KAPE Targets for Acquisition
Forensic Data Acquisition with KAPE Targets
KAPE (Kroll Artifact Parser and Extractor) is a versatile forensic tool designed for rapid acquisition and analysis of specific digital artifacts. This guide focuses on using KAPE Targets to perform targeted data acquisition.
Understanding KAPE Targets
KAPE works in two distinct phases:
Target Collection: Collects specified files and artifacts from a system.
Module Execution: Processes and analyzes the collected data (covered in the next lesson).
Target Structure
Target Files (.tkape): Define paths or types of data to be collected.
Compound Targets: Combine multiple target files for a comprehensive acquisition.
Key Target Categories
Antivirus: Collects logs and quarantine data from installed antivirus software.
Browser: Acquires browser-related data such as history, cookies, and cache.
Logs: Collects system and server logs (e.g., Windows Event Logs, Apache, IIS).
Windows: Focuses on Windows-specific artifacts like Prefetch, Amcache, and registry hives.
Compound: Predefined sets, such as:
SANS Triage: Gathers critical forensic artifacts for initial investigation.
KAPE Triage: Collects a broader range of data for deeper analysis.
Steps for Data Acquisition Using KAPE Targets
Step 1: Launch KAPE
Open gkape.exe (the graphical interface for KAPE).
Run as Administrator to ensure access to protected files.
Step 2: Configure Acquisition
Target Source:
Set the root directory of the system you want to analyze (e.g., **C:**).
Target Destination:
Specify a location for storing collected artifacts (e.g., **D:\KAPE_Output**).
Step 3: Select Targets
Enable: Use Target Options.
Search and Select Targets:
Use the search bar to locate specific targets like Browser-Chrome or Windows-Prefetch.
Alternatively, select a compound target like SANS Triage for a comprehensive acquisition.
Step 4: Configure Additional Options
Process VSCS: Enable to include Volume Shadow Copies.
Container: Compress the output into a ZIP file for easier transfer and storage.
Dynamic Directories:
%d: Adds the current date to output directories.
%m: Adds the current time to output directories.
Step 5: Execute Acquisition
Click Execute to start the acquisition process.
A command-line window will display real-time progress.
Reviewing Collected Data
Once the acquisition is complete:
Navigate to the Output Directory:
Locate the compressed or uncompressed artifacts in the specified destination.
Verify Artifacts:
Review critical data, such as:
Event Logs (e.g., Security, System).
Browser History.
Registry Hives (e.g., SYSTEM, NTUSER.DAT).
Prefetch Files.
Advantages of KAPE Targets
Speed:
Targets critical forensic artifacts, significantly reducing acquisition time.
Acquires essential data in minutes versus hours for full disk imaging.
Efficiency:
Reduces the size of collected data, typically only a few GBs compared to full disk images.
Flexibility:
Customizable targets allow investigators to tailor data collection to specific needs.
Use Case Example: Incident Response
Scenario: A suspected insider threat.
Targets Used: SANS Triage.
Collected Data:
Event logs: Show login and file access times.
Browser history: Reveals visits to unauthorized cloud storage.
Prefetch files: Indicates recent execution of suspicious executables.
Outcome: Analysts quickly identify malicious activity, confirm data exfiltration, and respond accordingly.
Key Points
KAPE’s Target phase provides a powerful method for focused data acquisition, enabling rapid triage and investigation. Its speed, flexibility, and efficiency make it an invaluable tool in digital forensics and incident response.
In the next lesson, we’ll explore KAPE Module Execution, where the collected data will be parsed and analyzed for deeper insights.
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