KARIM ASHRAF SPACE.
  • Who Am I ?
  • WRITEUPS
    • What about Practice in Cyber Security?
    • Dark Side of VSCode
    • What about Cy-nix Machine?
    • Cyberdefenders Labs
      • Web Investigation Blue Team Lab
      • Red Stealer Blue Team Lab
      • WebStrike Blue Team Lab
      • BlueSky Ransomware Blue Team Lab
      • PsExec Hunt Blue Team Lab
      • OpenWire Blue Team Lab
      • 3CX Supply Chain Blue Team Lab
      • PoisonedCredentials Lab
      • Reveal Lab
    • Lets Defend
      • Incident Responder Path
        • Cybersecurity Incident Handling Guide
          • Introduction to Incident Handling
          • Incident Handling Steps
          • Preparation
          • Detection and Analysis
          • Containment, Eradication, and Recovery
          • Post-Incident Activity
        • Incident Response on Windows
          • How to Create Incident Response Plan?
          • Incident Response Procedure
          • 3 Important Things
          • Free Tools That Can Be Used
          • Live Memory Analysis
          • Task Scheduler
          • Services
          • Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder
          • Files
          • Checklist
        • Incident Response on Linux
          • How to Create Incident Response Plan?
          • Incident Response Procedure
          • 3 Important Things
          • Users and Groups
          • Processes
          • Files and File System
          • Mounts
          • Network
          • Service
          • Cron Job
          • SSH Authorized Keys
          • Bash_rc & Bash_profile
          • Useful Log Files
        • Hacked Web Server Analysis
          • Introduction to Hacked Web Server Analysis
          • Log Analysis on Web Servers
          • Attacks on Web Servers
          • Attacks Against Web Applications
          • Vulnerabilities on Servers
          • Vulnerabilities in Programming Language
          • Discovering the Web Shell
          • Hacked Web Server Analysis Example
        • Log Analysis with Sysmon
          • Introduction and Set Up of Sysmon
          • Detecting Mimikatz with Sysmon
          • Detecting Pass The Hash with Sysmon
          • Detecting Privilege Escalation with Sysmon
        • Forensic Acquisition and Triage
          • Introduction to Forensics Acquisition and Triage
          • Acquiring Memory Image From Windows and Linux
          • Custom Image Using FTK and Mounting Image for Analysis
          • KAPE Targets for Acquisition
          • KAPE Modules for Triage and Analysis
          • Triage Using FireEye Redline
          • Acquisition and Triage of Disks Using Autopsy
        • Memory Forensics
          • What is Memory Forensics
          • Memory Analysis Procedures
        • Registry Forensics
          • Introduction to Windows Registry Forensics
          • Acquiring Registry Hives
          • Regedit and Registry Explorer
          • System, Users and Network Information
          • Shellbags
          • Shimcache
          • Amcache
          • Recent Files
          • Dialogue Boxes MRU
        • Event Log Analysis
          • Introduction to Event Logs
          • Event Log Analysis
          • Authentication Event Logs
          • Windows Scheduled Tasks Event Logs
          • Windows Services Event Logs
          • Account Management Events
          • Event Log Manipulation
          • Windows Firewall Event Logs
          • Windows Defender Event Logs
          • Powershell Command Execution Event logs
        • Browser Forensics
          • Introduction to Browser Forensics
          • Acquisition
          • Browser Artifacts
          • Tool: BrowsingHistoryView
          • Manual Browser Analysis
          • Hindsight Framework
        • GTFOBins
          • Introduction to GTFOBins
          • Shell
          • Command
          • Reverse Shell
          • Bind Shell
          • File Upload
          • File Download
          • Sudo
        • Hunting AD Attacks
          • Introduction to Active Directory
          • Hunting AS-REP Roasting Attack
          • Hunting for Kerberoasting Attacks
          • Hunting for LDAP Enumerations (Bloodhound_Sharphound)
          • Hunting for NTDS Database Dumping
          • Hunting for Golden Ticket Attacks
          • Hunting for NTLM Relay Attacks
        • Writing a Report on Security Incident
          • Introduction to Technical Writing
          • Reporting Standards
          • Reporting Style
          • Report Formatting
          • Report Templates
        • How to Prepare a Cyber Crisis Management Pla
          • Introduction to Crisis Management
          • General Preparation
          • Tools
          • Backups
          • Alerts and End of Crisis
        • Advanced Event Log Analysis
          • Process Creation
          • DNS Activity
          • File/Folder Monitoring
          • BITS Client Event Log
          • Network Connections Event Log
          • MSI Event Logs
        • USB Forensics
          • Introduction to USB Forensics
          • USB Registry Key
          • USB Event Logs
          • Folder Access Analysis via Shellbags
          • File Access Analysis via Jumplists
          • Automated USB Parsers Tools
        • Windows Disk Forensics
          • SRUM Database
          • Jumplists
          • Recycle Bin Artifacts
          • RDP Cache
          • Thumbnail Cache
    • BTLO LABS
      • Bruteforce BTLO
    • The Complete Active Directory Security Handbook
      • Introduction
      • Active Directory
      • Attack Technique 1: Pass the Hash: Use of Alternate Authentication Material (T1550)
      • Attack Technique 2: Pass the Ticket: Use of Alternate Authentication Material (T1550)
      • Attack Technique 3: Kerberoasting
      • Attack Technique 4: Golden Ticket Attack
      • Attack Technique 5: DCShadow Attack
      • Attack Technique 6: AS-REP Roasting
      • Attack Technique 7: LDAP Injection Attack
      • Attack Technique 8: PetitPotam NTLM Relay Attack on a Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS)
      • Conclusion & References
    • Windows Privilege Escalation
      • Tools
      • Windows Version and Configuration
      • User Enumeration
      • Network Enumeration
      • Antivirus Enumeration
      • Default Writeable Folders
      • EoP - Looting for passwords
      • EoP - Incorrect permissions in services
      • EoP - Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
      • EoP - Unquoted Service Paths
      • EoP - $PATH Interception
      • EoP - Named Pipes
      • EoP - Kernel Exploitation
      • EoP - AlwaysInstallElevated
      • EoP - Insecure GUI apps
      • EoP - Evaluating Vulnerable Drivers
      • EoP - Printers
      • EoP - Runas
      • EoP - Abusing Shadow Copies
      • EoP - From local administrator to NT SYSTEM
      • EoP - Living Off The Land Binaries and Scripts
      • EoP - Impersonation Privileges
      • EoP - Privileged File Write
      • References
      • Practical Labs
    • Advanced Log Analysis
      • Key Windows Event IDs for Cybersecurity Monitoring
      • Analyzing a Series of Failed Login Attempts from Multiple IP Addresses
      • Steps to Investigate Suspicious Outbound Network Traffic
      • Identifying and Responding to Lateral Movement within a Network
      • Distinguishing Between Legitimate and Malicious PowerShell Executions
      • Detecting and Analyzing a Potential Data Exfiltration Incident Using Log Data
      • Steps to Analyze PowerShell Logging (Event ID 4104) for Malicious Activity
      • How to Identify an Internal Pivot Attack Using Log Data
      • Indicators in Logs Suggesting a Privilege Escalation Attack
      • How to Detect Command and Control (C2) Communication Using Log Analysis
      • How to Analyze Logs to Detect a Brute-Force Attack on an RDP Service
      • How to Analyze Logs to Detect a Brute-Force Attack on an RDP Service
      • How to Detect the Use of Living-Off-the-Land Binaries (LOLBins) in Logs
      • How to Detect Malware Masquerading as a Legitimate Process Using Log Analysis
      • How to Detect and Analyze Lateral Movement Using Windows Event Logs
      • How to Detect Potential Ransomware Attacks in Their Early Stages Using Log Analysis
      • How to Detect and Analyze Privilege Escalation Using Windows Event Logs
      • How to Detect the Use of Mimikatz or Similar Tools in Log Data
      • How to Detect and Analyze DNS Tunneling Through Log Analysis
      • How to Detect a Pass-the-Hash (PtH) Attack Using Logs
      • How to Detect and Analyze an Attacker’s Use of a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) Using Log Data
      • How to Detect Lateral Movement Using Windows Event Logs
      • How to Detect and Investigate Data Exfiltration Using Logs
      • How to Identify and Analyze an Internal Phishing Campaign Using Email and System Logs
      • How to Detect and Analyze Ransomware Activity Using Logs
      • How to Detect Malicious PowerShell Activity Using Log Analysis
      • How to Detect and Respond to Brute-Force Attacks Using Log Data
      • How to Detect Privilege Escalation Attempts Using Windows Event Logs
      • How to Detect and Analyze Suspicious Domain Name Resolution Requests in DNS Logs
      • How to Detect and Respond to Unauthorized Access to Critical Files
      • How to Detect and Analyze Suspicious PowerShell Command Execution
      • How to Detect and Investigate Account Takeover (ATO) Attempts Using
      • How to Detect and Analyze the Use of Living Off the Land Binaries (LOLBins)
      • How to Detect and Investigate Lateral Movement
      • How to Detect and Investigate Data Exfiltration
      • How to Detect and Analyze Suspicious Activity Involving Service Accounts
      • How to Detect and Investigate Anomalous PowerShell Activity Related to Credential Dumping
      • How to Detect and Analyze the Execution of Unsigned or Malicious Executables
      • How to Detect and Investigate Abnormal Spikes in Network Traffic
    • Methods for Stealing Password in Browser
      • Important Tables and Columns
      • Important Queries
      • Profiles
      • Tools
        • HackBrowserData
        • Browser-password-stealer
        • BrowserPass
        • WebBrowserPassView
        • Infornito
        • Hindsight
        • BrowserFreak
        • BrowserStealer
    • Hack The Box Tracks
      • Soc Analyst Path 2024
        • 1. Incident Handling Process
          • Incident Handling Definition & Scope
          • Incident Handling's Value & Generic Notes
          • Cyber Kill Chain
          • Incident Handling Process Overview
          • Preparation Stage (Part 1)
          • Preparation Stage (Part 2)
          • DMARC
          • Endpoint Hardening (& EDR)
          • Network Protection
          • Privilege Identity Management / MFA / Passwords
          • Vulnerability Scanning
          • User Awareness Training
          • Active Directory Security Assessment
          • Purple Team Exercises
          • Detection & Analysis Stage (Part 1)
          • Initial Investigation
          • Incident Severity & Extent Questions
          • Incident Confidentiality & Communication
          • Detection & Analysis Stage (Part 2)
          • The Investigation
          • Initial Investigation Data
          • Creation & Usage Of IOCs
          • Identification Of New Leads & Impacted Systems
          • Data Collection & Analysis From The New Leads & Impacted Systems
          • Containment
          • Eradication
          • Recovery
          • Post-Incident Activity Stage
          • Reporting
        • 2. Security Monitoring & SIEM Fundamentals
          • What Is SIEM?
          • The Evolution Of SIEM And How It Works
          • SIEM Business Requirements & Use Cases Log Aggregation & Normalization
          • Data Flows Within A SIEM
          • What Are The Benefits Of Using A SIEM Solution
          • What Is the Elastic Stack?
          • The Elastic Stack As A SIEM Solution
          • How To Identify The Available Data
          • The Elastic Common Schema (ECS)
          • SOC Definition & Fundamentals
          • Evolution of Security Operations Centers (SOCs)
          • What Is MITRE ATT&CK?
          • What Is A SIEM Use Case?
          • How To Build SIEM Use Cases
          • SIEM Visualization Example 1: Failed Logon Attempts (All Users)
          • SIEM Visualization Example 2: Failed Logon Attempts (Disabled Users)
          • SIEM Visualization Example 3: Successful RDP Logon Related To Service Accounts
          • SIEM Visualization Example 4: Users Added or Removed from a Local Group
          • What Is Alert Triaging?
  • COURSES SUMMARY
    • TCM SEC
      • TCM linux Privilege Escalation
      • TCM OSINT
    • The SecOps Group
      • Certified AppSec Practitioner exam
      • CNSP Review
    • Cybrary
      • Cybrary Offensive Pentesting
  • TIPS&TRICKS
    • Windows Shorcuts Arrow Remover
    • Kali KEX
    • Intel TurboBoost
    • Pentest_Copilot
    • Ferdium
    • Youtube Adblock_Bybass
    • Burb-Bambdas
    • Burb Customizer
    • BetterFox
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On this page
  • Introduction
  • Why USB Forensics is Important
  • Key Forensic Goals
  • 1. Identify USB Usage
  • 2. Establish Timelines
  • 3. File Interaction Analysis
  • 4. Device Metadata
  • Sources of USB Forensic Evidence
  • 1. Registry Artifacts
  • 2. Event Logs
  • 3. Volume Shadow Copies
  • Key Timestamps in USB Forensics
  • Common Scenarios in USB Forensics
  • 1. Data Theft
  • 2. Malware Propagation
  • 3. Insider Threat
  • 4. Policy Violations
  • Challenges in USB Forensics
  1. WRITEUPS
  2. Lets Defend
  3. Incident Responder Path
  4. USB Forensics

Introduction to USB Forensics

Introduction

While USB devices are invaluable for data transfer, they also pose significant security risks. Malicious actors or insiders may leverage USB drives to exfiltrate sensitive data, introduce malware, or bypass security controls. USB forensics involves examining USB activity on a system to uncover evidence, establish timelines, and assess the scope of security breaches.

Why USB Forensics is Important

  1. Data Exfiltration:

    • USB drives are frequently used for unauthorized data transfers, bypassing network monitoring.

  2. Malware Introduction:

    • USB devices can serve as a vector for malware, including worms, ransomware, or other payloads.

  3. Evidence Collection:

    • In cases of insider threats or policy violations, USB forensics identifies unauthorized activity, enabling accountability.

Key Forensic Goals

1. Identify USB Usage

  • Device Detection: Determine which USB devices were connected and when.

  • User Identification: Correlate device usage with specific user accounts.

2. Establish Timelines

  • Connection Events:

    • First connection.

    • Last connection.

    • Disconnection times.

  • Correlate these events with other system logs to establish an incident timeline.

3. File Interaction Analysis

  • Identify files accessed, copied, or modified on the USB device.

  • Locate deleted or hidden files.

4. Device Metadata

  • Gather device-specific information, such as:

    • Serial numbers.

    • Manufacturer details.

    • Volume labels.

  • Identify unique USB devices, even if renamed or reformatted.

Sources of USB Forensic Evidence

1. Registry Artifacts

The Windows Registry stores valuable data about connected USB devices:

  • Key Registry Locations:

    • SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\USBSTOR: Device information and serial numbers.

    • SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR: Tracks driver usage for USB storage.

    • SYSTEM\MountedDevices: Records drive letters assigned to USB devices.

2. Event Logs

  • Security Logs:

    • Event ID 4663: Tracks file access.

    • Event ID 4656: Tracks object creation.

  • System Logs:

    • Event ID 20001: USB device connection under Microsoft-Windows-DriverFrameworks-UserMode.

  • Application Logs:

    • Logs from specific applications interacting with USB devices.

3. Volume Shadow Copies

  • Volume Shadow Copies may contain snapshots of USB file systems, even if files were deleted.

4. $LogFile and $MFT (Master File Table)

  • These artifacts track file operations on USB devices, providing insight into file access and modification.

Key Timestamps in USB Forensics

  1. First Connection Time:

    • Indicates the initial connection of the USB device to the system.

  2. Last Connection Time:

    • Tracks the most recent usage of the USB device.

  3. Disconnection Time:

    • Marks when the device was last safely removed or ejected.

Common Scenarios in USB Forensics

1. Data Theft

  • Goal: Investigate whether sensitive files were copied to or from a USB device.

  • Evidence: Identify file paths, timestamps, and user accounts associated with the transfer.

2. Malware Propagation

  • Goal: Detect malware or auto-run scripts on the USB device.

  • Evidence: Analyze USB content for malicious payloads or executables.

3. Insider Threat

  • Goal: Examine unauthorized activities involving USB devices.

  • Evidence: Determine file access, transfers, or deletions by specific employees.

4. Policy Violations

  • Goal: Detect usage of unauthorized USB devices in restricted environments.

  • Evidence: Correlate system policies with observed device connections.

Challenges in USB Forensics

  1. Encryption:

    • Encrypted USB devices may limit access to stored data without proper credentials.

  2. Deleted Artifacts:

    • Attackers often delete files or logs to cover their tracks.

    • Countermeasure: Use volume shadow copies and system logs to recover data.

  3. Reformatted Devices:

    • Formatting removes most user-accessible data, but traces may still exist in shadow copies or event logs.

USB forensics is a vital discipline in digital investigations, offering critical insights into data movements and system interactions. By leveraging forensic methods and tools to analyze USB activities, investigators can uncover unauthorized actions, mitigate breaches, and enforce security policies. Whether dealing with data theft, malware propagation, or insider threats, USB forensics provides the necessary evidence to build a comprehensive understanding of security incidents.

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Last updated 6 months ago