Analyzing MFT for Deleted File Recovery

Overview

The NTFS Master File Table ($MFT) is the central metadata repository for every file and directory on an NTFS volume. Each file is represented by at least one 1024-byte MFT record containing attributes such as $STANDARD_INFORMATION (timestamps, permissions), $FILE_NAME (name, parent directory, timestamps), and $DATA (file content or cluster run pointers). When a file is deleted, its MFT record is marked as inactive (InUse flag cleared) but the metadata remains until the entry is reallocated by a new file. This persistence makes MFT analysis a primary technique for recovering deleted file evidence, reconstructing file system timelines, and detecting anti-forensic activity such as timestomping.

When to Use

• When investigating security incidents that require analyzing mft for deleted file recovery
• When building detection rules or threat hunting queries for this domain
• When SOC analysts need structured procedures for this analysis type
• When validating security monitoring coverage for related attack techniques

Prerequisites

• Forensic disk image (E01, raw/dd, VMDK, or VHDX format)
• MFTECmd (Eric Zimmerman) or analyzeMFT (Python-based)
• FTK Imager, Arsenal Image Mounter, or similar for image mounting
• Timeline Explorer or Excel for CSV analysis
• Python 3.8+ for custom analysis scripts
• Understanding of NTFS file system internals

MFT Structure and Record Layout

MFT Record Header

Each MFT record begins with the signature "FILE" (0x46494C45) and contains: