Analyzing Windows Prefetch With Python

---
name: analyzing-windows-prefetch-with-python
description: Parse Windows Prefetch files using the windowsprefetch Python library to reconstruct application execution history, tespit etme
renamed or masquerading binaries, and identify suspicious program
  execution patterns.
tags:
- execution-history
- incident-response
- digital-forensics
- prefetch
- windows
- malware-analysis
- fetih
- cybersecurity
- siber-güvenlik
triggers:
- adli bilişim
- alert
- analyzing
- api
- dijital delil
- disk imajı
- dns
- forensic
- forensics
- hash
- incident
- log
category: digital-forensics
source_subdomain: digital-forensics
mitre_attack:
- T1059
- T1204
- T1036
nist_csf:
- RS.AN-01
- RS.AN-03
- DE.AE-02
- RS.MA-01
adapted_for: fetih
---

# Analyzing Windows Prefetch with Python


## Genel Bakış

Windows Prefetch files (.pf) record application execution data including executable names, run counts, timestamps, loaded DLLs, and accessed directories. bu skill covers parsing Prefetch files using the windowsprefetch Python library to reconstruct execution timelines, tespit etme
renamed or masquerading binaries by comparing executable names with loaded resources, and identifying suspicious programs that may indicate malware execution or lateral movement.


## Ne Zaman Kullanılır

- investigating yaparken security incidents that require analyzing windows prefetch with python
- building yaparken Tespit rules or threat hunting queries for this domain
- SOC yaparken: analysts need structured procedures for this analysis type
- validating yaparken security monitoring coverage for related attack techniques

## Ön Gereksinimler

- Python 3.9+ with `windowsprefetch` library (pip install windowsprefetch)
- Windows Prefetch files from C:\Windows\Prefetch\ (versions 17-30 supported)
- Understanding of Windows Prefetch file naming conventions (EXECUTABLE-HASH.pf)

## Adımlar

### Adım 1: Collect Prefetch Files
Gather .pf files from target system's C:\Windows\Prefetch\ directory.

### Adım 2: Parse Execution History
Extract executable name, run count, last execution timestamps, and volume information.

### Adım 3: tespit etme
Suspicious Execution
Flag known attack tools (mimikatz, psexec, etc.), renamed binaries, and unusual execution patterns.

### Adım 4: Build Execution Timeline
Reconstruct chronological execution timeline from all Prefetch files.

## Expected Output

JSON report with execution history, suspicious executables, renamed binary indicators, and timeline reconstruction.

## Example Output

```text
$ 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 Tespit ---
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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