> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://mahmoud-shaker.gitbook.io/dfir-notes/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://mahmoud-shaker.gitbook.io/dfir-notes/application-compatibility-cache-shim-cache.md).

# Application Compatibility Cache (Shim Cache)

### **Overview:**

* **Purpose**: Used by Windows to ensure compatibility with older applications by maintaining metadata about executable files.
* **Registry Location**:
  * `HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\AppCompatCache`
* **Data Stored**:
  * File paths, timestamps, and information about recently executed binaries.

### **Benefits for DFIR:**

* **Evidence of Execution**: Identifies executables that have been run, even if they were later deleted.
* **Historical Records**: Preserves data for files no longer present on the disk.

### **How It Works:**

* Logs metadata when an executable is run, storing:

  * **File Path**: Full path to the executable.
  * **Timestamp**: Last modified time.
  * **Metadata**: Indicators of compatibility settings.
  * **File Name:** Provides the name of the executable.
  * **Full Path:** Indicates the complete path to the executable file.
  * **Standard Info Last Modified Date:** Shows the last modified date of the executable.
  * **Size of the Binary:** Records the size of the executable file.
  * **Execution Status:** Indicates whether the file ran on the system.

  **Note:** Even if the file metadata changes, it will still be recorded in the shim cache.

**Tools:**

* **ShimCacheParser**: Decodes and interprets data.
* **FTK Imager**: Extracts registry hives for offline analysis.
* **SANS AppCompatCache Parser**: Comprehensive parser for cached entries

for example : 

<figure><img src="/files/31Hq2GUUjrmCWjNJDUeY" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

there is plugin in volatility3 we can used to analyses image for Shim Cache , for example :&#x20;

<figure><img src="/files/8CpC30pducFimdKqVSPK" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


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