Triaging Windows with KAPE

Authorized Use Only: KAPE collects forensic artifacts from systems. Only run KAPE against systems you own or are explicitly authorized in writing to acquire and analyze. Preserve chain of custody and follow your organization's evidence-handling procedures.

Overview

KAPE (Kroll Artifact Parser and Extractor) is a free, Windows-native triage tool authored by Eric Zimmerman and distributed by Kroll. It performs two distinct phases controlled by separate configuration sets:

• Targets (.tkape files) define what to collect. KAPE uses the raw NTFS file system (via direct volume access) to copy locked/in-use files such as registry hives, $MFT, event logs, prefetch, browser databases, and LNK files without triggering anti-tamper protections. Targets can be chained into "compound" targets (for example KapeTriage, !SANS_Triage) that pull a forensically rich subset in minutes.
• Modules (.mkape files) define how to process collected (or live) data. Modules wrap external binaries — primarily Eric Zimmerman's tools (PECmd, MFTECmd, RECmd, etc.) — and emit normalized CSV/JSON output. The !EZParser compound module runs the full EZ Tools suite against a target collection.

KAPE ships with both a CLI (kape.exe) and a GUI front end (gkape.exe). Because of its speed, KAPE lets responders prioritize which hosts warrant deep forensic imaging, making it a cornerstone of modern remote/at-scale DFIR triage.

When to Use

• During the early containment/triage phase of an incident when you need execution, persistence, and account artifacts from one or many hosts quickly.
• When full disk imaging is impractical (large disks, remote sites, time pressure) but you still need a defensible, parseable artifact set.
• When automating collection across a fleet via remote execution (PSExec, EDR live response, SOAR) using batch-mode _kape.cli files.
• When you need to collect from Volume Shadow Copies to recover historical artifact states.

Prerequisites

• Windows host (KAPE runs on Windows; EZ Tools modules require the .NET runtime bundled with the tools).
• Download KAPE from the official source (free, registration required): https://www.kroll.com/kape
• Administrator privileges (required for raw volume access and VSS).
• Update Targets, Modules, and the bundled binaries:

  REM From the KAPE directory, sync community Targets/Modules from GitHub
  kape.exe --sync
  
  REM Download/update the EZ Tools binaries that Modules invoke
  Get-KAPEUpdate.ps1
  

• A clean, write-protected destination (external drive or network share) separate from the evidence source.

Objectives

• Collect a forensically sound triage artifact set from a target volume.
• Optionally include Volume Shadow Copies for historical recovery.
• Package output as a VHDX/ZIP container with hashing for chain of custody.
• Run modules to parse the collection into analyst-ready CSV/JSON.
• Build a repeatable batch-mode collection for fleet deployment.

MITRE ATT&CK Mapping

ID	Official Technique Name	Relevance to this skill
T1005	Data from Local System	KAPE reads artifacts directly from the local file system; defenders use the same capability to forensically acquire that data for analysis.

KAPE is a defensive DFIR tool. The mapping reflects the data-source artifacts (local file system) that adversary actions leave behind and that KAPE preserves for investigation.

Workflow

1. Sync configurations and update binaries

Always work from current Targets/Modules and EZ Tools binaries so parsers match the latest artifact formats.

cd C:\KAPE
kape.exe --sync

2. Inventory available Targets and Modules

List what is available before building a collection so you scope precisely.

REM Show all Targets
kape.exe --tlist

REM Show all Modules
kape.exe --mlist

3. Collect a triage target set

Targets require the three switches --tsource, --target, and --tdest. --tflush clears the destination first. Use a compound target such as KapeTriage for a fast, broad pull.

kape.exe --tsource C: ^
         --target KapeTriage ^
         --tdest E:\kape_out\HOST01\tdest ^
         --tflush

4. Include Volume Shadow Copies

Add --vss to also process every VSS snapshot on the source volume, recovering historical artifact states.

kape.exe --tsource C: ^
         --target !SANS_Triage ^
         --tdest E:\kape_out\HOST01\tdest ^
         --vss --tflush

5. Package the collection as a container with hashing

--vhdx (or --zip) wraps the output into a single mountable/transportable container. --vhdx takes a base name (an identifier), NOT a filename. KAPE writes a console log and copy log you should retain.

kape.exe --tsource C: ^
         --target KapeTriage ^
         --tdest E:\kape_out\HOST01\tdest ^
         --vhdx HOST01 --tflush --gui

6. Process the collection with Modules

Modules require --module and --mdest. Point --msource at the collected target output and run !EZParser to parse everything into CSV/JSON.

kape.exe --msource E:\kape_out\HOST01\tdest\C ^
         --mdest E:\kape_out\HOST01\mdest ^
         --module !EZParser ^
         --mflush

7. One-shot collect + parse

You can collect and process in a single invocation by supplying both Target and Module switches.

kape.exe --tsource C: ^
         --target KapeTriage ^
         --tdest E:\kape_out\HOST01\tdest ^
         --mdest E:\kape_out\HOST01\mdest ^
         --module !EZParser ^
         --tflush --mflush --vss

8. Build a batch-mode _kape.cli for fleet deployment

KAPE reads a _kape.cli file (one argument set per line) placed next to kape.exe and executes each line in sequence — ideal for pushing identical collection via EDR/PSExec. Generate the exact CLI from the GUI's "Copy command line" button, then drop it into _kape.cli.

REM Contents of _kape.cli (each line = one full KAPE run):
--tsource C: --target KapeTriage --tdest %%d\Disk\%%m --vhdx %%m --zv false

%%d resolves to the KAPE directory and %%m to the machine name, so a single CLI auto-names output per host. Launch by running kape.exe with no arguments.

9. Verify integrity

Confirm KAPE's CopyLog, ConsoleLog, and SkipLog CSVs are present in the target output, and validate the SHA-1 hashes KAPE records for each copied file against the source where possible.

Tools and Resources

Resource	Purpose	Link
KAPE download	Official Kroll distribution (free)	https://www.kroll.com/kape
KAPE Documentation	MDwiki docs for switches and config	https://ericzimmerman.github.io/KapeDocs/
KapeFiles repo	Community Targets and Modules	https://github.com/EricZimmerman/KapeFiles
EZ Tools	Parsers invoked by KAPE Modules	https://ericzimmerman.github.io/
KAPE on SANS	Background, history, methodology	https://www.sans.org/tools/kape/

Key Switches

Switch	Phase	Purpose
--tsource	Target	Source volume/drive to collect from
--target	Target	Target or compound target name
--tdest	Target	Destination for collected files
--tflush	Target	Empty --tdest before collecting
--vss	Target	Process all Volume Shadow Copies
--vhdx / --zip	Target	Package output into a container (base name)
--module	Module	Module or compound module name
--msource	Module	Source data for module processing
--mdest	Module	Destination for parsed output
--mflush	Module	Empty --mdest before processing
--sync	Both	Update Targets/Modules from GitHub
--tlist / --mlist	Both	List available Targets / Modules

Validation Criteria

• KAPE Targets/Modules and EZ Tools binaries synced to current versions
• Triage target collected with --tsource, --target, --tdest
• Volume Shadow Copies included where historical state is needed
• Output packaged as VHDX or ZIP for transport/chain of custody
• CopyLog/ConsoleLog/SkipLog present and reviewed
• Modules run (!EZParser) producing CSV/JSON in --mdest
• File hashes recorded and verified against source
• Batch _kape.cli validated for fleet deployment where applicable