IT Forensics · Linux
Forensic analysis of dpkg logs – evaluating package status and installation details
dpkg is the underlying package management tool on Debian-based systems, on which APT is also based, and maintains its own, more detailed logs of installed packages and their status.
Whilst APT protocols tend to document the actions that trigger events, dpkg also provides a detailed set of status data from which the exact installation status of individual packages can be determined.
Why LanCologne?
Since its foundation, LanCologne has specialised in professional IT forensics. Our staff have decades of experience in the field of information technology and assist companies, solicitors, private individuals and, on a regular basis, the courts in the technical investigation of complex digital matters.
The examination is, as a matter of principle, carried out exclusively on a forensic copy, a forensic image or a data source captured in a technically equivalent manner that preserves the integrity of the evidence. The original evidence remains unchanged and is stored in a manner that preserves its integrity.
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We analyse the dpkg status database and associated logs to determine the exact installation status of individual packages and to correlate this with other findings.
Typical areas of application
This is how a dpkg analysis works
Once the backup has been completed, the dpkg status database is read and compared with the supplementary log files. Any unusual packages or those installed manually that were not obtained from the configured default repositories are checked separately.
Why is the dpkg analysis relevant from a forensic perspective?
Detailed package status information can provide insight into exact version numbers, which may be relevant, for example, when assessing known vulnerabilities at a specific point in time.
Packages installed manually, rather than from standard repositories, warrant particular attention, as they may provide a potential route for the introduction of malware.
Frequently Asked Questions
LanCologne – Linux Forensics Cologne
Do you require a professional forensic investigation into „forensic analysis of dpkg logs"? LanCologne can assist you with the legally admissible preservation of digital evidence and the traceable analysis of relevant Linux artefacts.
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