Bug: Some executables will run even if the file extension is not .exe

[Binekrasik]

Description

You can rename an .exe to .zip and when you double-click it, it runs the executable. Windows file explorer doesn't do this.

Steps To Reproduce

1. Get some executable
2. Change its ending to .zip
3. Double-click the "zip file"
4. The executable runs

Requirements

It should display an error that the archive cannot be opened, like windows file explorer.

Files Version

2.5.31.0

Windows Version

10.0.22635.2776

Log File

debug.log

[Josh65-2201]

Thanks for the report, please update to 3.0.8 and try reproduce this. https://files.community/download

[Binekrasik]

Yes, the issue still persists in the new version of Files ( 3.0.14.0 ).

[Josh65-2201]

I'm unable to reproduce this. I have tried .exe.zip and just .zip both showing the error message and not opening the exe. What the full file name of the one causing this?

[Binekrasik]

The full name is windowkill-vulkan.zip (tried this on a portable godot game), but it seems it cannot be reproduced on other executables. It also works with other endings, like .rar and .7z.

[Binekrasik]

I don't think so. Someone can, for example, send you a virus that pretends to be a zip file.

[yaira2]

I see your point, but that aside, I can't repro this issue. Do you have archive files set to open in Files?

[Binekrasik]

No, I don't, but tried it and didn't see any difference. However, I've tried to open the 'zip' with Files in file explorer, and that threw an error saying 'NotAFolder', whereas if you try it in Files, it will run the executable without any error.

[yaira2]

Did you set it to always open in Files?

[Binekrasik]

Yes, it says that Files is the default.

[MartinGamesCZ]

Hi, I have been able to reproduce the issue.

For certain exe files it works. You change the file extension from .exe to .zip and it still opens when you double click.

My version: 3.0.8.0 on Windows 11 Home 23H2 build 22631.2715

I only tested it for the same exe as @Binekrasik, the main executable of this game - You can download it for free in case you want to test the bug (the money is just optional donation)

Here is a video:

https://github.com/files-community/Files/assets/73077301/95fea9c3-b8d1-4f71-a314-f0d5ebd81142

[Binekrasik]

I believe you but I must be missing a step when trying to repro this, can you upload a screen recording (you can use the attach file feature in GitHub) so I can make sure I'm following the same steps?

Sorry for the delay, but I wasn't able to upload the video to Github because of the file size limit. I've uploaded it to streamable instead: https://streamable.com/6peo0v

[yaira2]

@MartinGamesCZ can you see what happens if you remove the dash?

[MartinGamesCZ]

When I remove the dash, the bug still persists (it executes the exe renamed to .zip)