SKILL.md

name	amcacheparser
version	1.0.0
description	Parse and extract Windows Amcache.hve registry hive using Eric Zimmerman's AmcacheParser. Covers CLI flags, output formats (CSV), SHA-1 filtering, and output field reference for file entries, program entries, device data, and driver information.
metadata	tool-name tool-vendor AmcacheParser Eric Zimmerman

AmcacheParser Skill

AmcacheParser version 1.0.

AmcacheParser is Eric Zimmerman's command-line tool for parsing the Windows Amcache.hve registry hive. It extracts application execution metadata, installed program records, device information, and driver data into structured CSV output. Forensic interpretation of Amcache data (execution timeline analysis, software inventory correlation, etc.) belongs in a separate analysis skill.

Command Syntax

AmcacheParser.exe -f <file> --csv <dir> [other options]

Single-letter options use a single dash (-). Multi-character options use double dashes (--).

Input

Flag	Description
-f	Amcache.hve file to process. Required.

Output Formats

Flag	Description
--csv	Directory to write CSV output. Required.
--csvf	Custom filename for CSV output (overrides default)

It's recommended to write results to a file. Forensic output can be very large and may consume the context window. AmcacheParser produces multiple CSV files per run (one per data type).

Options

Flag	Description	Default
-i	Include file entries for Programs entries	FALSE
-b	Path to file containing SHA-1 hashes to include (whitelist)
-w	Path to file containing SHA-1 hashes to exclude (blacklist)
--dt	Custom date/time format string	yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss
--mp	Display higher precision timestamps	FALSE
--nl	Ignore transaction log files for dirty hives	FALSE
--debug	Show debug information	FALSE
--trace	Show trace information	FALSE

When both -b and -w are provided, blacklist filtering takes precedence.

Output Files

AmcacheParser produces multiple CSV files per run, one for each data type found in the hive. The hive format (new vs. old) determines which files are generated.

New Format Hives

File	Description
*_UnassociatedFileEntries.csv	File entries not linked to a program
*_AssociatedFileEntries.csv	File entries linked to a program
*_ProgramEntries.csv	Installed program records
*_ShortCuts.csv	Shortcut entries
*_DeviceContainers.csv	Device container records
*_DevicePnps.csv	Plug and Play device records
*_DriveBinaries.csv	Driver binary records
*_DriverPackages.csv	Driver package records

Old Format Hives

File	Description
*_UnassociatedFileEntries.csv	File entries not linked to a program
*_AssociatedFileEntries.csv	File entries linked to a program
*_ProgramEntries.csv	Installed program records

Common Output Fields — UnassociatedFileEntries / AssociatedFileEntries (CSV, New Format)

Output columns depend on tool version and hive format.

Column	Description
ApplicationName	Associated application name
ProgramId	Program identifier
FileKeyLastWriteTimestamp	Registry key last write timestamp
SHA1	SHA-1 hash of the file
IsOsComponent	Whether the file is an OS component
FullPath	Full path to the file
Name	Filename
FileExtension	File extension
LinkDate	PE linker timestamp
ProductName	Product name from version info
Size	File size
Version	File version
ProductVersion	Product version
LongPathHash	Hash of the long path
BinaryType	Binary type (32-bit, 64-bit, etc.)
IsPeFile	Whether the file is a PE executable
BinFileVersion	Binary file version
BinProductVersion	Binary product version
Language	Language code

Common Output Fields — ProgramEntries (CSV, New Format)

Column	Description
ProgramId	Program identifier
KeyLastWriteTimestamp	Registry key last write timestamp
Name	Program name
Version	Program version
Publisher	Publisher name
InstallDate	Installation date
OSVersionAtInstallTime	OS version when installed
BundleManifestPath	Bundle manifest path
HiddenArp	Hidden from Add/Remove Programs
InboxModernApp	Whether it is an inbox modern app
Language	Language code
ManifestPath	Manifest path
MsiPackageCode	MSI package code
MsiProductCode	MSI product code
PackageFullName	Full package name
ProgramInstanceId	Program instance identifier
RegistryKeyPath	Source registry key path
RootDirPath	Root directory path
Type	Entry type
Source	Entry source
StoreAppType	Store app type
UninstallString	Uninstall command

Common Output Fields — ShortCuts (CSV)

Column	Description
KeyName	Registry key name
LnkName	Shortcut name
KeyLastWriteTimestamp	Registry key last write timestamp

Common Output Fields — DriveBinaries (CSV)

Column	Description
KeyName	Registry key name
KeyLastWriteTimestamp	Registry key last write timestamp
DriverTimeStamp	Driver timestamp
DriverLastWriteTime	Driver last write time
DriverName	Driver name
DriverInBox	Whether the driver is inbox
DriverIsKernelMode	Whether the driver is kernel mode
DriverSigned	Whether the driver is signed
DriverCheckSum	Driver checksum
DriverCompany	Driver company
DriverId	Driver identifier
DriverPackageStrongName	Driver package strong name
DriverType	Driver type
DriverVersion	Driver version
ImageSize	Image size
Inf	INF file name
Product	Product name
ProductVersion	Product version
Service	Service name
WdfVersion	WDF version

Workflow Examples

Parse Amcache to CSV

AmcacheParser.exe -f "C:\Cases\Evidence\Amcache.hve" --csv "C:\Cases\Output"

Parse with custom output filename

AmcacheParser.exe -f "C:\Cases\Evidence\Amcache.hve" --csv "C:\Cases\Output" --csvf Amcache_parsed.csv

Parse with included file entries for programs

AmcacheParser.exe -f "C:\Cases\Evidence\Amcache.hve" --csv "C:\Cases\Output" -i

Filter by SHA-1 whitelist

AmcacheParser.exe -f "C:\Cases\Evidence\Amcache.hve" --csv "C:\Cases\Output" -b "C:\Cases\known_hashes.txt"

Filter by SHA-1 blacklist

AmcacheParser.exe -f "C:\Cases\Evidence\Amcache.hve" --csv "C:\Cases\Output" -w "C:\Cases\exclude_hashes.txt"

Parse dirty hive without transaction logs

AmcacheParser.exe -f "C:\Cases\Evidence\Amcache.hve" --csv "C:\Cases\Output" --nl