Windows 10 hacks

The following were stuff which would help you to do some hacks in windows 10

All the credits of this post should go to Brent Muir and security affairs editor, since it was them that shared a presentation with all the topics. In the bottom of the post you can get the link to his presentation.

  

File Systems / Partitions

Supported File Systems:

 NTFS, Fat32, ExFat

Default Partition structure:

- “Windows” – core OS (NTFS)
- “Recovery” (NTFS)
- “Reserved”
- “System” – UEFI (Fat32)
- “Recovery Image” (NTFS)

 Registry Hives

- Registry hives format has not changed

  Can be examined with numerous tools
    (e.g. RegistryBrowser, RegistryViewer, X-Ways Forensics, etc.)

- Location of important registry hives:

\Users\user_name\NTUSER.DAT
\Windows\System32\config\DEFAULT
\Windows\System32\config\SAM
\Windows\System32\config\SECURITY
\Windows\System32\config\SOFTWARE
\Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM

 Event Logs

- EVTX log format has not changed

   Can be examined with numerous tools
    (e.g. X-Ways Forensics, etc.)

- Location of EVTX logs:

\Windows\System32\winevt\Logs\

Event Logs – Windows Store

\Windows\System32\winevt\Logs\Microsoft-Windows-Store%4Operational.evtx

\Windows\System32\winevt\Logs\Microsoft-Windows-AppXDeploymentServer%4Operational.evtx

 

 

 Prefetch

\Windows\Prefetch\
 

Shellbags

- NTUSER.dat

\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\

- UsrClass.dat

LNK Shortcuts

- LNK format has not changed

  Can be examined with numerous tools
    (e.g. X-Ways Forensics, etc.)

- Useful fields:

  Hostname
  MAC Address
  Volume ID
  Owner SID
  MAC Times

Thumbcache

Location of Thumbcache files:

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\

Recycle Bin

- Recycle Bin artefacts have not changed
$I
Still provides original file name and path

$R
Original file

Volume Shadow Copies

- vssadmin tool still provides list of current VSCs

 Windows Indexing Service

- Windows indexing service is an evidentiary gold mine

Potentially storing emails and other binary items
Great as dictionary list for password cracking

- Stored in an .EDB file

Can be interpreted by EseDbViewer, ESEDatabaseView or X-Ways Forensics
If “dirty” dismount, need to use esentutl.exe

- In Windows 10 stored in the following directory:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows\Windows.edb

Cortana

- Windows 10 features “Cortana”, a personal assistant, which expands upon the unified search platform introduced in Windows 8,

Search encompasses local files, Windows Store & online content
Can set reminders
Can initiate contact (e.g. write emails)

- Cortana Databases (EDBs):

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_xxxx\AppData\Indexed DB\IndexedDB.edb   
\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_xxxx\LocalState\ESEDatabase_CortanaCoreInstance\CortanaCireDb.dat
   
Interesting Tables:

LocationTriggers
Latitude/Longitude and Name of place results
Geofences
Latitude/Longitude for where location based reminders are triggered
Reminders
Creation and completion time (UNIX numeric value)

- The following databases contain a list of contacts synched from email accounts:

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_xxxx\LocalState\Contacts_xxxxx.cfg

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_xxxx\LocalState\Contacts_xxxxx.cfg.txt

Notification Centre

- The following databases contain a list of notifications:

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Notifications\appdb.dat

Toast notifications are stored in embedded XML

 

Picture Password

- “Picture Password” is an alternate login method where gestures on top of a picture are used as a password

- This registry key details the path to the location of the “Picture Password” file:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\PicturePassword\user_GUID

- Path of locally stored Picture Password file:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\SystemData\user_GUID\ReadOnly\PicturePassword\background.png
 

Applications

- Applications (Apps) that utilise the Metro Modern UI are treated differently to programs that work in desktop mode

- Apps are installed in the following directory:

\Program Files\WindowsApps\

- Settings and configuration DBs are located in following directories:

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\package_name\LocalState\

Two DB formats:
SQLite DBs (.SQL)
Jet DBs (.EDB)

Windows Store

- Apps are purchased/installed via the Windows Store

- During the Insider Preview their was a Beta Store which contained Windows 10 –compatible Apps (e.g. Microsoft Office Apps)

- Registry key of installed applications:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Applications\

- List of deleted applications:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deleted\

Edge Browser

- New web browser and rendering engine (Spartan)

- Same as IE10, records no longer stored in Index.DAT files, stored in EDB

- Edge settings are stored in the following file:

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_xxxxx\AC\MicrosoftEdge\User\Default\DataStore\Data\nouser1\xxxxx\DBStore\spartan.edb   
   
- Edge cache stored in the following directory:

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_xxxx\AC\#!001\MicrosoftEdge\Cache\

- Last active browsing session stored:   

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_xxxx\AC\MicrosoftEdge\User\Default\Recovery\Active\

Browser History Records

- Edge (and IE) history records stored in the following database:

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WebCache\WebCacheV01.dat

- This is actually an .EDB file
- Can be interpreted by EseDbViewer or ESEDatabaseView
- Might be a “dirty” dismount, need to use esentutl.exe
- Database also stores Cookies

Internet Explorer (legacy)

- Internet Cache stored in this directory:

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\

- Internet Cookies stored in this directory:

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCookies\

Email (Mail application)

- Body of emails are stored in TXT or HTML format

Can be analysed by a number of tools
Stored in the following directory:

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Comms\Unistore\data\   

- Metadata of emails are stored in the following DB (EDB format):

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Comms\UnistoreDB\store.vol

- Attachments
- Email header
- Contact information

Unified Communication

- Unified Communication (UC) is a built-in Microsoft application that brings together all of the following social media platforms (by default):

Appears to be scaled back from Windows 8.x (less integrated as previous People App)

- UC settings are stored in the following DB:

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps…\LocalState\livecomm.edb

Interesting Tables:

- Account
SourceID
List of accounts (e.g WL = Windows Live, Skype, TWITR, LI = LinkedIn)
DomainTag
Username for each account

- Contact
List of synched contacts across all account platforms

- Event
Calendar entries (including birthdays of contacts if synched to Windows Live) and locations

- MeContact
Further details about owner accounts

-Person and PersonLink
Further details about each contact including what account they link back to (e.g Skype)

- Locally cached contact entries are stored in this directory:

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_xxxxx\LocalState\Indexed\LiveComm\xxxxx\xxxxx\People\AddressBook\
  
- Contact photos are stored in this directory (JPGs):

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_xxxx\LocalState\LiveComm\xxxx\xxxx\UserTiles\

Twitter App

- History DB located in following file:

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\xxxx.Twitter_xxxxxxx\LocalState\twitter_user_id\twitter.sqlite

- SQLite3 format DB

11 Tables in DB

Relevant tables:
- messages – holds tweets & DMs
- search_queries – holds searches conducted in Twitter app by user
- statuses – lists latest tweets from accounts being followed
- users – lists user account and accounts being followed by user

- Settings located in file:

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\xxxxx.Twitter_xxxx\Settings\settings.dat

- Includes user name (@xxxxx)
- Details on profile picture URL
- Twitter ID number

Skype App (legacy)

- The Skype App was discontinued with Windows 10

Windows 10 prompts you to download the desktop Skype application

OneDrive App

- Built-in by default, API allows all programs to save files in OneDrive

- List of Synced items located in file:
\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\OneDrive\settings\xxxxxxxx.dat

- Locally cached items are stored in directory:
\Users\user_name\OneDrive\

Microsoft Office Apps

- With the release of the Windows Insider program Microsoft introduced the Office Mobile Apps

If you have a valid Office365 account then you can edit and create documents
Otherwise these Apps are read-only

Word App

- List of recent documents stored in the following file (XML):

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Office.Word_xxxx\LocalState\AppData\Local\Office\16.0\MruServiceCache\xxxx_LiveId\Excel\Documents_en-AU

- Cached files stored in this directory:

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Office.Word_xxxx\LocalState\OfficeFileCache\   

- Files stored as .FSD extension - actually data embedded
- Can be manually carved from FSD file

Excel App

- List of recent documents stored in the following file (XML):

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Office.Excel_xxxx\LocalState\AppData\Local\Office\16.0\MruServiceCache\xxxx_LiveId\Excel\Documents_en-AU

- Cached files stored in this directory:

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Office.Excel_xxxx\LocalState\OfficeFileCache\

Files stored as .FSD extension  actually data embedded
Can be manually carved from FSD file

PowerPoint App

- List of recent documents stored in the following file (XML):

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Office.PowerPoint_xxxx\LocalState\AppData\Local\Office\16.0\MruServiceCache\xxxx_LiveId\Excel\Documents_en-AU

- Cached files stored in this directory:

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Office.PowerPoint_xxxx\LocalState\OfficeFileCache\
   
Files stored as .FSD extension - actually data embedded
Can be manually carved from FSD file

OneNote  App

 

Cached files stored in this directory:

\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Office.OneNote_xxxx\LocalState\AppData\Local\OneNote\16.0\   

- Files stored as xxxx.bin extension
Encoded binary files
Embedded graphics such as PNG or JPG

Maps App

- Recent places stored in this file (XML):
\Users\user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsMaps_xxxx\LocalState\Graph\xxxx\Me\00000000.ttl

Latitude/Longitude
Dates modified (searched)

Memory Acquisition

- WinPMEM (tested versions 1.6.2 & 2.0.1):

Run as Administrator
Has to extract driver to local temp location
V1.6.2 running process ~10MB
V2.0.1 running process ~80MB

- FTK Imager:

Run as Administrator
Running process ~15MB

Live Disk Acquisition

- FTK Imager

Can be used for Physical or Logical acquisition

- X-Ways Forensics

Can be used for Physical or Logical acquisition

Sources: 

Presentation
FTK Imager
Nirsoft ESEDatabaseView
RegistryBrowser
WinPMEM