Chainsaw
Applies Sigma and custom rules to search Windows event logs, MFT records, registry hives, and SRUM data for rapid incident triage.
Technical Architecture & Overview
Chainsaw is a Rust-based tool that searches and triages Windows forensic artifacts. It applies Sigma detection rules and custom rules to event logs, MFT records, registry hives, and SRUM data. Incident responders use it to find signs of compromise quickly without a full SIEM stack.
Targeted Technical Use Cases
Rapid triage of Windows event logs and forensic artifacts during incident response and proactive threat detection.
Evaluation & Trade-offs
Core Strengths
- +Fast Rust implementation for searching large event log datasets.
- +Supports Sigma rules and custom rule formats for flexible detection.
- +Outputs ASCII, CSV, and JSON for reporting and downstream analysis.
Trade-Offs & Limitations
- -Requires access to forensic artifacts on disk or from a collection tool.
- -Rule quality affects accuracy and coverage of detection.
- -Limited to Windows-focused data sources for event log analysis.
Defensive Security Application
Analyze event logs and MFT data to detect persistence, lateral movement, and other post-compromise activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chainsaw?→
Chainsaw is a Rust-based tool that searches and triages Windows forensic artifacts. It applies Sigma detection rules and custom rules to event logs, MFT records, registry hives, and SRUM data. Incident responders use it to find signs of compromise quickly without a full SIEM stack.
What is Chainsaw used for?→
Rapid triage of Windows event logs and forensic artifacts during incident response and proactive threat detection.
What are the strengths of Chainsaw?→
- +Fast Rust implementation for searching large event log datasets.
- +Supports Sigma rules and custom rule formats for flexible detection.
- +Outputs ASCII, CSV, and JSON for reporting and downstream analysis.
What are the limitations of Chainsaw?→
- +Requires access to forensic artifacts on disk or from a collection tool.
- +Rule quality affects accuracy and coverage of detection.
- +Limited to Windows-focused data sources for event log analysis.
How is Chainsaw used defensively?→
Analyze event logs and MFT data to detect persistence, lateral movement, and other post-compromise activity.