MFT Deleted File Recovery Analysis FAQs

Question 1

How does this skill detect timestomping?

Accepted Answer

It compares the $STANDARD_INFORMATION attribute timestamps (often targeted by tools) with the $FILE_NAME timestamps (updated only by the OS kernel). Significant discrepancies usually indicate manual timestamp manipulation.

Question 2

What is an MFT record and why is it important for recovery?

Accepted Answer

An MFT (Master File Table) record is a 1024-byte entry in an NTFS volume containing all metadata for a file. When a file is deleted, the record is marked as inactive but remains intact until overwritten, allowing for forensic recovery.

Question 3

What tools are supported by this analysis skill?

Accepted Answer

The skill provides structured procedures for MFTECmd (Eric Zimmerman), analyzeMFT, X-Ways Forensics, and custom Python scripts for slack space analysis.

Question 4

Is this skill aligned with industry security frameworks?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is specifically mapped to NIST CSF 2.0 (RS.AN-01, RS.AN-03, DE.AE-02) and MITRE ATT&CK patterns for standardized forensic investigations.

Question 5

Can I recover files if the MFT record has been reallocated?

Accepted Answer

If the record is reallocated, metadata recovery is difficult, but remnants may still be found in MFT slack space, the USN Journal, or the $LogFile transaction history.

MFT Deleted File Recovery Analysis

Key Features

Use Cases

MFT Deleted File Recovery Analysis

Key Features

Use Cases