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GPEN · Question #98

Adam works as a professional Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator. He wants to investigate a suspicious email that is sent using a Microsoft Exchange server. Which of the following files will he rev

The correct answer is A. Checkpoint files C. Temporary files D. EDB and STM database files. Forensic investigation of a Microsoft Exchange server involves reviewing checkpoint files, temporary files, and the EDB/STM database files, which together contain mail store data and transaction records.

Reporting & Remediation

Question

Adam works as a professional Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator. He wants to investigate a suspicious email that is sent using a Microsoft Exchange server. Which of the following files will he review to accomplish the task? Each correct answer represents a part of the solution. Choose all that apply.

Options

  • ACheckpoint files
  • Bcookie files
  • CTemporary files
  • DEDB and STM database files

How the community answered

(30 responses)
  • A
    77% (23)
  • B
    23% (7)

Why each option

Forensic investigation of a Microsoft Exchange server involves reviewing checkpoint files, temporary files, and the EDB/STM database files, which together contain mail store data and transaction records.

ACheckpoint filesCorrect

Checkpoint files (E0x.chk) track which transaction logs have been committed to the Exchange database, making them essential for reconstructing the state of the mail store and determining what data was written.

Bcookie files

Cookie files are browser-generated artifacts stored on client machines and are not produced or maintained by Microsoft Exchange server, so they are irrelevant to a server-side email forensic investigation.

CTemporary filesCorrect

Temporary files created by Exchange during mail processing or transactions can contain fragments of email data, attachments, or metadata useful in a forensic investigation.

DEDB and STM database filesCorrect

EDB (Exchange Database) files contain the actual mailbox and public folder data, while STM (streaming media) files store MIME-formatted message content; together they represent the primary evidence source for email forensics on Exchange servers.

Concept tested: Microsoft Exchange server forensic artifact identification

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/back-up-email

Topics

#Exchange forensics#EDB database#email investigation#forensic analysis

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