Analyze Windows Prefetch files, which record application execution data, using Python. Reconstruct execution timelines, review run counts and accessed resources, and identify suspicious programs or signs that an executable has been renamed to disguise its identity.
Parse Windows Prefetch (.pf) files with the windowsprefetch Python library to reconstruct application execution history, run counts, and accessed file/volume lists. Use when investigating renamed or masquerading binaries, verifying program execution timelines, or hunting for suspicious execution patterns in incident response.
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Windows Prefetch files (.pf) record application execution data including executable names, run counts, timestamps, loaded DLLs, and accessed directories. This skill covers parsing Prefetch files using the windowsprefetch Python library to reconstruct execution timelines, detect renamed or masquerading binaries by comparing executable names with loaded resources, and identifying suspicious programs that may indicate malware execution or lateral movement.
windowsprefetch library (pip install windowsprefetch)Gather .pf files from target system's C:\Windows\Prefetch\ directory.
Extract executable name, run count, last execution timestamps, and volume information.
Flag known attack tools (mimikatz, psexec, etc.), renamed binaries, and unusual execution patterns.
Reconstruct chronological execution timeline from all Prefetch files.
JSON report with execution history, suspicious executables, renamed binary indicators, and timeline reconstruction.
$ python3 prefetch_analyzer.py --dir /evidence/Windows/Prefetch --output /analysis/prefetch_report
Windows Prefetch Analyzer v2.1
================================
Source: /evidence/Windows/Prefetch/
Prefetch Format: Windows 10 (MAM compressed, version 30)
Files Found: 234
--- Execution Timeline (Incident Window: 2024-01-15 to 2024-01-18) ---
Last Executed (UTC) | Run Count | Filename | Hash | Path
------------------------|-----------|-----------------------------|----------|------------------------------------------
2024-01-15 14:33:15 | 1 | Q4_REPORT.XLSM-2A1B3C4D.pf | 2A1B3C4D | C:\Users\jsmith\Downloads\Q4_Report.xlsm
2024-01-15 14:35:44 | 1 | POWERSHELL.EXE-A2B3C4D5.pf | A2B3C4D5 | C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe
2024-01-15 14:36:30 | 3 | UPDATE_CLIENT.EXE-B3C4D5E6.pf| B3C4D5E6| C:\ProgramData\Updates\update_client.exe
2024-01-15 15:10:22 | 1 | NETSCAN.EXE-C4D5E6F7.pf | C4D5E6F7 | C:\Users\jsmith\Downloads\netscan.exe
2024-01-16 02:28:00 | 1 | PROCDUMP64.EXE-D5E6F7A8.pf | D5E6F7A8 | C:\Windows\Temp\procdump64.exe
2024-01-16 02:30:15 | 2 | MIMIKATZ.EXE-E6F7A8B9.pf | E6F7A8B9 | C:\Windows\Temp\mimikatz.exe
2024-01-16 02:40:00 | 4 | PSEXEC.EXE-F7A8B9C0.pf | F7A8B9C0 | C:\Users\jsmith\AppData\Local\Temp\psexec.exe
2024-01-17 02:45:00 | 1 | SDELETE64.EXE-A8B9C0D1.pf | A8B9C0D1 | C:\Windows\Temp\sdelete64.exe
2024-01-18 03:00:45 | 1 | WEVTUTIL.EXE-B9C0D1E2.pf | B9C0D1E2 | C:\Windows\System32\wevtutil.exe
--- Renamed Binary Detection ---
ALERT: UPDATE_CLIENT.EXE loaded DLLs consistent with Cobalt Strike beacon:
Referenced DLLs: wininet.dll, ws2_32.dll, advapi32.dll, dnsapi.dll, netapi32.dll
Volume: \VOLUME{01d94f2a3b5c7d8e-A4E73F21} (C:)
Directories referenced:
C:\ProgramData\Updates\
C:\Windows\System32\
--- Execution Frequency Analysis ---
Most Executed (Top 5):
1. SVCHOST.EXE (267 runs)
2. CHROME.EXE (189 runs)
3. EXPLORER.EXE (156 runs)
4. RUNTIMEBROKER.EXE (134 runs)
5. OUTLOOK.EXE (98 runs)
First-Time Executions (Never seen before incident window):
6 executables first run between 2024-01-15 and 2024-01-18
Summary:
Total prefetch files: 234
Suspicious executables: 6
Renamed binary indicators: 1 (update_client.exe)
Anti-forensics tools: 2 (sdelete64.exe, wevtutil.exe)
JSON report: /analysis/prefetch_report/prefetch_timeline.json
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