Ubuntu Manpage: scalpel - Recover files using a header/footer database

NAME

       scalpel - Recover files using a header/footer database

SYNOPSIS

       scalpel  [-b] [-c <file>] [-d] [-h] [-i <file>] [-m <blocksize>] [-n] [-o <dir>] [-O] [-p]
       [-r] [-s <num>] [-t] [-u] [-V] [-v] [FILES]...

DESCRIPTION

Recover files from a disk image or raw block device based on headers and footers specified
by the user.

-b Carve files even if defined footers aren't discovered within maximum carve size for
file type [foremost 0.69 compat mode]

-c file
Chooses which configuration file to use. If this option is omitted, then
"scalpel.conf" in the current directory is used. The format for the configuration
file is described in the default configuration file "scalpel.conf". See the
CONFIGURATION FILE section below for more information.

-d Generate header/footer database; will bypass certain optimizations and discover all
footers, so performance suffers. Doesn't affect the set of files carved.
**EXPERIMENTAL**

-m Generate/update carve coverage blockmap file. The first 32bit unsigned int in the
file identifies the block size. Thereafter each 32bit unsigned int entry in the
blockmap file corresponds to one block in the image file. Each entry counts how
many carved files contain this block. Requires more memory and disk.
**EXPERIMENTAL**

-h Show a help screen and exit.

-i file
file is used as a list of input files to examine. Each line in the specified file
should contain a single filename.

-o directory
Recovered files are written to the directory directory. Scalpel requires that
this directory be either empty or not exist. The directory will be created if
necessary.

-O Don't organize carved files by type. Default is to organize carved files into
subdirectories to make previewing of large numbers of carved files easier.

-p Perform image file preview; audit log indicates which files would have been carved,
but no files are actually carved.

-q clustersize
Carve only when header is cluster-aligned.

-r Find only first of overlapping headers/footers [foremost 0.69 compat mode]

-s number
Skips number bytes in each input file before beginning the search for file headers
and footers.

-t Set directory for coverage blockmap. **EXPERIMENTAL**

-u Use carve coverage blockmap when carving. Carve only sections of the image whose
entries in the blockmap are 0. These areas are treated as contiguous regions.
**EXPERIMENTAL**

-V Show copyright information and exit.

-v Enables verbose mode. This causes copious amounts of debugging information to be
output.

CONFIGURATION FILE

       The configuration file is used to control the types  of  files  Scalpel  will  attempt  to
       carve.   A  sample configuration file, "scalpel.conf", is included with this distribution.
       For each file type, the configuration file describes the  file's  extension,  whether  the
       header and footer are case sensitive, the maximum file size, and the header and footer for
       the file. The footer field is optional,  but  the  header,  size,  case  sensitivity,  and
       extension fields are required.

       Important  note:  The default configuration file has all supported file patterns commented
       out--you must edit this before before running Scalpel.

       Any line in the configuration file that begins with a pound sign is considered  a  comment
       and ignored.

       Headers  and  footers  are  decoded  before  use.  To  specify  a value in hexadecimal use
       \x[0-f][0-f], and for octal use  \[1-9][1-9][1-9].   Spaces  can  be  represented  by  \s.
       Example: "\x4F\123\I\sCCI" decodes to "OSI CCI".

       To  match  any  single character (aka a wildcard) use a '?'. If you need to search for the
       '?' character, you will need to change the 'wildcard' line *and* every occurrence  of  the
       old  wildcard  character  in  the configuration file, including those appearing in hex and
       octal values. '?' is equal to \x3f and \063.

AUTHORS

       Written by Golden G. Richard III.  The first version of  Scalpel  was  based  on  foremost
       0.69,  which was written by Special Agent Kris Kendall and Special Agent Jesse Kornblum of
       the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations.

BUGS AND LIMITATIONS

       It is currently not possible to carve physical block devices directly  using  the  Windows
       version  of  Scalpel.   This  is  a limitation that will be removed in a future release of
       Scalpel.

REPORTING BUGS

       When submitting a bug report, please include a description of the problem, how  you  found
       it, and your contact information.

       Send bug reports to:
       golden@digitalforensicssolutions.com

COPYRIGHT

       This  is free software.  There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR
       A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.