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.
Where to find it
Default filesystem paths and registry locations. Collect these with your preferred live-response or disk-image tooling.
- $%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\UsrClass.dat
- $HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags
- $HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU
Forensic significance
Common scenarios in which this artifact becomes decisive evidence.
- Proving user knowledge of deleted folders
- Tracking USB drive contents after the drive is disconnected
- Reconstructing user folder browsing history without browser logs
- Insider threat — showing access to sensitive file shares
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
USB Device Connection History
Windows records every USB mass-storage device plugged in, keyed by vendor/product ID and serial number, with first- and last-connection timestamps.
RecentDocs
Explorer tracks recently opened files per extension in HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RecentDocs, including files on removed storage.
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.
References & further reading
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