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UsnJrnl

Windows UsnJrnl is a sparse binary file that tracks changes to files and directories. Located at the alternative data stream (ADS) C:\$Extend\$UsnJrnl:$J. Parsing this data can sometimes show files that have been deleted. However, depending on the file activity on the system entries in the UsnJrnl may get overwritten quickly.

Other Parsers:

References:

TOML Collection

system = "windows"

[output]
name = "usnjrnl_collection"
directory = "./tmp"
format = "json"
compress = false
endpoint_id = "6c51b123-1522-4572-9f2a-0bd5abd81b82"
collection_id = 1
output = "local"

[[artifacts]]
artifact_name = "usnjrnl"
[artifacts.usnjrnl]
# Optional
# alt_drive = 'D'
# alt_path = ""

Collection Options

  • alt_drive Expects a single character value. Will use an alternative drive letter when parsing UsnJrnl. This configuration is optional. By default artemis will use the %systemdrive% value (typically C)
  • alt_path Full path to $J file. This configuration is optional.

Output Structure

An array of UsnJrnl entries

export interface UsnJrnl {
  /**Entry number in the MFT */
  mft_entry: number;
  /**Sequence number in the MFT */
  mft_sequence: number;
  /**Parent entry number in the MFT */
  parent_mft_entry: number;
  /**Parent sequence number in the MFT */
  parent_mft_sequence: number;
  /**ID number in the Update Sequence Number Journal (UsnJrnl) */
  update_sequence_number: number;
  /**Timestamp of of entry update */
  update_time: string;
  /**Reason for update action */
  update_reason: string;
  /**Source information of the update */
  update_source_flags: string;
  /**Security ID associated with entry */
  security_descriptor_id: number;
  /**Attributes associate with entry */
  file_attributes: string[];
  /**Name associated with entry. Can be file or directory */
  filename: string;
  /**Extension if available for filename */
  extension: string;
  /**Full path for the UsnJrnl entry. Obtained by parsing `$MFT` and referencing the `parent_mft_entry` */
  full_path: string;
}