What is activate_matlab.exe?

activate_matlab.exe is part of Activation Module and developed by The MathWorks, Inc according to the activate_matlab.exe version information.

activate_matlab.exe's description is "Activation Module"

activate_matlab.exe is digitally signed by The MathWorks, Inc..

activate_matlab.exe is usually located in the 'C:\Program Files\MATLAB\MATLAB Production Server\R2015a\bin\win32\' folder.

None of the anti-virus scanners at VirusTotal reports anything malicious about activate_matlab.exe.

If you have additional information about the file, please share it with the FreeFixer users by posting a comment at the bottom of this page.

Vendor and version information [?]

The following is the available information on activate_matlab.exe:

PropertyValue
Product nameActivation Module
Company nameThe MathWorks, Inc
File descriptionActivation Module
Legal copyrightCopyright © 2001-2015
Product version15, 0, 0, 0
File version15, 0, 0, 0

Here's a screenshot of the file properties when displayed by Windows Explorer:

Product nameActivation Module
Company nameThe MathWorks, Inc
File descriptionActivation Module
Legal copyrightCopyright © 2001-2015
Product version15, 0, 0, 0
File version15, 0, 0, 0

Digital signatures [?]

activate_matlab.exe has a valid digital signature.

PropertyValue
Signer nameThe MathWorks, Inc.
Certificate issuer nameVeriSign Class 3 Code Signing 2010 CA
Certificate serial number54636d4630014c2659b9ad3831b904c3

VirusTotal report

None of the 67 anti-virus programs at VirusTotal detected the activate_matlab.exe file.

None of the 67 anti-virus programs detected the activate_matlab.exe file.

Sandbox Report

The following information was gathered by executing the file inside Cuckoo Sandbox.

Summary

Successfully executed process in sandbox.

Generic

[
    {
        "process_path": "C:\\Windows\\System32\\lsass.exe",
        "process_name": "lsass.exe",
        "pid": 476,
        "summary": {},
        "first_seen": 1586991186.34375,
        "ppid": 376
    }
]

Signatures

[
    {
        "markcount": 1,
        "families": [],
        "description": "This executable has a PDB path",
        "severity": 1,
        "marks": [
            {
                "category": "pdb_path",
                "ioc": "B:\\matlab\\bin\\win32\\activate_matlab.pdb",
                "type": "ioc",
                "description": null
            }
        ],
        "references": [],
        "name": "has_pdb"
    },
    {
        "markcount": 2,
        "families": [],
        "description": "The binary likely contains encrypted or compressed data indicative of a packer",
        "severity": 2,
        "marks": [
            {
                "entropy": 6.987916593132225,
                "section": {
                    "size_of_data": "0x00011400",
                    "virtual_address": "0x00007000",
                    "entropy": 6.987916593132225,
                    "name": ".rsrc",
                    "virtual_size": "0x000112a0"
                },
                "type": "generic",
                "description": "A section with a high entropy has been found"
            },
            {
                "entropy": 0.8313253012048193,
                "type": "generic",
                "description": "Overall entropy of this PE file is high"
            }
        ],
        "references": [
            "http:\/\/www.forensickb.com\/2013\/03\/file-entropy-explained.html",
            "http:\/\/virii.es\/U\/Using%20Entropy%20Analysis%20to%20Find%20Encrypted%20and%20Packed%20Malware.pdf"
        ],
        "name": "packer_entropy"
    }
]

Yara

The Yara rules did not detect anything in the file.

Network

{
    "tls": [],
    "udp": [
        {
            "src": "192.168.56.101",
            "dst": "192.168.56.255",
            "offset": 662,
            "time": 6.193346977233887,
            "dport": 137,
            "sport": 137
        },
        {
            "src": "192.168.56.101",
            "dst": "224.0.0.252",
            "offset": 3462,
            "time": 6.155287027359009,
            "dport": 5355,
            "sport": 51001
        },
        {
            "src": "192.168.56.101",
            "dst": "224.0.0.252",
            "offset": 3790,
            "time": 4.130321979522705,
            "dport": 5355,
            "sport": 53595
        },
        {
            "src": "192.168.56.101",
            "dst": "224.0.0.252",
            "offset": 4118,
            "time": 6.173622131347656,
            "dport": 5355,
            "sport": 53848
        },
        {
            "src": "192.168.56.101",
            "dst": "224.0.0.252",
            "offset": 4446,
            "time": 4.6325201988220215,
            "dport": 5355,
            "sport": 54255
        },
        {
            "src": "192.168.56.101",
            "dst": "224.0.0.252",
            "offset": 4774,
            "time": 3.0162861347198486,
            "dport": 5355,
            "sport": 55314
        },
        {
            "src": "192.168.56.101",
            "dst": "239.255.255.250",
            "offset": 5102,
            "time": 4.66222620010376,
            "dport": 1900,
            "sport": 1900
        },
        {
            "src": "192.168.56.101",
            "dst": "239.255.255.250",
            "offset": 11572,
            "time": 4.165598154067993,
            "dport": 3702,
            "sport": 49152
        },
        {
            "src": "192.168.56.101",
            "dst": "239.255.255.250",
            "offset": 15764,
            "time": 6.239556074142456,
            "dport": 1900,
            "sport": 53598
        }
    ],
    "dns_servers": [],
    "http": [],
    "icmp": [],
    "smtp": [],
    "tcp": [],
    "smtp_ex": [],
    "mitm": [],
    "hosts": [],
    "pcap_sha256": "53c707fd5d386634553575bcfaf7c1d163ca153e6ecfc3d3717e9faf1331b39f",
    "dns": [],
    "http_ex": [],
    "domains": [],
    "dead_hosts": [],
    "sorted_pcap_sha256": "00f5e13d1f16e696f4ab05e0a79fab4c888fd9c16341d6aed17ee22c6e57d929",
    "irc": [],
    "https_ex": []
}

Screenshots

Screenshot from the sandboxScreenshot from the sandbox

Hashes [?]

PropertyValue
MD59a2a9863ae298b0ad5724e7664f5abfc
SHA2567b7e10054198550d11e647b5bc55b1f2aa9c2f01d53ff099f5cb4353d0f5f43f

Error Messages

These are some of the error messages that can appear related to activate_matlab.exe:

activate_matlab.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.

activate_matlab.exe - Application Error. The instruction at "0xXXXXXXXX" referenced memory at "0xXXXXXXXX". The memory could not be "read/written". Click on OK to terminate the program.

Activation Module has stopped working.

End Program - activate_matlab.exe. This program is not responding.

activate_matlab.exe is not a valid Win32 application.

activate_matlab.exe - Application Error. The application failed to initialize properly (0xXXXXXXXX). Click OK to terminate the application.

What will you do with the file?

To help other users, please let us know what you will do with the file:



Malware or legitimate?

If you feel that you need more information to determine if your should keep this file or remove it, please read this guide.

Please select the option that best describe your thoughts on the information provided on this web page


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Comments

Please share with the other users what you think about this file. What does this file do? Is it legitimate or something that your computer is better without? Do you know how it was installed on your system? Did you install it yourself or did it come bundled with some other software? Is it running smoothly or do you get some error message? Any information that will help to document this file is welcome. Thank you for your contributions.

I'm reading all new comments so don't hesitate to post a question about the file. If I don't have the answer perhaps another user can help you.

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