dfirhub

Notepad

Windowsv2

Author: Andrew Rathbun, ogmini

description

A Target to collect files that are currently open in Notepad (Windows 11+)

paths

4 paths
Windows NotepadNotepad Session Files
C:\Users\%user%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\TabState*.bin

Contains .bin files which consist of the files opened in each tab in Windows Notepad

Text EditorNotepad Window State Files
C:\Users\%user%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\WindowState\*.bin

Contains .bin files tracking the state of the Notepad Window

Text EditorNotepad Settings File
C:\Users\%user%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_8wekyb3d8bbwe\Settings\settings.dat

Retrieves settings.dat which is an Application Registry

Text EditorNotepad Registry Hives
C:\Users\%user%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_8wekyb3d8bbwe\SystemAppData\Helium*.dat

Retrieves User.dat and UserClasses.dat. User.dat contains MRU entries. UserClasses.dat contains Shell Bags.

› paths use Windows environment syntax

collection commands 

# PowerShell Artifact Collection Script
# Target: Notepad
# Run as Administrator

#Requires -RunAsAdministrator

$ErrorActionPreference = "SilentlyContinue"
$DestBase = "D:\Evidence"

# Function to handle directory creation and copying
function Collect-Artifact {
    param (
        [string]$SourcePath,
        [string]$FolderName
    )
    $FullDest = Join-Path -Path $DestBase -ChildPath $FolderName
    if (-not (Test-Path -Path $FullDest)) {
        New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $FullDest -Force | Out-Null
    }
    Copy-Item -Path $SourcePath -Destination $FullDest -Recurse -Force
}

# 1. Notepad Session Files
$UserPath = Join-Path $env:USERPROFILE "AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\TabState"
Collect-Artifact -SourcePath "$UserPath\*.bin" -FolderName "Notepad_Session_Files"

# 2. Notepad Window State Files
$UserPath = Join-Path $env:USERPROFILE "AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\WindowState\"
Collect-Artifact -SourcePath "$UserPath\*.bin" -FolderName "Notepad_Window_State_Files"

# 3. Notepad Settings File
$UserPath = Join-Path $env:USERPROFILE "AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_8wekyb3d8bbwe\Settings\"
Collect-Artifact -SourcePath "$UserPath\settings.dat" -FolderName "Notepad_Settings_File"

# 4. Notepad Registry Hives
$UserPath = Join-Path $env:USERPROFILE "AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsNotepad_8wekyb3d8bbwe\SystemAppData\Helium"
Collect-Artifact -SourcePath "$UserPath\*.dat" -FolderName "Notepad_Registry_Hives"

Write-Host "Collection complete!" -ForegroundColor Green

› Save as .ps1 and run as Administrator. Use: powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File script.ps1
› cyberchef recipes

Open in CyberChef to decode values extracted from this artifact.

references

included in collections

KapeTriage