/analyzing-lnk-file-and-jump-list-artifacts

name: analyzing-lnk-file-and-jump-list-artifacts
description: Analyze Windows LNK shortcut files and Jump List artifacts to establish evidence of file access, program execution,
  and user activity using LECmd, JLECmd, and manual binary parsing of the Shell Link Binary format.
domain: cybersecurity
subdomain: digital-forensics
tags:
- lnk-files
- jump-lists
- lecmd
- jlecmd
- windows-forensics
- shell-link
- user-activity
- file-access
- program-execution
- recent-files
version: '1.0'
author: mahipal
license: Apache-2.0
nist_csf:
- RS.AN-01
- RS.AN-03
- DE.AE-02
- RS.MA-01

Analyzing LNK File and Jump List Artifacts

Overview

Windows LNK (shortcut) files and Jump Lists are critical forensic artifacts that provide evidence of file access, program execution, and user behavior. LNK files are created automatically when a user opens a file through Windows Explorer or the Open/Save dialog, storing metadata about the target file including its original path, timestamps, volume serial number, NetBIOS name, and MAC address of the host system. Jump Lists, introduced in Windows 7, extend this by maintaining per-application lists of recently and frequently accessed files. These artifacts persist even after the target files are deleted, making them invaluable for establishing that a user accessed specific files at specific times.

When to Use

• When investigating security incidents that require analyzing lnk file and jump list artifacts
• 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

• LECmd (Eric Zimmerman) for LNK file parsing
• JLECmd (Eric Zimmerman) for Jump List parsing
• Python 3.8+ with pylnk3 or LnkParse3 libraries
• Forensic image or triage collection from Windows system
• Timeline Explorer for CSV analysis

LNK File Locations

| Location | Description | |----------|-------------| | `%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\` | Recent files accessed | | `%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\` | User-created shortcuts | | `%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\` | Start Menu shortcuts | | `%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Office\Recent\` | Office recent documents |

LNK File Structure

Shell Link Header (76 bytes)

| Offset | Size | Field | |--------|------|-------| | 0x00 | 4 | HeaderSize (always 0x0000004C) | | 0x04 | 16 | LinkCLSID (always 00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046) | | 0x14 | 4 | LinkFlags | | 0x18 | 4 | FileAttributes | | 0x1C | 8 | CreationTime (FILETIME) | | 0x24 | 8 | AccessTime (FILETIME) | | 0x2C | 8 | WriteTime (FILETIME) | | 0x34 | 4 | FileSize of target | | 0x38 | 4 | IconIndex | | 0x3C | 4 | ShowCommand | | 0x40 | 2 | HotKey |

Key Forensic Fields in LNK Files

• **Target file timestamps**: Creation, access, modification times of the referenced file
• **Volume information**: Serial number, drive type, volume label
• **Network share information**: UNC path, share name
• **Machine identifiers**: NetBIOS name, MAC address (from TrackerDataBlock)
• **Distributed Link Tracking**: Machine ID and object GUID

Analysis with EZ Tools

LECmd - LNK File Parser

# Parse all LNK files in Recent folder
LECmd.exe -d "C:\Evidence\Users\suspect\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent" --csv C:\Output --csvf lnk_analysis.csv

# Parse a single LNK file with full details
LECmd.exe -f "C:\Evidence\Users\suspect\Desktop\Confidential.docx.lnk" --json C:\Output

# Parse LNK files with additional detail levels
LECmd.exe -d "C:\Evidence\Users\suspect\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent" --csv C:\Output --csvf lnk_all.csv --all

JLECmd - Jump List Parser

# Parse Automatic Jump Lists
JLECmd.exe -d "C:\Evidence\Users\suspect\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations" --csv C:\Output --csvf jumplists_auto.csv

# Parse Custom Jump Lists
JLECmd.exe -d "C:\Evidence\Users\suspect\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\CustomDestinations" --csv C:\Output --csvf jumplists_custom.csv

# Parse all jump lists with detailed output
JLECmd.exe -d "C:\Evidence\Users\suspect\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations" --csv C:\Output --csvf jumplists_auto.csv --ld

Jump List Structure

Automatic Destinations (automaticDestinations-ms)

These are OLE Compound files (Structured Storage) identified by AppID hash in the filename:

| AppID Hash | Application | |-----------|-------------| | 5f7b5f1e01b83767 | Windows Explorer Pinned/Frequent | | 1b4dd67f29cb1962 | Windows Explorer Recent | | 9b9cdc69c1c24e2b | Notepad | | a7bd71699cd38d1c | Notepad++ | | 12dc1ea8e34b5a6 | Microsoft Paint | | 7e4dca80246863e3 | Control Panel | | 1cf97c38a5881255 | Microsoft Edge | | f01b4d95cf55d32a | Windows Explorer | | 9d1f905ce5044aee | Microsoft Excel | | a4a5324453625195 | Microsoft Word | | d00655d2aa12ff6d | Microsoft PowerPoint | | bc03160ee1a59fc1 | Outlook |

Custom Destinations (customDestinations-ms)

Created when users pin items to application jump lists. These files contain sequential LNK entries.

Python Analysis Script

import struct
import os
from datetime import datetime, timedelta

FILETIME_EPOCH = datetime(1601, 1, 1)

def filetime_to_datetime(filetime_bytes: bytes) -> datetime:
    """Convert Windows FILETIME (100-ns intervals since 1601) to datetime."""
    ft = struct.unpack("<Q", filetime_bytes)[0]
    if ft == 0:
        return None
    return FILETIME_EPOCH + timedelta(microseconds=ft // 10)

def parse_lnk_header(lnk_path: str) -> dict:
    """Parse the Shell Link header from an LNK file."""
    with open(lnk_path, "rb") as f:
        header = f.read(76)

    header_size = struct.unpack("<I", header[0:4])[0]
    if header_size != 0x4C:
        return {"error": "Invalid LNK header"}

    link_flags = struct.unpack("<I", header[0x14:0x18])[0]