack Package
DotNetRollup
DotNetRollup 481
FodMetadata Package
Foundation Package
Hello Face Package
InternetExplorer Optional Package
KB5003791
KB5011048
KB5015684
KB5033052
LanguageFeatures Basic en us Package
LanguageFeatures Handwriting en us Package
LanguageFeatures OCR en us Package
LanguageFeatures Speech en us Package
LanguageFeatures TextToSpeech en us Package
MSPaint FoD Package
MediaPlayer Package
Microsoft OneCore ApplicationModel Sync Desktop FOD Package
Microsoft OneCore DirectX Database FOD Package
NetFx3 OnDemand Package
Notepad FoD Package
OpenSSH Client Package
PowerShell ISE FOD Package
Printing PMCPPC FoD Package
Printing WFS FoD Package
ProfessionalEdition
QuickAssist Package
RollupFix
ServicingStack
ServicingStack 3989
StepsRecorder Package
TabletPCMath Package
UserExperience Desktop Package
WordPad FoD Package

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MALICIOUS
- Uses base64 encoding (SCRIPT)
  - wscript.exe (PID: 6492)
- Sends HTTP request (SCRIPT)
  - wscript.exe (PID: 6492)
- Checks whether a specified folder exists (SCRIPT)
  - wscript.exe (PID: 6492)
- Creates internet connection object (SCRIPT)
  - wscript.exe (PID: 6492)
- Opens an HTTP connection (SCRIPT)
  - wscript.exe (PID: 6492)
SUSPICIOUS
- Sets XML DOM element text (SCRIPT)
  - wscript.exe (PID: 6492)
- Reads security settings of Internet Explorer
  - Microsoft-activation.exe (PID: 2116)
- Reads the date of Windows installation
  - Microsoft-activation.exe (PID: 2116)
- Changes charset (SCRIPT)
  - wscript.exe (PID: 6492)
- Creates a Stream, which may work with files, input/output devices, pipes, or TCP/IP sockets (SCRIPT)
  - wscript.exe (PID: 6492)
- Reads data from a binary Stream object (SCRIPT)
  - wscript.exe (PID: 6492)
- Creates FileSystem object to access computer's file system (SCRIPT)
  - wscript.exe (PID: 6492)
- Writes binary data to a Stream object (SCRIPT)
  - wscript.exe (PID: 6492)
- Creates XML DOM element (SCRIPT)
  - wscript.exe (PID: 6492)
- Runs WScript without displaying logo
  - wscript.exe (PID: 6492)
- The process executes VB scripts
  - Microsoft-activation.exe (PID: 2116)
INFO
- Reads the computer name
  - Microsoft-activation.exe (PID: 2116)
- Create files in a temporary directory
  - Microsoft-activation.exe (PID: 2116)
- Checks proxy server information
  - slui.exe (PID: 3620)
- Reads the software policy settings
  - slui.exe (PID: 3620)
- Checks supported languages
  - Microsoft-activation.exe (PID: 2116)
- Process checks computer location settings
  - Microsoft-activation.exe (PID: 2116)

Find more information about signature artifacts and mapping to MITRE ATT&CK™ MATRIX at the full report

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No Malware configuration.

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TRiD

.exe	\|	Win64 Executable (generic) (87.2)
.exe	\|	Generic Win/DOS Executable (6.3)
.exe	\|	DOS Executable Generic (6.3)

EXIF

EXE

MachineType:	AMD AMD64
TimeStamp:	2018:02:01 20:47:38+00:00
ImageFileCharacteristics:	No relocs, Executable, No line numbers, No symbols, Large address aware
PEType:	PE32+
LinkerVersion:	2.5
CodeSize:	86528
InitializedDataSize:	134656
UninitializedDataSize:	-
EntryPoint:	0x1000
OSVersion:	4
ImageVersion:	-
SubsystemVersion:	5.2
Subsystem:	Windows GUI

No data.

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All screenshots are available in the full report

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Total processes

152

Monitored processes

Malicious processes

Suspicious processes

Behavior graph

Click at the process to see the details

Process information

PID

CMD

Path

Indicators

Parent process

2116

"C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp\Microsoft-activation.exe"

C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp\Microsoft-activation.exe

—

explorer.exe

User:

admin

Integrity Level:

MEDIUM

Exit code:

Modules

Images
c:\users\admin\appdata\local\temp\microsoft-activation.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\apphelp.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
c:\windows\system32\shell32.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcp_win.dll
c:\windows\system32\ucrtbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\user32.dll

3620

C:\WINDOWS\System32\slui.exe -Embedding

C:\Windows\System32\slui.exe

svchost.exe

User:

admin

Company:

Microsoft Corporation

Integrity Level:

MEDIUM

Description:

Windows Activation Client

Exit code:

Version:

10.0.19041.1 (WinBuild.160101.0800)

Modules

Images
c:\windows\system32\slui.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\advapi32.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
c:\windows\system32\sechost.dll
c:\windows\system32\rpcrt4.dll
c:\windows\system32\bcrypt.dll
c:\windows\system32\user32.dll

4116

\??\C:\WINDOWS\system32\conhost.exe 0xffffffff -ForceV1

C:\Windows\System32\conhost.exe

—

UCPDMgr.exe

User:

SYSTEM

Company:

Microsoft Corporation

Integrity Level:

SYSTEM

Description:

Console Window Host

Exit code:

Version:

10.0.19041.1 (WinBuild.160101.0800)

Modules

Images
c:\windows\system32\conhost.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcp_win.dll
c:\windows\system32\ucrtbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\shcore.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
c:\windows\system32\combase.dll
c:\windows\system32\rpcrt4.dll

6492

"C:\WINDOWS\system32\wscript.exe" C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp\CC53.tmp\CC54.tmp\CC55.vbs //Nologo

C:\Windows\System32\wscript.exe

Microsoft-activation.exe

User:

admin

Company:

Microsoft Corporation

Integrity Level:

MEDIUM

Description:

Microsoft ® Windows Based Script Host

Exit code:

Version:

5.812.10240.16384

Modules

Images
c:\windows\system32\wscript.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\apphelp.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
c:\windows\system32\oleaut32.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcp_win.dll
c:\windows\system32\ucrtbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\combase.dll

6688

"C:\WINDOWS\system32\UCPDMgr.exe"

C:\Windows\System32\UCPDMgr.exe

—

svchost.exe

User:

SYSTEM

Company:

Microsoft Corporation

Integrity Level:

SYSTEM

Description:

User Choice Protection Manager

Exit code:

Version:

1.0.0.414301

Modules

Images
c:\windows\system32\ucpdmgr.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\ucrtbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\advapi32.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
c:\windows\system32\sechost.dll
c:\windows\system32\rpcrt4.dll
c:\windows\system32\bcrypt.dll

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Total events

1 329

Read events

1 329

Write events

Delete events

Modification events

No data

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Executable files

Suspicious files

Text files

Unknown types

Dropped files

PID	Process	Filename		Type
2116	Microsoft-activation.exe	C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp\CC53.tmp\CC54.tmp\CC55.vbs		binary
		MD5:0B1D199990B8346DB322FE863EBB54A9	SHA256:730A55ECF0749040665068696502F59652F26DA7F473F69532C109AD21371B7A

Download PCAP, analyze network streams, HTTP content and a lot more at the full report

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HTTP(S) requests

TCP/UDP connections

DNS requests

Threats

HTTP requests

PID	Process	Method	HTTP Code	IP	URL	CN	Type	Size	Reputation
1268	svchost.exe	GET	200	95.101.149.131:80	http://www.microsoft.com/pkiops/crl/MicSecSerCA2011_2011-10-18.crl	unknown	—	—	whitelisted
2064	svchost.exe	GET	200	184.30.131.245:80	http://ocsp.digicert.com/MFEwTzBNMEswSTAJBgUrDgMCGgUABBSAUQYBMq2awn1Rh6Doh%2FsBYgFV7gQUA95QNVbRTLtm8KPiGxvDl7I90VUCEAJ0LqoXyo4hxxe7H%2Fz9DKA%3D	unknown	—	—	whitelisted
1268	svchost.exe	GET	200	2.16.241.19:80	http://crl.microsoft.com/pki/crl/products/MicRooCerAut2011_2011_03_22.crl	unknown	—	—	whitelisted
6236	SIHClient.exe	GET	200	95.101.149.131:80	http://www.microsoft.com/pkiops/crl/Microsoft%20ECC%20Product%20Root%20Certificate%20Authority%202018.crl	unknown	—	—	whitelisted
6236	SIHClient.exe	GET	200	95.101.149.131:80	http://www.microsoft.com/pkiops/crl/Microsoft%20Update%20Signing%20CA%202.2.crl	unknown	—	—	whitelisted
6236	SIHClient.exe	GET	200	95.101.149.131:80	http://www.microsoft.com/pkiops/crl/Microsoft%20ECC%20Update%20Secure%20Server%20CA%202.1.crl	unknown	—	—	whitelisted
6236	SIHClient.exe	GET	200	23.32.238.112:80	http://crl.microsoft.com/pki/crl/products/MicRooCerAut_2010-06-23.crl	unknown	—	—	whitelisted
6236	SIHClient.exe	GET	200	95.101.149.131:80	http://www.microsoft.com/pkiops/crl/Microsoft%20Time-Stamp%20PCA%202010(1).crl	unknown	—	—	whitelisted
6236	SIHClient.exe	GET	200	95.101.149.131:80	http://www.microsoft.com/pkiops/crl/Microsoft%20ECC%20Update%20Signing%20CA%202.2.crl	unknown	—	—	whitelisted
6236	SIHClient.exe	GET	200	95.101.149.131:80	http://www.microsoft.com/pkiops/crl/Microsoft%20Update%20Signing%20CA%202.1.crl	unknown	—	—	whitelisted

Download PCAP, analyze network streams, HTTP content and a lot more at the full report

Connections

PID	Process	IP	Domain	ASN	CN	Reputation
4	System	192.168.100.255:137	—	—	—	whitelisted
5944	MoUsoCoreWorker.exe	4.231.128.59:443	settings-win.data.microsoft.com	MICROSOFT-CORP-MSN-AS-BLOCK	IE	whitelisted
1268	svchost.exe	4.231.128.59:443	settings-win.data.microsoft.com	MICROSOFT-CORP-MSN-AS-BLOCK	IE	whitelisted
2348	RUXIMICS.exe	4.231.128.59:443	settings-win.data.microsoft.com	MICROSOFT-CORP-MSN-AS-BLOCK	IE	whitelisted
6492	wscript.exe	54.173.151.2:443	metactf.com	AMAZON-AES	US	suspicious
4	System	192.168.100.255:138	—	—	—	whitelisted
2064	svchost.exe	20.190.160.65:443	login.live.com	MICROSOFT-CORP-MSN-AS-BLOCK	NL	whitelisted
2064	svchost.exe	184.30.131.245:80	ocsp.digicert.com	AKAMAI-AS	US	whitelisted
1268	svchost.exe	51.104.136.2:443	settings-win.data.microsoft.com	MICROSOFT-CORP-MSN-AS-BLOCK	IE	whitelisted
1268	svchost.exe	2.16.241.19:80	crl.microsoft.com	Akamai International B.V.	DE	whitelisted

DNS requests

Domain	IP	Reputation
settings-win.data.microsoft.com	4.231.128.59 51.104.136.2 20.73.194.208 51.124.78.146	whitelisted
google.com	142.250.184.206	whitelisted
metactf.com	54.173.151.2	unknown
login.live.com	20.190.160.65 40.126.32.138 20.190.160.64 40.126.32.74 20.190.160.132 20.190.160.5 20.190.160.130 20.190.160.22 20.190.160.131 20.190.160.3 40.126.32.68 20.190.160.67	whitelisted
ocsp.digicert.com	184.30.131.245	whitelisted
crl.microsoft.com	2.16.241.19 2.16.241.12 23.32.238.112 23.32.238.107	whitelisted
www.microsoft.com	95.101.149.131	whitelisted
slscr.update.microsoft.com	20.165.94.63	whitelisted
fe3cr.delivery.mp.microsoft.com	52.165.164.15	whitelisted
self.events.data.microsoft.com	52.168.117.168	whitelisted

Threats

PID	Process	Class	Message
—	—	Unknown Traffic	ET USER_AGENTS Microsoft Dr Watson User-Agent (MSDW)

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No debug info

General Info

Microsoft-activation.exe

C0459BAE2E5E8038B1E02A3622D2C9E8

DDFDB854C45E87534A08660889DC7E16ADC2FD78

4E57DE65E7BB6BF090729F09FE41CBF5D23F76C76A93E1E8FB3CA97478F83488

6144:coDQ1obDNeV8h+FZNE1xDGpW2VOSGaibsJ5oKLWMzdV:cMS0hI8bAJ5o6L

Software environment set and analysis options

Launch configuration

Software preset

Hotfixes

Behavior activities

MALICIOUS

Uses base64 encoding (SCRIPT)

Sends HTTP request (SCRIPT)

Checks whether a specified folder exists (SCRIPT)

Creates internet connection object (SCRIPT)

Opens an HTTP connection (SCRIPT)

SUSPICIOUS

Sets XML DOM element text (SCRIPT)

Reads security settings of Internet Explorer

Reads the date of Windows installation

Changes charset (SCRIPT)

Creates a Stream, which may work with files, input/output devices, pipes, or TCP/IP sockets (SCRIPT)

Reads data from a binary Stream object (SCRIPT)

Creates FileSystem object to access computer's file system (SCRIPT)

Writes binary data to a Stream object (SCRIPT)

Creates XML DOM element (SCRIPT)

Runs WScript without displaying logo

The process executes VB scripts

INFO

Reads the computer name

Create files in a temporary directory

Checks proxy server information

Reads the software policy settings

Checks supported languages

Process checks computer location settings

Malware configuration

Static information

TRiD

EXIF

EXE

Video and screenshots

Processes

Behavior graph

Specs description

Process information

Information

Modules

Information

Modules

Information

Modules

Information

Modules

Information

Modules

Registry activity

Modification events

Files activity

Dropped files

Network activity

HTTP requests

Connections

DNS requests

Threats

Debug output strings