BFIPGuide
BFIPGuide
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Release Notes V5.3
Major Updates:
General Improvements:
Changes to Hypercarve thread slider logic default with new initial default of 4 concurrent carving
threads.
Updated logic for determining default/initial Hypercarve Pool size based on analysis of available
CPU cores on workstation.
Numerous updates to multithreading code and logic for improved speed, exception handling
and stability.
Updated allocated file carving threads to equal total cores - 2, from only half the total cores. But
no less than 5 threads.
Improvements to function that checks for active instance of main Griffeye GUI application
running. Now checks once at very beginning of process, and then conducts a second check
following any carving, but prior to importing carved data into Griffeye and calling the Griffeye
CLI. If active instance is running, program will now automatically pause the import process at
this point and wait until it detects Griffeye has closed (polling every 10 seconds), then will
automatically resume.
Updated Griffeye CLI paths to reflect Magnet Forensics path changes and renames of CLI
binaries following rebranding starting at 24.3.x
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Disabled logging of deleted file entry renames during normal parsing of file-systems, and will
now only be written to log if verbose messaging is enabled. This will significantly reduce file-size
of baseline BFIP log file, and improve processing speed.
General Improvements:
Added explicit fields for either Create New Case or Add to Existing Case to limit confusion or
error when using prior unified section.
Added dyonically updating 'Current Working Case File' indicator.
Various Minor UI Adjustments
Added check at beginning of full carve and import process to see if an additional instance of
Griffeye is already running with warning to close before proceeding.
BFIP API-Mode:
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Release Notes V5
Breakpoint Processing Engine:
Enhancements:
o New Feature! APFS Snapshots now supported for recovery of additional historic/deleted
files not present in current APFS file-system.
o Updates to JSON libraries for improvements in JSON write speeds.
o Updated TSK libraries to 4.12.1
Fixes:
o Resolved issue where MD5 value incorrectly written to JSON for allocated files showing
'0' value.
JSON Updates:
Unused MD5 field completely stripped from Unallocated JSON for cleaner output.
Update to path displayed for Single Volume disks containing no partition tables so root
folder structure now shows as beginning following sourceID in folder path view in
Griffeye.
Update to 'FilePath' field stripping 'FileName' from end of this string. Eliminates each
individual file showing in 'Folders' view in Griffeye and ensures display of filenames and
file paths are formatted consistent with native Griffeye import engines.
General Improvements:
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Requirements:
● Windows 7, 10, 11
● Griffeye DI or Processing Engine 24.3 or Newer
o Pro License required from Lace and Auto Case Creation and Import Functions.
o Griffeye Plugins such as EXIF AI, Thorn, Brain, etc. must be installed and configured per
instructions in Griffeye Analyze Forensic Market prior to use.
o Pro not required for Break Point Processing Engine Carving
● ***Griffeye Collaboration Server Integration requires:***
Magnet Griffeye Connect CLI
Version:24.4.1.0 or newer
Newest Download available on Magnetforensics.com support page on Griffeye
Operations/Enterprise Downloads section or here:
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Contents
Release Notes & Guide 1
Release Notes V5.3 2
Requirements: 6
Processing Mode 9
Source Type 9
Import Forensic Images 9
Import VICS JSON 9
Forensic Images/JSON Source Folder: 9
Processing Mode Engines 10
Standard 10
Lace 10
Breakpoint Processing Engine 11
Breakpoint Processing Engine Options 11
File Types: 12
Unpack Embedded Files: 12
Carving Options: 12
Advanced Options: 12
Case Setup 13
Case Name and Location: 13
Create New Case 13
Add Additional Sources to Existing Case 13
Griffeye Collaboration Server Case Setup 14
Case Name and Storage Path: 14
New CS Case 14
Select Existing CS Case 14
Griffeye CS Storage Path 14
Advanced Source Queue Setup 15
Instructions: 15
1. Forensic Images/JSON Source Folder: 15
2. Scan Source Folder 15
3. Advanced Source Queue Configuration Window 16
4. Add to Queue 17
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5. Adding additional files to queue (Optional): 17
6. Edit Queue 17
7. Reset Queue: 17
Griffeye Import Settings 18
Griffeye Import Settings Menu 18
Custom Import Settings JSON 19
Starting Functions 20
Start 20
Carve Only 20
Advanced Settings 21
Change Analyze CLI Path: 22
Griffeye Processing Engine: 22
Griffeye Collaboration Server Configuration: 22
URL 22
User Credentials 22
Test 22
Concurrent CS File Upload Count 22
Apply 22
Verbose Messaging: 22
Output Window and Status Bar 23
Post Import 24
Breakpoint Processing Engine 24
Data Output Locations: 24
BPE Post Griffeye Import 25
File MetaData Unallocated 26
BPE Post Griffeye Import – Live Files 26
File MetaData Live Files 27
Breakpoint Processing Engine API-Mode 28
Logs and Troubleshooting 28
BFIP Logs 28
Breakpoint Processing Engine - Source Specific Logs 28
Griffeye Logs 28
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Processing Mode
BFIP offers 3 different Processing Engines that offer different features and availability depending on
Griffeye License, in addition to the ability to import Forensic Images and/or JSON Packages. As of
Version 5.0, the legacy single mode selection interface has been deprecated and the previously name
‘Advanced Source Queue Setup’, is now used for configuration of processing modes. This allows the
ability to apply different and unique process modes to various forensic images, and also to add forensic
images from a variety of different paths and drives all in a single import. Please see the ‘Advanced
Source Queue Setup’ section for details on how to add and configure sources.
Source Type
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Processing Mode Engines
Standard
● Standard calls the standard/default import engine included with Griffeye.
● Includes Active Files and ‘Flagged Deleted’ Files.
● Does not recover data from unallocated space.
● Supported Image Types: ['.001', '.bin', '.dd', '.dmg', '.e01', '.ewf', '.iso', '.raw', 'vhd']
Lace
● Requires Lace Addon with your Griffeye DI or Griffeye Processing Engine License.
● Completely replaces the Standard Griffeye Import Engine.
● Many Selectable Options to includes Active, Deleted, Unallocated, VSS, and Embedded Files
● Options Configurable via ‘Lace Carver Options’ menu.
● Supported Image Types: ['.001', ‘.aa’, ‘.aff’, '.ad1', '.bin', '.dd', '.dmg', '.e01', '.ex01', '.ewf',
'.iso', '.l01', '.raw', '.s01', ‘.smart’, '.vhd', ‘.vmdk’]
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Breakpoint Processing Engine
● Custom Processing Engine that provides a Hybridized import process leveraging several
custom modules in combination with a fully automated implementation of PhotoRec.
● Includes additional support for parsing forensic images containing common file systems
including APFS(Apple File System), with automated extraction of media files and import into
Griffeye with no additional addon plugins required.
● Includes Active Files, Deleted Files, and Carving of Unallocated Files, Carving Files from APFS
Snapshots, and Carved Archive Extraction.
● No additional licensing addons required.
● Ability to conduct several parallel carve processes using ‘Hyper-Carve’ option for significant
reduction in typical carving time.
● Passes recovered data to custom VICS JSON generator to build out JSON containing notable
metadata and fields (i.e. Physical Location, Files Paths, Deleted Status, Unallocated Status,
etc.)
● Supported Image Types: ['.001', '.bin', '.dd', '.dmg', '.e01', '.ewf', '.iso', '.raw', 'vhd']
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File Types:
Images: Carve for Common Image Formats:
[bmp,crw,dsc,gif,heic,jpg,mrw,orf,pct,png,psb,psd,psp,raf,raw,rw2,tif,wdp,x3f,xcf]
Archives: Carve for Common Compressed Archive and MS Office 2007+ Files:
[RAR, 7Zip, Zip, MSOffice07+]
*Can significantly increase processing time and case size depending on number and size
of archives found.
Carving Options:
Extract Live Files: Have Breakpoint Processing Engine extract Live and Flagged Deleted files from
common file systems.
Carve Unallocated Files: Have Breakpoint Processing Engine carve and extract selected file types
from unallocated space.
Carve Unallocated Files (APFS): Force Breakpoint Processing Engine to conduct deep carve and
extraction of selected file types from APFS volumes.
Carve Snapshots): Have Breakpoint Processing Engine check for APFS snapshots and recover
deltas of files not located in the current ‘Live File-System’.
Advanced Options:
Bruteforce Mode: Enables PhotoRec brute force mode that can increase the number of
fragmented files recovered.
*Can significantly increase processing time, false positives, and has increased CPU
demand.
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Hyper-Carve: When enabled the Breakpoint Processing Engine will initialize the carving, archive
extraction, and JSON creation for each Forensic Image into separate concurrent threads. The
maximum number of concurrent threads available is specified by the adjoining slider. If the
number of forensic images in your queue exceeds the number of carving threads available,
Hyper-Carve will intelligently hold, queue, and dispatch the next forensic image as soon as a
prior processing thread becomes available. This has the potential to reduce typical carving
times by several-fold.
*Feature is experimental and exact results highly dependent on several factors such as
CPU capacity, IO capacity, etc.
Case Setup
Enter the case name/# and storage location where you want your Griffeye Case Folder to be
created. BFIP will automatically generate all needed additional case-folders and files based on
the information you enter.
If you choose to use the ‘Carve Only’ option, the carved data will be output to the same path
specified here.
Example: [Storage Path] + [Case#] = D:/Griffeye Cases/2024-123456/
BFIP can also be used to add additional sources/data to an existing Griffeye Case. Select the
radial for ‘Add to Existing Case, and the locate the existing Griffeye ANCF case file using the
selection button. BFIP will automatically add any new sources/data to the existing case. Your
existing case WILL NOT be overwritten.
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Griffeye Collaboration Server Case Setup
*In order to utilize Griffeye CS Integration, please ensure latest Griffeye Connect CLI is installed, and a
connection to your Collaboration Server has been successfully completed in the BFIP ‘Advanced Settings’
menu.*
Once Griffeye CS integration has been successfully enabled, users may conduct processing of forensic
images using the Breakpoint Processing Engine, and recovered files can then be automatically pushed to
cases on the configured Collaboration Server.
New CS Case
For new cases, with an existing matching Case # not already on the server, enter a Case# or identifier.
Press the ‘Select Existing CS Case’ button. BFIP will query the configured collaboration server for a list of
existing Case IDs and return a selection window for the user to confirm which existing case they would
like to push new data to.
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Advanced Source Queue Setup
Advanced Source Setup offers the ability to maintain the quick automated case creation process as
before, while also providing highly granular control over several automatically generated values, adding
the ability to combine multiple Processing Modes in a single run of BFIP, and enables the ability to stack
forensic image and JSON sources from multiple locations in a single queue.
Instructions:
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3. Advanced Source Queue Configuration Window
This new window will have 4 primary fields available to customize for each located source:
Import Checkbox: Place a checkbox next to any source you want to be included in the
carving/import process. Any item that is unchecked will be completely removed from the
current queue and no further processes will be conducted on it.
Processing Mode: Select the preferred processing mode/engine you’d like to use for the specific
forensic image. A mix of Processing modes/engines can be utilized and different sources can
use different/unique processing engines depending on the needs of the examiner level of
processing required.
Source ID: Source ID’s for each forensic image will be initially auto-generated based on the
forensic image’s filename with the extension stripped, however they can now be individually
edited and customized.
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Source Path: The unique source path for each file will be shown in this field automatically.
*While this field can be manually adjusted by the user, it is highly recommended you use the automatically
generated value.
4. Add to Queue
After customizing processing mode selections, Source ID selection, etc., select ‘Add to Queue’,
and the Advanced Source Queue Status bar will update to reflect the added sources.
6. Edit Queue
This opens a menu containing all sources and their current settings that have already been
added to the queue using the ‘Scan Source Folder’ button. Existing Source IDs, Processing
Modes, etc., can all be further edited or changed from here.
7. Reset Queue:
This function completely clears the Advance Source Queue.
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Griffeye Import Settings
*Note in order to ensure these settings are committed to Griffeye you must explicitly open this
menu and click ‘Apply’ with your preferred options set. Otherwise, Griffeye will default to using
the configuration settings from your last import job.
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Custom Import Settings JSON
If you prefer to configure specific import settings beyond those available in the BFIP menu options, you
can optionally specify a custom Griffeye Import Settings JSON file. This will override any Griffeye Import
Settings specified in the menu.
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Starting Functions
Start
Run Selected Processing Engine/File Carving. Conduct Griffeye Case Creation. Import Forensic
Images and/or JSON Files into Griffeye.
Carve Only
Conducts carve using Breakpoint Processing Engine based on settings specified in ‘Breakpoint
Carving Options’ menu.
Conducts automated file extraction from any support file-systems on forensic images by
extracting media and archive files, and generating a VICS JSON package from the extracted files.
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Advanced Settings
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Change Analyze CLI Path:
BFIP looks for the file ‘analyze-cli.exe’ in the default install location of:
If you have changed the default install location, this value can be overridden with a new folder
location for ‘analyze-cli.exe’. Both the ‘Check to Enable Custom Path’, and new folder location
must be specified.
URL
Enter the full URL including the port # for Griffeye CS. (Default typically 17000)
Example: https://griffeyecs.ICACSERVER.local:17000
User Credentials
Enter a username and the associated password for a user account configured on the
collaboration server that will be used for authenticating all case creation commands. Ensure the
configured user account is properly configured on the collaboration server with the necessary
permissions/claims for creating and editing cases.
Test
After entering the credentials, click ‘Test’ to validate BFIP is able to establish a connection with
the configured server, and that the credentials are excepted.
Apply
If the Connection Test is Successful, click ‘Apply’ to save the configured settings. The credentials
will be encrypted, and securely stored on the local workstation for later recall the next time BFIP
is launched.
Verbose Messaging:
Enabling verbose messaging increases status messages in console and enables additional debug
logging.
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Output Window and Status Bar
Griffeye utilizes an integrated output window. Various confirmation messages, processing status,
errors, etc. will be printed here for reference.
Directly above the window is a dynamic status bar that will occasionally update with carving status,
progress indicators and completion percentages.
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Post Import
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BPE Post Griffeye Import
If you elected to use the standard ‘Start’ option, the data generated with the Breakpoint Processing
Engine will automatically be imported into a Griffeye case. For data that was recovered, it will appear
under the folder path nomenclature of ‘[sourceID]/[Partition-#]/[folderpath]’
If you elected to both carve and expand archive files, the expanded archives and their respective files
will be seeded under an additional subfolder named ‘Archives’, followed by the path to the original
parent Archive file.
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File MetaData Unallocated
Data recovered and imported using the Breakpoint Processing Engine will fill several metadata fields
based on the limited data that can be recovered from unallocated content.
File Name: Does not reflect original file name prior to deletion. This is named based off the
physical location recovered on disk.
Physical Location: The first physical sector where the file was located.
If the file was extracted from a recovered archive, this value will reflect the physical sector of
the parent archive file
For APFS Data it will include APFS Container information as part of the path:
‘[SOURCEID]/[APFS Container-GUID]/[CONTAINER-FILES/FOLDERS]
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File MetaData Live Files
Data recovered and imported using the Breakpoint Processing Engine will recover and fille common
metadata fields as located in the file-system.
MAC Timestamps: Original modified, created, and accessed timestamps as located in APFS file-
system.
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Breakpoint Processing Engine API-Mode
BFIP’s Breakpoint Processing Engine can be controlled and executed via CLI and a structured JSON API.
This allows for use and integration of the full Breakpoint Processing Engine in other tools or your own
custom scripts/automations. The API functions by calling the same BFIP executable, followed by a string
of supported arguments and designating the path for a supported JSON File.
Further details and the most up to date example of the recommended JSON API spec is available here:
https://github.com/breakpointforensics/BPE_API_DATAMODEL
BFIP Logs
BFIP specific logs, such as Breakpoint Processing Engine, import status, etc. are logged in a BFIP’s
AppData folder along with saved user preferences. These can be directly accessed by clicking on the
‘Logs’ button at the bottom of the main BFIP interface. A new log is generated for each calendar day.
Default:
C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Local\BreakpointForensics\BFIP\Logs
Griffeye Logs
Once BFIP passes the import parameters to the Griffeye CLI during the Griffeye Processing phase, all
Griffeye related messages, errors, and status will be reflected in the normal Griffeye log folder/file.
Default:
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