RecentDocs
Explorer tracks recently opened files per extension in HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RecentDocs, including files on removed storage.
Where to find it
Default filesystem paths and registry locations. Collect these with your preferred live-response or disk-image tooling.
- $HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RecentDocs
Forensic significance
Common scenarios in which this artifact becomes decisive evidence.
- Reconstructing file access history on removed USB drives
- Document exfiltration — which confidential files were opened
- Insider threat timeline
MITRE ATT&CK mapping
Techniques this artifact can help detect or substantiate. Click a technique to view the official MITRE entry.
Tools that parse it
unJaena AI and other DFIR tools commonly used to extract evidence from this artifact.
Related artifacts
Shell Bags
Windows Explorer view preferences recorded per-folder in UsrClass.dat. Shell Bags prove a user navigated to a folder, even after the folder or attached volume is long gone.
Amcache.hve
Compatibility database introduced in Windows 8 that records every PE file executed on the system, including SHA-1 hash, full path, publisher, and first-seen timestamp.
UserAssist
Per-user registry key recording GUI-launched programs with ROT13-obfuscated paths, focus count, and last execution time — proving interactive user execution of a binary.
MUICache
Per-user cache of application display names written the first time a binary runs. Every entry is evidence that the user ran that binary at least once.
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