Kape: Kroll Artifact Parser and Extractor.

Developed by Eric Zimmerman, is a powerful digital forensic tool designed for rapid collection and analysis of forensic artifacts. It is widely used for incident response, system triage, and forensic investigations. This guide will provide a detailed overview of KAPE, its architecture, capabilities, and usage.

1. Understanding KAPE

KAPE operates in two primary phases:

Targeting (Collection): The first step involves using KAPE's Targets to collect forensic data from a system. Targets define the specific artifacts to collect and where to find them. Examples of artifacts include log files, browser history, prefetch files, registry hives, and more.
Processing (Parsing): The second step involves Modules, which process and analyze the collected data. Modules leverage external tools and scripts to parse specific types of artifacts and extract meaningful information.

KAPE's modular approach allows investigators to quickly customize workflows for specific cases and streamline their analysis processes.

2. Key Features

Efficiency: Unlike traditional disk imaging, KAPE focuses only on essential artifacts, dramatically reducing data collection time.
Modularity: Users can create or modify Targets and Modules, tailoring the tool to their specific needs.
Portability: KAPE is lightweight and portable, making it easy to deploy on live systems without installation.
Integration: Works seamlessly with other forensic tools such as Autopsy, Volatility, and Plaso.
Remote Capability: KAPE can operate over remote connections, enabling investigators to collect data from systems they cannot physically access.
Command-Line Interface (CLI): Facilitates automation and integration into scripts for large-scale investigations.

3. Installing and Configuring KAPE

Download KAPE: Obtain KAPE from Eric Zimmerman's GitHub page. Ensure you download the latest version.
Unpack KAPE: Extract the downloaded ZIP file to a suitable directory. The folder structure includes:
- Targets: Contains preconfigured JSON files defining what artifacts to collect.
- Modules: Holds scripts and configurations for processing collected data.
- KAPE.exe: The main executable.
Configuration: KAPE is preconfigured to work out of the box, but advanced users can edit JSON files in the Targets and Modules directories to define custom artifacts and parsing processes.

4. KAPE Terminology

Targets: Configuration files that specify what to collect. Examples include:
- BasicCollection: Gathers key artifacts such as logs, browser history, and registry hives.
- FileSystem: Captures filesystem metadata like timestamps and file names.
Modules: Define how to parse and analyze collected data. Examples include:
- BrowserHistory: Uses tools like MKBrowserHistory to parse browser activity.
- EventLogs: Extracts and formats Windows event logs.
Target Source (--tsource): Specifies the location to collect data from. Common values are C: (local drive) or a mounted network share.
Target Destination (--tdest): Directory where the collected artifacts are saved.
Module Source (--msource): Path to the collected data for processing.
Module Destination (--mdest): Path where parsed output is stored.

5. Basic Usage of KAPE

5.1 Collecting Data

The first step in any investigation is to collect data using KAPE Targets. Below is an example of collecting basic forensic artifacts from the C: drive:

bash:

kape.exe --tsource C: --tdest D:\CollectedArtifacts --target BasicCollection

Parameters:
- --tsource C:: Specifies the drive to scan.
- --tdest D:\CollectedArtifacts: Directory to store the collected data.
- --target BasicCollection: Uses the predefined "BasicCollection" Target.

5.2 Parsing Data

After collecting artifacts, process them using KAPE Modules. Here's an example:

bash:

kape.exe --msource D:\CollectedArtifacts --mdest D:\ParsedArtifacts --module BrowserHistory

Parameters:

--msource D:\CollectedArtifacts: Path to the collected data.
--mdest D:\ParsedArtifacts: Output directory for parsed data.
--module BrowserHistory: Uses the BrowserHistory Module to analyze browser activity.

6. Advanced Usage

6.1 Combining Targeting and Processing

You can combine data collection and processing into a single step:

bash:

kape.exe --tsource C: --tdest D:\CollectedArtifacts --target BasicCollection --module BrowserHistory --mdest D:\ParsedArtifacts

6.2 Customizing Targets and Modules

To add a custom Target or Module:

Create a JSON file in the Targets or Modules directory.
Define the artifact paths or processing logic. For example, a custom Target might look like this:

json:

{
  "Name": "CustomLogs",
  "Description": "Collects specific log files",
  "Author": "Your Name",
  "TargetPaths": [
    "C:\\Windows\\System32\\LogFiles",
    "C:\\ProgramData\\ApplicationLogs"
  ]
}

Save the file and reference it in your KAPE command.

6.3 Remote Data Collection

Deploy KAPE on a remote system using tools like PsExec or RDP. Here's an example using PsExec:

bash:

psexec \\remote-system -u Administrator -p Password cmd.exe /c "kape.exe --tsource C: --tdest \\shared-folder\CollectedArtifacts --target BasicCollection"

7. Common Use Cases.

7.1 Incident Response

In a live security incident, KAPE can collect key artifacts rapidly for triage:

Command to collect event logs and browser history:

bash:

kape.exe --tsource C: --tdest D:\IncidentData --target EventLogs,BrowserHistory

7.2 Proactive Monitoring

Schedule periodic artifact collection to monitor user activity:

Use Task Scheduler to run KAPE commands at regular intervals.

7.3 Forensic Investigations

Perform targeted collection on compromised systems:

Example command to collect registry and prefetch data:

bash:

kape.exe --tsource C: --tdest D:\RegistryData --target Registry,Prefetch

8. Integration with Other Tools

Volatility: Use Volatility to analyze memory dumps collected by KAPE.
Autopsy: Import collected artifacts into Autopsy for timeline analysis.
Plaso/Log2Timeline: Use Plaso to create detailed timelines from log files.

9. Best Practices

Legal Compliance: Ensure you have appropriate authorization before using KAPE.
Backup First: Always create backups of collected data to maintain chain of custody.
Minimize Live Analysis: When possible, analyze data on a separate forensic workstation.

10. Troubleshooting

Missing Targets or Modules: Ensure the Targets and Modules directories are intact.
Permission Issues: Run KAPE with administrative privileges.
Output Errors: Check logs in the output directory for detailed error messages.

Custom Targets and Modules for KAPE.

1. Creating Custom Targets.

1.1 Understanding the Target JSON Structure

A Target file specifies the paths or file types KAPE will collect. Below is the structure of a simple Target:

json:

{
  "Name": "CustomTargetExample",
  "Description": "Collect custom log files from specific locations",
  "Author": "Your Name",
  "TargetPaths": [
    {
      "Path": "C:\\ProgramData\\MyApp\\Logs\\*.log",
      "Recursive": true
    },
    {
      "Path": "C:\\Windows\\System32\\LogFiles\\*.evtx",
      "Recursive": false
    }
  ],
  "Filters": [
    {
      "Description": "Collect logs updated in the last 30 days",
      "ModifiedDate": "-30d"
    }
  ]
}

Name: Name of your Target configuration.
Description: Details about the Target's purpose.
Author: Your name or team name for attribution.
TargetPaths:
- Path: Specifies a directory or file type to collect.
- Recursive: Indicates whether to include subdirectories.
Filters (Optional): Add filters like file modification date or size to narrow collection.

1.2 Saving the Custom Target

Save the JSON file to the Targets directory (e.g., Targets\CustomTargetExample.tkape).

Test the Target by running:

bash:

kape.exe --tsource C: --tdest D:\CustomArtifacts --target CustomTargetExample

1.3 Advanced Target Features

Use environment variables for dynamic paths:

json:

"Path": "%APPDATA%\\MyApp\\Logs\\*.txt"

Use regex for filenames:

json:

"Path": "C:\\Logs\\*.log",
"Filters": [
  {
    "Regex": "^error_.*\\.log$"
  }
]

2. Creating Custom Modules.

2.1 Understanding the Module JSON Structure

Modules specify how collected data is parsed. Here's an example to parse .evtx logs with a custom script:

json:

{
  "Name": "CustomEventLogParser",
  "Author": "Your Name",
  "Description": "Parses Event Logs using PowerShell",
  "Program": "powershell.exe",
  "CommandLine": "-NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File \"{ModulePath}\\ParseLogs.ps1\" -InputDir \"{InputPath}\" -OutputDir \"{OutputPath}\"",
  "Path": "D:\\ParsedArtifacts",
  "InputExtensions": [".evtx"],
  "OutputFileMask": "*.csv"
}

Program: The tool or script to run (e.g., powershell.exe, python, etc.).
CommandLine: Command-line arguments for the tool.
- Use {InputPath} for the directory containing collected data.
- Use {OutputPath} for the output directory.
InputExtensions: File types the Module will process.
OutputFileMask: Expected output file type (e.g., .csv, .txt).

2.2 Writing Supporting Scripts

Here’s a PowerShell example (ParseLogs.ps1) for parsing event logs:

powershell:

param (
    [string]$InputDir,
    [string]$OutputDir
)

$logs = Get-ChildItem -Path $InputDir -Filter *.evtx
foreach ($log in $logs) {
    Write-Host "Parsing: $log"
    $outputFile = Join-Path $OutputDir "$($log.BaseName).csv"
    wevtutil qe "$log.FullName" /lf:true /format:csv > $outputFile
}

2.3 Saving the Custom Module

Save the JSON file in the Modules directory (e.g., Modules\CustomEventLogParser.mmape).
Place the supporting script (ParseLogs.ps1) in the same directory or a referenced location.

Test the Module:

bash:

kape.exe --msource D:\CollectedArtifacts --mdest D:\ParsedArtifacts --module CustomEventLogParser

3. Integrating KAPE into a Broader Workflow.

3.1 Automating with Scripts

Write a batch or PowerShell script to automate KAPE workflows. Example:

Batch Script Example (`RunKAPE.bat`):

batch:

@echo off
REM Collect artifacts
kape.exe --tsource C: --tdest D:\ForensicData --target BasicCollection
REM Parse collected data
kape.exe --msource D:\ForensicData --mdest D:\Analysis --module BrowserHistory,EventLogs
REM Compress the results for export
tar -czvf ForensicResults.tar.gz D:\Analysis

3.2 Scheduling Periodic Collections

Automate periodic collections with Task Scheduler:

Open Task Scheduler on Windows.
Create a new task and set a trigger (e.g., daily at midnight).
In the "Action" tab, specify the KAPE command or script.

3.3 Integration with Other Forensic Tools.

Volatility for Memory Analysis:
- Collect memory dumps with KAPE Targets (--target MemoryCollection).
- Analyze dumps with Volatility:
```
bash:

volatility -f memory.dmp --profile=Win7SP1x64 pslist
```
Autopsy for Timeline Analysis:
- Import parsed data (e.g., event logs) from KAPE Modules into Autopsy's timeline feature.

Plaso/Log2Timeline:

Convert collected logs into a Plaso timeline:

bash:

log2timeline.py --output PlasoTimeline.plaso D:\CollectedArtifacts

4. Tips for Effective KAPE Usage.

Keep Targets and Modules Updated:
- Regularly check the official repository for new configurations and updates.
Use Compression for Large Data Sets:
- Compress output directories to save storage and facilitate secure transfer:
```
bash

tar -czvf CollectedData.tar.gz D:\CollectedArtifacts
```
Maintain Chain of Custody:
- Document all actions taken during collection and analysis.
- Use hashing (e.g., MD5 or SHA-256) to verify data integrity:
```
bash

certutil -hashfile D:\CollectedArtifacts\file.evtx sha256
```
Test Custom Configurations:
- Test custom Targets and Modules in a lab environment before deploying on live systems.
Minimize System Impact:
- Use KAPE's --tflush and --mflush options to reduce memory and disk usage during operations.

KAPE is an indispensable tool for digital forensic analysts and incident responders. Its ability to rapidly collect and parse artifacts makes it ideal for time-sensitive investigations. By combining KAPE with other tools and tailoring its configuration, investigators can streamline their workflows and achieve deeper insights into system activity.

By creating custom Targets and Modules, KAPE can be tailored for specific forensic scenarios. When integrated with other tools, KAPE becomes a cornerstone of any forensic toolkit, allowing investigators to efficiently collect, process, and analyze critical data. For large-scale investigations, scripts and automation make KAPE an even more powerful tool.

Kape: Comprehensive Guide.