Extracting Windows Usage Data: A Guide to SRUM Dump for Forensics

Want to dive deep into application usage on Windows systems? The System Resource Usage Monitor (SRUM) database holds a treasure trove of information. This article explores SRUM Dump, a powerful forensics tool for extracting and analyzing this data. We'll cover how to use it to uncover valuable insights for incident investigations, and enhance your understanding of Windows system activity.

What is SRUM and Why Should You Care?

The System Resource Usage Monitor (SRUM) is a Windows component that tracks resource usage by applications. It records data like network activity, CPU usage, and more, providing a detailed history of what applications have been doing on a system. This data is invaluable for:

• Incident Response: Identifying malicious software and its activity.
• Forensic Investigations: Reconstructing events and timelines.
• System Analysis: Understanding application behavior and resource consumption.

Introducing SRUM Dump: Your SRUM Forensics Toolkit

SRUM Dump is a free and open-source forensics tool designed to extract data from the Windows SRUM database (srudb.dat) and convert it into a readable XLSX spreadsheet format. It simplifies the process of analyzing SRUM data, giving you quick access to critical information.

Key Benefits of Using SRUM Dump

• Easy Data Extraction: Converts complex SRUM data into a user-friendly spreadsheet.
• Comprehensive Reporting: Dumps all table fields, including those not defined in the template.
• Live Acquisition: Offers live system acquisition capabilities when run as administrator. This allows for direct analysis of the SRUM database from a live system.
• Wireless Network Insights: Can identify wireless networks used by applications.
• Improved Speed: Offers speed improvements over previous versions.

Getting Started with SRUM Dump: Installation and Usage

Ready to start using SRUM Dump? Here's a simplified guide:

1. Download the Essentials: Download srum_dump2.exe and SRUM_TEMPLATE2.XLSX from the official GitHub repository.
2. Placement Matters: Place both files in the same directory.
3. Run the Tool: Double-click srum_dump2.exe.

For live acquisition (analyzing the SRUM database on the current system), run the tool as an administrator.

Advanced Usage: Running from Source Code

For more advanced users, or those who want to contribute, SRUM Dump can be run from the source code. Here's a quick overview:

1. Clone the Repository: Use git clone --branch srum_dump2 http://github.com/markbaggett/srum-dump.
2. Navigate to the Directory: Use cd srum-dump.
3. Install Requirements: Use sudo -H python3 -m pip install -r requirements.txt.

Leveraging the SRUM Template for Enhanced Analysis

The SRUM_TEMPLATE2.xlsx file plays a crucial role in how SRUM Dump interprets the data. It defines friendly names and formats for fields found in the SRUM database. To see its power, try dumping your SRUM data with BLANK_TEMPLATE.XLSX and compare the results.

Key things to note about the template:

• Format Row: Tells SRUM Dump how to process fields and resolve their values.
• Built-in Lookups: Includes hardcoded functions for common formats like "lookup_SID" and "lookup_LUID."
• Custom Lookups: Supplement built-in SIDs with your own by adding them to the lookup-Known Sids sheet.

Addressing Common SRUM Analysis Challenges

Working with SRUM data can present challenges, especially when dealing with locked files or complex data structures. SRUM Dump tackles these issues head-on:

• Live Acquisition: Bypasses the file locking issue by providing a live acquisition mode (when run as admin).
• Automated Extraction: Automatically downloads and uses FGET to acquire a copy of the SRUDB.DAT file and the associated SOFTWARE registry hive.

SRUM Dump: Your Go-To SRUM Analysis Tool

SRUM Dump stands out as a valuable asset for anyone involved in Windows forensics, incident response, or system analysis. By simplifying the extraction and analysis of SRUM data, it empowers investigators and analysts to quickly uncover critical insights and make informed decisions. By using the tool and understanding the SRUM database, you can get detailed windows usage data for your investigations.