Recently, certain behaviors have caused issues for some MATLAB users. The unexpected behavior has happened when performing operations such as (but not limited to):
- Opening a Simulink model
- Using App Designer
- Using the Add-On Explorer
- Using the Add-On Manager
- Using System Composer
- Using Simscape
- Using the Sign-in Button (at the top right of the MATLAB GUI)
- Using Help > Check for Updates
- Using Apps such as Application Compiler, Web App Compiler, Deep Network Designer, or Medical Image Labeler.
When the above operations are performed, users receive errors such as:
- Error using matlab.internal.cef.webwindow
- MATLABWindow application failed to launch. Unable to launch the MATLABWindow application
- Failed to start MATLABWindow application. Unable to launch the MATLABWindow application
- Webwindow is not valid. It was closed by user or the process was terminated
- The exit code was: -1073741819
- Error in connector.internal.fevalJSON.
Trend Micro can also target later releases on the same machine (e.g. R2023a and not prior releases) because the underlying web technology, which provides these web GUIs, may be updated with releases so MATLAB window processes may be blocked again by the antivirus.
Try This Workaround:
All users who reported these issues also reported using Trend Micro’s security software. This software can help users to prevent file downloads and/or virus-like attacks. After investigation and discussions with Trend Micro, their software is unable to distinguish between the valid general behaviors exhibited by “MATLABWindow.exe” and behaviors exhibited by potentially malicious software. As such, MATLAB web-based applications (that inherently use the executable) were inhibited. We are confident that this behavior is being incorrectly flagged as a result of the way Trend Micro performs the analysis and that “MATLABWindow.exe” is safe to use.
In order to prevent the above issue from happening, the following files should be added to the Trusted Program List within the exception settings for the TrendMicro software:
- MATLAB.exe
- MATLABWebUI.exe
- MATLABWindow.exe
If you have multiple versions of MATLAB installed and/or you are using MATLAB Runtime, the above executables should be added for each. This means that each MATLAB root and MCR root directory should have paths to their executables added to the Trusted Program List.
If you have any issues implementing the above workaround, please contact your IT department.
If you have the Trend Micro’s software, and the above workaround does not fix the issue, please either call Trend Micro Customer Service at +1 (888) 762-8736, or submit a help ticket with their support department at the following web address: https://success.trendmicro.com/dcx/s/?language=en_US
If you are not a customer of Trend Micro and you experience the above symptoms, please contact MathWorks Technical Support. Information on how to do this can be found at the following web address: https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_env/contact-technical-support.html
