File name:

calcu.exe

Full analysis: https://app.any.run/tasks/f0d2cf98-25e5-4f3e-b131-72335eb68a36
Verdict: Malicious activity
Threats:

Cobalt Strike is a legitimate penetration software toolkit developed by Forta. But its cracked versions are widely adopted by bad actors, who use it as a C2 system of choice for targeted attacks.

Analysis date: March 19, 2025, 09:25:16
OS: Windows 10 Professional (build: 19045, 64 bit)
Tags:
cobaltstrike
Indicators:
MIME: application/vnd.microsoft.portable-executable
File info: PE32+ executable (GUI) x86-64 (stripped to external PDB), for MS Windows, 11 sections
MD5:

6B03A6F226AF97D102CECFDAD5BFC8A5

SHA1:

7FB88E8752263E9FDAE0BF69D7F8220F6380D73B

SHA256:

5D2718E6FC8336D08F315D628DD9E26C97C6DD05DE72D4AB32767EA0AB0E3200

SSDEEP:

12288:ozWYh68XR0CeviBV03m2ML51qyc38I3ZXPf:ozPh68h0CeviD03m2ML51qyc3p3Z

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.
  • MALICIOUS

    • COBALTSTRIKE has been detected (YARA)

      • calcu.exe (PID: 1300)
  • SUSPICIOUS

    • Reads security settings of Internet Explorer

      • calcu.exe (PID: 1300)
  • INFO

    • The sample compiled with english language support

      • calcu.exe (PID: 1300)
    • Reads the computer name

      • calcu.exe (PID: 1300)
    • Reads the machine GUID from the registry

      • calcu.exe (PID: 1300)
    • Reads security settings of Internet Explorer

      • BackgroundTransferHost.exe (PID: 8160)
      • BackgroundTransferHost.exe (PID: 5512)
    • Checks proxy server information

      • calcu.exe (PID: 1300)
      • BackgroundTransferHost.exe (PID: 8160)
    • Checks supported languages

      • calcu.exe (PID: 1300)
    • Creates files or folders in the user directory

      • BackgroundTransferHost.exe (PID: 8160)
Find more information about signature artifacts and mapping to MITRE ATT&CK™ MATRIX at the full report
No Malware configuration.

TRiD

.exe | Win64 Executable (generic) (87.3)
.exe | Generic Win/DOS Executable (6.3)
.exe | DOS Executable Generic (6.3)

EXIF

EXE

MachineType: AMD AMD64
TimeStamp: 2024:06:03 10:23:22+00:00
ImageFileCharacteristics: Executable, No line numbers, No symbols, Large address aware, No debug
PEType: PE32+
LinkerVersion: 2.38
CodeSize: 13312
InitializedDataSize: 537088
UninitializedDataSize: 8704
EntryPoint: 0x14d0
OSVersion: 4
ImageVersion: -
SubsystemVersion: 5.2
Subsystem: Windows GUI
FileVersionNumber: 1.3.1524.736
ProductVersionNumber: 1.3.1524.736
FileFlagsMask: 0x003f
FileFlags: (none)
FileOS: Win32
ObjectFileType: Executable application
FileSubtype: -
LanguageCode: English (U.S.)
CharacterSet: Unicode
CompanyName: PDF Viewer Solutions Inc.
FileDescription: PDF Viewer
FileVersion: 1.3.1524.736
InternalName: pdfviewer
LegalCopyright: © PDF Viewer Solutions. All rights reserved.
OriginalFileName: PDFVIEWER.EXE
ProductName: PDF Viewer Solutions PDF Viewer
ProductVersion: 1.3.1524.736
No data.
screenshotscreenshot
All screenshots are available in the full report
All screenshots are available in the full report
Total processes
144
Monitored processes
9
Malicious processes
1
Suspicious processes
0

Behavior graph

Click at the process to see the details
start #COBALTSTRIKE calcu.exe sppextcomobj.exe no specs slui.exe no specs backgroundtransferhost.exe no specs backgroundtransferhost.exe backgroundtransferhost.exe no specs backgroundtransferhost.exe no specs backgroundtransferhost.exe no specs shellexperiencehost.exe no specs

Process information

PID
CMD
Path
Indicators
Parent process
1300"C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp\calcu.exe" C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp\calcu.exe
explorer.exe
User:
admin
Integrity Level:
MEDIUM
Modules
Images
c:\users\admin\appdata\local\temp\calcu.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\user32.dll
c:\windows\system32\win32u.dll
c:\windows\system32\gdi32.dll
c:\windows\system32\gdi32full.dll
2320C:\WINDOWS\system32\SppExtComObj.exe -EmbeddingC:\Windows\System32\SppExtComObj.Exesvchost.exe
User:
NETWORK SERVICE
Company:
Microsoft Corporation
Integrity Level:
SYSTEM
Description:
KMS Connection Broker
Version:
10.0.19041.3996 (WinBuild.160101.0800)
Modules
Images
c:\windows\system32\sppextcomobj.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\oleaut32.dll
2852"C:\WINDOWS\SystemApps\ShellExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\ShellExperienceHost.exe" -ServerName:App.AppXtk181tbxbce2qsex02s8tw7hfxa9xb3t.mcaC:\Windows\SystemApps\ShellExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy\ShellExperienceHost.exesvchost.exe
User:
admin
Company:
Microsoft Corporation
Integrity Level:
MEDIUM
Description:
Windows Shell Experience Host
Version:
10.0.19041.3758 (WinBuild.160101.0800)
Modules
Images
c:\windows\systemapps\shellexperiencehost_cw5n1h2txyewy\shellexperiencehost.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\combase.dll
c:\windows\system32\ucrtbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\rpcrt4.dll
c:\windows\system32\oleaut32.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcp_win.dll
c:\windows\system32\wincorlib.dll
5512"BackgroundTransferHost.exe" -ServerName:BackgroundTransferHost.1C:\Windows\System32\BackgroundTransferHost.exesvchost.exe
User:
admin
Company:
Microsoft Corporation
Integrity Level:
MEDIUM
Description:
Download/Upload Host
Exit code:
1
Version:
10.0.19041.3636 (WinBuild.160101.0800)
Modules
Images
c:\windows\system32\backgroundtransferhost.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
c:\windows\system32\combase.dll
c:\windows\system32\ucrtbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\rpcrt4.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel.appcore.dll
c:\windows\system32\bcryptprimitives.dll
6388"BackgroundTransferHost.exe" -ServerName:BackgroundTransferHost.1C:\Windows\System32\BackgroundTransferHost.exesvchost.exe
User:
admin
Company:
Microsoft Corporation
Integrity Level:
MEDIUM
Description:
Download/Upload Host
Exit code:
1
Version:
10.0.19041.3636 (WinBuild.160101.0800)
Modules
Images
c:\windows\system32\backgroundtransferhost.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
c:\windows\system32\combase.dll
c:\windows\system32\ucrtbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\rpcrt4.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel.appcore.dll
c:\windows\system32\bcryptprimitives.dll
7200"C:\WINDOWS\System32\SLUI.exe" RuleId=3482d82e-ca2c-4e1f-8864-da0267b484b2;Action=AutoActivate;AppId=55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-d6ec3f16059f;SkuId=4de7cb65-cdf1-4de9-8ae8-e3cce27b9f2c;NotificationInterval=1440;Trigger=TimerEventC:\Windows\System32\slui.exeSppExtComObj.Exe
User:
NETWORK SERVICE
Company:
Microsoft Corporation
Integrity Level:
SYSTEM
Description:
Windows Activation Client
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
7516"BackgroundTransferHost.exe" -ServerName:BackgroundTransferHost.1C:\Windows\System32\BackgroundTransferHost.exesvchost.exe
User:
admin
Company:
Microsoft Corporation
Integrity Level:
MEDIUM
Description:
Download/Upload Host
Exit code:
1
Version:
10.0.19041.3636 (WinBuild.160101.0800)
Modules
Images
c:\windows\system32\backgroundtransferhost.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
c:\windows\system32\combase.dll
c:\windows\system32\ucrtbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\rpcrt4.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel.appcore.dll
c:\windows\system32\bcryptprimitives.dll
7948"BackgroundTransferHost.exe" -ServerName:BackgroundTransferHost.1C:\Windows\System32\BackgroundTransferHost.exesvchost.exe
User:
admin
Company:
Microsoft Corporation
Integrity Level:
MEDIUM
Description:
Download/Upload Host
Exit code:
1
Version:
10.0.19041.3636 (WinBuild.160101.0800)
Modules
Images
c:\windows\system32\backgroundtransferhost.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
c:\windows\system32\combase.dll
c:\windows\system32\ucrtbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\rpcrt4.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel.appcore.dll
c:\windows\system32\bcryptprimitives.dll
8160"BackgroundTransferHost.exe" -ServerName:BackgroundTransferHost.1C:\Windows\System32\BackgroundTransferHost.exe
svchost.exe
User:
admin
Company:
Microsoft Corporation
Integrity Level:
MEDIUM
Description:
Download/Upload Host
Exit code:
1
Version:
10.0.19041.3636 (WinBuild.160101.0800)
Modules
Images
c:\windows\system32\backgroundtransferhost.exe
c:\windows\system32\ntdll.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel32.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernelbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\msvcrt.dll
c:\windows\system32\combase.dll
c:\windows\system32\ucrtbase.dll
c:\windows\system32\rpcrt4.dll
c:\windows\system32\kernel.appcore.dll
c:\windows\system32\bcryptprimitives.dll
Total events
3 558
Read events
3 541
Write events
17
Delete events
0

Modification events

(PID) Process:(7948) BackgroundTransferHost.exeKey:HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppContainer\Storage\microsoft.windows.contentdeliverymanager_cw5n1h2txyewy\Internet Settings\Cache\Content
Operation:writeName:CachePrefix
Value:
(PID) Process:(7948) BackgroundTransferHost.exeKey:HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppContainer\Storage\microsoft.windows.contentdeliverymanager_cw5n1h2txyewy\Internet Settings\Cache\Cookies
Operation:writeName:CachePrefix
Value:
Cookie:
(PID) Process:(7948) BackgroundTransferHost.exeKey:HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppContainer\Storage\microsoft.windows.contentdeliverymanager_cw5n1h2txyewy\Internet Settings\Cache\History
Operation:writeName:CachePrefix
Value:
Visited:
(PID) Process:(8160) BackgroundTransferHost.exeKey:HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppContainer\Storage\microsoft.windows.contentdeliverymanager_cw5n1h2txyewy\Internet Settings\Cache\Content
Operation:writeName:CachePrefix
Value:
(PID) Process:(8160) BackgroundTransferHost.exeKey:HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppContainer\Storage\microsoft.windows.contentdeliverymanager_cw5n1h2txyewy\Internet Settings\Cache\Cookies
Operation:writeName:CachePrefix
Value:
Cookie:
(PID) Process:(8160) BackgroundTransferHost.exeKey:HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppContainer\Storage\microsoft.windows.contentdeliverymanager_cw5n1h2txyewy\Internet Settings\Cache\History
Operation:writeName:CachePrefix
Value:
Visited:
(PID) Process:(6388) BackgroundTransferHost.exeKey:HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppContainer\Storage\microsoft.windows.contentdeliverymanager_cw5n1h2txyewy\Internet Settings\Cache\Content
Operation:writeName:CachePrefix
Value:
(PID) Process:(6388) BackgroundTransferHost.exeKey:HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppContainer\Storage\microsoft.windows.contentdeliverymanager_cw5n1h2txyewy\Internet Settings\Cache\Cookies
Operation:writeName:CachePrefix
Value:
Cookie:
(PID) Process:(6388) BackgroundTransferHost.exeKey:HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppContainer\Storage\microsoft.windows.contentdeliverymanager_cw5n1h2txyewy\Internet Settings\Cache\History
Operation:writeName:CachePrefix
Value:
Visited:
(PID) Process:(5512) BackgroundTransferHost.exeKey:HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppContainer\Storage\microsoft.windows.contentdeliverymanager_cw5n1h2txyewy\Internet Settings\Cache\Content
Operation:writeName:CachePrefix
Value:
Executable files
0
Suspicious files
5
Text files
0
Unknown types
0

Dropped files

PID
Process
Filename
Type
8160BackgroundTransferHost.exeC:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\AC\BackgroundTransferApi\b8aa3cab-4eaa-41f0-bc37-08ce99d3ea62.down_data
MD5:
SHA256:
8160BackgroundTransferHost.exeC:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\AC\Microsoft\CryptnetUrlCache\Content\26C212D9399727259664BDFCA073966E_F9F7D6A7ECE73106D2A8C63168CDA10Dbinary
MD5:C8AF25AA60A073D8DCEA106CD46D1073
SHA256:ECE1E0D365A6A4F49DD6700870A17DC3225812E0260FECB63169CC23F7960612
8160BackgroundTransferHost.exeC:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\AC\BackgroundTransferApi\b8aa3cab-4eaa-41f0-bc37-08ce99d3ea62.77320ac6-257e-4bd6-aa58-0f19ca17d1e1.down_metabinary
MD5:8EF9CF615D34B146970C39D61B6D6FA2
SHA256:05264291C0FC194F381751CA3FE72C527F6D441385AC1BEA7FCCF565EAC680A9
8160BackgroundTransferHost.exeC:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\AC\BackgroundTransferApi\e2577801-32cc-4342-9cca-fa6b7d208ee3.up_meta_securebinary
MD5:C31F7C82F6284B31C273D7C83A1E98C0
SHA256:61D15721A80E0410D1F51D733E1471CB921521A15AC1364E62E870D69827AB18
8160BackgroundTransferHost.exeC:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\AC\BackgroundTransferApi\e2577801-32cc-4342-9cca-fa6b7d208ee3.77320ac6-257e-4bd6-aa58-0f19ca17d1e1.down_metabinary
MD5:8EF9CF615D34B146970C39D61B6D6FA2
SHA256:05264291C0FC194F381751CA3FE72C527F6D441385AC1BEA7FCCF565EAC680A9
8160BackgroundTransferHost.exeC:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\AC\Microsoft\CryptnetUrlCache\MetaData\26C212D9399727259664BDFCA073966E_F9F7D6A7ECE73106D2A8C63168CDA10Dbinary
MD5:D38ABCF6AE741C31A5C2CDFB5713ED91
SHA256:F4C7D8D65FFCF5CF8BFF0577E835E7387E675BD7D4A71F774FB399DCF2DA2697
Download PCAP, analyze network streams, HTTP content and a lot more at the full report
HTTP(S) requests
6
TCP/UDP connections
47
DNS requests
14
Threats
0

HTTP requests

PID
Process
Method
HTTP Code
IP
URL
CN
Type
Size
Reputation
6544
svchost.exe
GET
200
2.23.77.188:80
http://ocsp.digicert.com/MFEwTzBNMEswSTAJBgUrDgMCGgUABBSAUQYBMq2awn1Rh6Doh%2FsBYgFV7gQUA95QNVbRTLtm8KPiGxvDl7I90VUCEAJ0LqoXyo4hxxe7H%2Fz9DKA%3D
unknown
unknown
5496
MoUsoCoreWorker.exe
GET
200
2.16.164.9:80
http://crl.microsoft.com/pki/crl/products/MicRooCerAut2011_2011_03_22.crl
unknown
whitelisted
7292
backgroundTaskHost.exe
GET
200
2.23.77.188:80
http://ocsp.digicert.com/MFEwTzBNMEswSTAJBgUrDgMCGgUABBQ50otx%2Fh0Ztl%2Bz8SiPI7wEWVxDlQQUTiJUIBiV5uNu5g%2F6%2BrkS7QYXjzkCEAUZZSZEml49Gjh0j13P68w%3D
unknown
whitelisted
8160
BackgroundTransferHost.exe
GET
200
2.23.77.188:80
http://ocsp.digicert.com/MFEwTzBNMEswSTAJBgUrDgMCGgUABBTrjrydRyt%2BApF3GSPypfHBxR5XtQQUs9tIpPmhxdiuNkHMEWNpYim8S8YCEAI5PUjXAkJafLQcAAsO18o%3D
unknown
unknown
7864
SIHClient.exe
GET
200
184.30.21.171:80
http://www.microsoft.com/pkiops/crl/Microsoft%20ECC%20Update%20Secure%20Server%20CA%202.1.crl
unknown
unknown
7864
SIHClient.exe
GET
200
184.30.21.171:80
http://www.microsoft.com/pkiops/crl/Microsoft%20ECC%20Product%20Root%20Certificate%20Authority%202018.crl
unknown
unknown
Download PCAP, analyze network streams, HTTP content and a lot more at the full report

Connections

PID
Process
IP
Domain
ASN
CN
Reputation
40.127.240.158:443
MICROSOFT-CORP-MSN-AS-BLOCK
IE
unknown
192.168.100.255:137
whitelisted
5496
MoUsoCoreWorker.exe
2.16.164.9:80
crl.microsoft.com
Akamai International B.V.
NL
unknown
2568
RUXIMICS.exe
40.127.240.158:443
MICROSOFT-CORP-MSN-AS-BLOCK
IE
unknown
4
System
192.168.100.255:138
whitelisted
1300
calcu.exe
51.77.244.122:443
www.nencweather.com
OVH SAS
FR
unknown
3216
svchost.exe
20.198.162.78:443
client.wns.windows.com
MICROSOFT-CORP-MSN-AS-BLOCK
SG
unknown
6544
svchost.exe
20.190.160.67:443
login.live.com
MICROSOFT-CORP-MSN-AS-BLOCK
NL
unknown
6544
svchost.exe
2.23.77.188:80
ocsp.digicert.com
AKAMAI-AS
DE
whitelisted
7292
backgroundTaskHost.exe
20.74.47.205:443
arc.msn.com
MICROSOFT-CORP-MSN-AS-BLOCK
FR
unknown

DNS requests

Domain
IP
Reputation
google.com
  • 216.58.206.78
whitelisted
crl.microsoft.com
  • 2.16.164.9
  • 2.16.164.72
  • 2.16.164.81
  • 2.16.164.106
  • 2.16.164.49
  • 2.16.164.18
unknown
www.nencweather.com
  • 51.77.244.122
unknown
client.wns.windows.com
  • 20.198.162.78
unknown
login.live.com
  • 20.190.160.67
  • 20.190.160.132
  • 20.190.160.66
  • 20.190.160.128
  • 20.190.160.4
  • 20.190.160.20
  • 20.190.160.130
  • 40.126.32.140
unknown
ocsp.digicert.com
  • 2.23.77.188
unknown
arc.msn.com
  • 20.74.47.205
unknown
www.bing.com
  • 2.19.96.25
  • 2.19.96.35
  • 2.19.96.24
  • 2.19.96.34
  • 2.19.96.26
  • 2.19.96.19
  • 2.19.96.40
  • 2.19.96.42
  • 2.19.96.32
unknown
settings-win.data.microsoft.com
  • 51.124.78.146
unknown
slscr.update.microsoft.com
  • 4.175.87.197
whitelisted

Threats

No threats detected
No debug info