analyzing-mft-for-deleted-file-recovery

# Analyzing MFT for Deleted File Recovery ## Overview The NTFS Master File Table ($MFT) is the central metadata repository for every file and directory on an NTFS volume. Each file is represented by at least one 1024-byte MFT record containing attributes such as $STANDARD_INFORMATION (timestamps, permissions), $FILE_NAME (name, parent directory, timestamps), and $DATA (file content or cluster run pointers). When a file is deleted, its MFT record is marked as inactive (InUse flag cleared) but the metadata remains until the entry is reallocated by a new file. This persistence makes MFT analysis a primary technique for recovering deleted file evidence, reconstructing file system timelines, and detecting anti-forensic activity such as timestomping. ## When to Use - When investigating security incidents that require analyzing mft for deleted file recovery - When building detection rules or threat hunting queries for this domain - When SOC analysts need structured procedures for this analysis type - When validating security monitoring coverage for related attack techniques ## Prerequisites - Forensic disk image (E01, raw/dd, VMDK, or VHDX format) - MFTECmd (Eric Zimmerman) or analyzeMFT (Python-based) - FTK Imager, Arsenal Image Mounter, or similar for image mounting - Timeline Explorer or Excel for CSV analysis - Python 3.8+ for custom analysis scripts - Understanding of NTFS file system internals ## MFT Structure and Record Layout ### MFT Record Header Each MFT record b...