Artefacts forensiques macOS
Une page par artefact : emplacement selon la version de macOS, ce qu'il prouve, format des horodatages, durée de conservation, collecte et analyse avec des outils open source.
Les artefacts les plus utilisés sont traduits. Les entrées marquées « Anglais » ouvrent la page en anglais.
Exécution
Crash Reports: macOS DiagnosticReports (.ips)Anglais
macOS crash and diagnostic reports record which binary crashed, its path, parent, signing identity, launch and crash time, even for malware.
/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/
Historique du shell sous macOS : zsh, bash et Terminal
L'historique du shell macOS dans .zsh_history, .bash_history et les fichiers de session du Terminal : quelles commandes ont été tapées et vers quand.
~/.zsh_history
InstallHistory.plist: macOS Software Install LogAnglais
InstallHistory.plist and the package receipt database show which apps, packages and system updates were installed on a Mac, by which process and when.
/Library/Receipts/InstallHistory.plist
Mounted Disk Images on macOS: DMG, ISO and App TranslocationAnglais
How to prove a DMG or ISO was downloaded, mounted and used on a Mac: quarantine, Unified Logs, FSEvents, App Translocation paths and Spotlight.
/Volumes/<name>/ (mount point), plus logs and per-user caches
sudo Logs: macOS Privilege Escalation EvidenceAnglais
sudo events in macOS Unified Logs, the sudoers configuration and the /var/db/sudo timestamp files show who ran which commands as root, and when.
/private/var/db/diagnostics/
TCC.db : autorisations de confidentialité sous macOS
Les bases TCC de macOS indiquent quelles apps ont obtenu ou non l'accès à la caméra, au micro, à l'écran, au disque et à l'automatisation, et quand.
/Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCC/TCC.db
Traces de Gatekeeper et XProtect sous macOS
Gatekeeper, XProtect et XProtect Remediator laissent journaux et bases qui montrent quel code a été évalué, approuvé, signalé ou supprimé.
/var/db/SystemPolicyConfiguration/ExecPolicy
Persistance
Configuration Profiles and MDM: macOS Managed SettingsAnglais
macOS configuration profiles and MDM enrollment records show which policies, certificates, VPNs, TCC grants and extensions were pushed to a Mac, and when.
/private/var/db/ConfigurationProfiles/
cron, at and periodic: macOS Scheduled Job PersistenceAnglais
Legacy macOS schedulers (cron tabs, at jobs, periodic scripts, emond rules): where they live, which versions still run them and how to spot abuse.
/usr/lib/cron/tabs/
Éléments de connexion et base BTM sous macOS
Les éléments de connexion et la base Background Task Management (Ventura+) listent items, agents et démons avec développeur, team ID et approbation.
/private/var/db/com.apple.backgroundtaskmanagement/BackgroundItems-v*.btm
Kernel and System Extensions: macOS kext EvidenceAnglais
Kernel extensions and system extensions on macOS: KextPolicy load history, the SystemExtensions database and what they show about drivers, EDR and rootkits.
/Library/SystemExtensions/db.plist and /private/var/db/SystemPolicyConfiguration/KextPolicy
LaunchAgents et LaunchDaemons : persistance macOS
Les plists launchd des dossiers LaunchAgents et LaunchDaemons définissent ce que macOS lance au démarrage, à la connexion ou selon un planning.
~/Library/LaunchAgents, /Library/LaunchAgents, /Library/LaunchDaemons
Accès aux fichiers
Cloud Storage Clients on Mac: Dropbox, Drive, OneDriveAnglais
Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive on macOS keep sync databases, logs and File Provider folders that show which files were synced, shared or uploaded.
~/Library/CloudStorage/ plus each client's Application Support, Group Container and log folders
CUPS Print Jobs and Logs: macOS Printing ForensicsAnglais
macOS prints through CUPS: spool control files, page_log and access_log show which documents were printed, by whom, on which printer and when.
/private/var/spool/cups/ and /private/var/log/cups/
FSEvents (.fseventsd) : journal des changements macOS
Journaux gzip par volume écrits par fseventsd : chemins créés, modifiés, renommés et supprimés, souvent la seule trace d'un fichier effacé.
/System/Volumes/Data/.fseventsd/
Horodatages APFS et snapshots locaux sous macOS
Horodatages APFS à la nanoseconde, date d'ajout au dossier et snapshots locaux Time Machine : la base des chronologies et de la récupération sur Mac.
/System/Volumes/Data
iCloud Drive (CloudDocs): macOS Sync Folders and DatabasesAnglais
iCloud Drive local folders and the CloudDocs client.db and server.db databases that list synced files, versions and the devices that wrote them.
~/Library/Application Support/CloudDocs/session/db/client.db
Microsoft Office and Outlook for Mac: MRU and Mailbox DataAnglais
Office for Mac keeps recent-file lists in securebookmarks plists and MicrosoftRegistrationDB.reg; Outlook for Mac stores mail in a local profile database.
~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.<App>/ and ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/
Photos.sqlite: macOS Photos Library MetadataAnglais
Photos.sqlite in the macOS Photos library records each photo and video with capture time, location, import source, trash state and original filename.
~/Pictures/Photos Library.photoslibrary/database/Photos.sqlite
QuarantineEventsV2 et xattr de quarantaine sous macOS
QuarantineEventsV2 et l'attribut com.apple.quarantine indiquent quoi a été téléchargé, depuis quelle URL, par quelle app et quand, même après suppression.
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.LaunchServices.QuarantineEventsV2
QuickLook Thumbnail Cache: macOS File Preview EvidenceAnglais
The QuickLook thumbnail cache (index.sqlite and thumbnails.data) records files previewed in Finder, with paths, hit counts and cached images.
$(getconf DARWIN_USER_CACHE_DIR)/com.apple.quicklook.ThumbnailsAgent/com.apple.QuickLook.thumbnailcache/
Recent Items (.sfl2/.sfl3): macOS Shared File ListsAnglais
sharedfilelistd lists of recent documents, apps, servers and per-app Open Recent entries, stored as NSKeyedArchiver plists with bookmarks.
~/Library/Application Support/com.apple.sharedfilelist/
Spotlight Store (.Spotlight-V100): macOS Metadata IndexAnglais
Per-volume Spotlight index and per-user CoreSpotlight stores holding file metadata such as download origin, last used date and use count.
/System/Volumes/Data/.Spotlight-V100/Store-V2/<UUID>/store.db
Time Machine Backups: macOS Configuration and HistoryAnglais
Time Machine settings, destinations and backup sets on HFS+ and APFS disks: a source of older file versions and proof of when backups ran.
/Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine.plist
Activité utilisateur
Apple Mail: Envelope Index and EMLX on macOSAnglais
Apple Mail keeps message metadata in the Envelope Index SQLite database and each message as an .emlx file, showing email sent, received and opened.
~/Library/Mail/V10/MailData/Envelope Index
Apple Notes NoteStore.sqlite: macOS Notes ForensicsAnglais
NoteStore.sqlite holds Apple Notes on macOS: note text as compressed protobuf, folders, accounts, attachments, locked notes and Recently Deleted items.
~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.apple.notes/NoteStore.sqlite
Calendar, Contacts and Reminders Databases on macOSAnglais
Where macOS stores Calendar events, Contacts (AddressBook .abcddb) and Reminders, and what they show about meetings, relationships and tasks.
~/Library/Application Support/AddressBook/, ~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.apple.reminders/, ~/Library/Calendars/ or group.com.apple.calendar
Chrome and Firefox History on macOSAnglais
Chrome History and Firefox places.sqlite on macOS: paths, profiles, key tables and epochs to rebuild visits and downloads outside Safari.
~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Default/History
Dock and Finder Plists: macOS User Preference EvidenceAnglais
com.apple.dock.plist and com.apple.finder.plist record pinned and recent apps, recent folders, Go to Folder history, servers and searches.
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
dslocal User Accounts: macOS Local Users and GroupsAnglais
dslocal plists define every local macOS account and group, with creation, password-change and failed-login times that expose rogue or hidden accounts.
/private/var/db/dslocal/nodes/Default/users/<name>.plist
Flux Biome SEGB : focus et activité des apps sous macOS
Biome stocke des flux d'activité macOS comme App.InFocus dans des fichiers SEGB d'enregistrements protobuf, successeurs de nombreux flux knowledgeC.db.
~/Library/Biome/streams/restricted/<Stream>/local/
knowledgeC.db : usage des apps et activité sous macOS
Base SQLite CoreDuet qui enregistre usage des apps, focus, écran et alimentation sous macOS, pour savoir quand et combien de temps une app a servi.
/private/var/db/CoreDuet/Knowledge/knowledgeC.db
macOS Keychain Files: Metadata for ForensicsAnglais
macOS keychains store credentials, keys and certificates; their metadata shows which accounts, services and certificates existed and when items changed.
~/Library/Keychains/
Messages chat.db: macOS iMessage and SMS HistoryAnglais
chat.db is the macOS Messages SQLite database of iMessage, SMS and RCS conversations, participants, attachments and recently deleted messages.
~/Library/Messages/chat.db
Notification Center Database: macOS Notification HistoryAnglais
The usernoted SQLite database keeps delivered macOS notifications with app, title, body and time, often preserving message text from other apps.
~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.apple.usernoted/db2/db
Safari History.db : historique de navigation macOS
History.db de Safari, bases de profils, Downloads.plist et onglets sous macOS : quelles pages ont été visitées, quand, et ce qui a été effacé.
~/Library/Safari/History.db
Saved Application State: macOS Window and Terminal HistoryAnglais
macOS Saved Application State (.savedState) restores windows at relaunch and keeps window titles, open documents and even Terminal scrollback text.
~/Library/Saved Application State/<bundle-id>.savedState/
Screen Time Databases: macOS App Usage TotalsAnglais
ScreenTimeAgent RMAdminStore databases on macOS hold per-app and per-domain usage totals, pickups and notification counts per device and user.
/private/var/folders/<xx>/<id>/0/com.apple.ScreenTimeAgent/Store/
Réseau
netusage.sqlite: macOS Per-Process Network UsageAnglais
netusage.sqlite records which processes used the network on a Mac, with first and last seen times and bytes over Wi-Fi, wired and cellular links.
/private/var/networkd/db/netusage.sqlite
Screen Sharing and Apple Remote Desktop ArtifactsAnglais
macOS Screen Sharing and Apple Remote Desktop leave connection history, screensharingd log events and ARD caches that show remote control of a Mac.
/private/var/db/RemoteManagement/ and ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.ScreenSharing/
SSH and Remote Login on macOS: Keys, Hosts and LogsAnglais
macOS Remote Login (sshd) leaves authorized_keys, known_hosts, sshd configuration and Unified Log events that show inbound and outbound SSH activity.
~/.ssh/ and /private/etc/ssh/
Wi-Fi Known Networks on macOS: Plists and LogsAnglais
macOS known Wi-Fi networks in com.apple.wifi.known-networks.plist, airport preferences, wifi.log and Unified Logs: where a Mac has connected, and when.
/Library/Preferences/com.apple.wifi.known-networks.plist
USB et périphériques
Bluetooth Devices on macOS: Paired and SeenAnglais
macOS Bluetooth artifacts: com.apple.Bluetooth.plist, MobileBluetooth device plist and LE databases, and bluetoothd logs to show which devices paired and when.
/Library/Bluetooth/Library/Preferences/com.apple.MobileBluetooth.devices.plist
iPhone Backups and Pairing Records on a MacAnglais
Finder (MobileSync) backups of iPhones and iPads on a Mac, plus lockdown pairing records, show which iOS devices were connected, trusted and backed up.
~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/<UDID>/
USB Devices: macOS Removable Media HistoryAnglais
macOS keeps no USB registry: rebuild removable media history from Unified Logs, DiskArbitration mounts, FSEvents, Spotlight and the device itself.
/private/var/db/diagnostics/
Anti-forensique
macOS Trash and .DS_Store: Deleted File EvidenceAnglais
The macOS Trash keeps deleted files with their original location in .DS_Store put-back records, showing what a user deleted, from where and when.
~/.Trash/ and /Volumes/<volume>/.Trashes/<uid>/
Journaux
System Logs: macOS /var/log Text and ASL FilesAnglais
The flat log files that survive on macOS (install.log, system.log, wifi.log, ASL stores) and how syslogd, aslmanager and newsyslog rotate them.
/private/var/log/
Unified Logs : la journalisation tracev3 de macOS
Les Unified Logs de macOS (tracev3 et uuidtext) enregistrent connexions, sudo, TCC, Gatekeeper, installations et périphériques à la sous-seconde.
/private/var/db/diagnostics/