Technical Analysis: Recovering Data from Windows systems by using Linux

jcannon — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:19:00 GMT

Abstract:
We have all run into cases where Windows fails to load for one reason or another. The problem may be hardware or a software failure, and the problem may seem to be irrecoverable. Yet often Linux can be used to help recover data that otherwise might be lost. Another application of using Linux recovery is in the creation of disk images for post-mortem analysis of security breaches. While such images are not created according to forensics standards (which usually requires special hardware) and would not be likely to be of help in legal cases, they are helpful in internal reviews following such incidents.

Note: This paper represents testing and documentation in a lab environment. User Account Control (UAC) is an essential security component to Windows and Microsoft does not recommend turning off UAC in production environments.

Windows Vista Beta/Linux IPsec Interop Testing

MichaelF — Wed, 09 May 2007 21:27:00 GMT

In addition to technical tips, blogs and video interviews, the Open Source Software Lab at Microsoft conducts a number of technical analysis and research projects throughout the year to help inform and solve key interoperability challenges between Microsoft and open source technologies. This particular research was conducted after reviewing data from our VPN research which was previously posted to Port 25.

Abstract:

This document provides an overview of Linux IPsec solutions as well as detailed discussions on configuring IPsec-Tools for interoperability scenarios between Red Hat Linux Enterprise 4 and Windows Vista Ultimate Beta.

Using Vista's Boot Manager to Boot Linux and Dual Booting with BitLocker Protection with TPM Support

MichaelF — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 19:57:00 GMT

Today we are introducing Cyril Voisin, Security Advisor for Microsoft in France where he has worked for 9 years. Cyril is a CISSP (Certified Information Security Systems Professional) and along with his work at Microsoft also teaches systems and network security in local schools as time allows. Cyril has started a blog, primarily focused on security (exact blog intent can be seen here) but occasionally dealing with interoperability as it relates to security.

Cyril has given us permission to syndicate his content on Port 25, the first example is below. Please feel free to post any questions or clarifications below or on Cyril’s blog.

We welcome Cyril to Port 25 and look forward to featuring his work and insight in the future.

-michael

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How to use Windows Vista’s Boot Manager to boot Linux

The Web is full of explanations on how to dual boot Windows and Linux using a Linux boot manager like GRUB or LILO. If you want to dual boot Windows Vista and Linux using Windows Vista’s Boot Manager, please read on. I will assume that you already have installed Linux on your machine using GRUB as your boot loader.

Step 1 – Install GRUB on the Linux partition (outside of MBR)

As Windows Vista will replace the Master Boot Record (MBR) with its own, we need to relocate GRUB elsewhere by running grub-install with the Linux partition as a parameter.

• On Linux, launch a Terminal with root privileges

• Find the name of the partition Linux is installed on by running fdisk –l (the partition you’re looking for is the one whose system is Linux, can be something like /dev/sda1 or /dev/hda1. For the rest of this post, I’ll use /dev/sda1)

• Install GRUB on the Linux partition by running : grub-install /dev/sda1

Step 2 – Get a copy of Linux boot sector

We will need to instruct Windows Boot Manager how to boot correctly Linux using Linux boot sector, which we will extract using dd.

• On Linux, launch a Terminal with root privileges

• Take a copy of Linux boot sector : dd if=/dev/sda1 of=/tmp/linux.bin bs=512 count=1

• Copy linux.bin on a FAT formatted USB key or any storage accessible from Windows Vista

Step 3 – Install Windows Vista

Step 4 – Configure dual booting in Windows Vista

We will create an entry for GRUB in Windows Vista boot configuration data store using bcdedit.

• On Windows Vista, launch a command prompt with administrative privileges (by right clicking on cmd and choosing Run as Administrator)

• Copy Linux boot sector on the root of the Windows boot (active) partition, namely the one containing bootmgr. If you don’t know for sure you can use diskpart or diskmgmt.msc to find out which one it is.

• Create an entry for GRUB :

o bcdedit /create /d “GRUB” /application BOOTSECTOR

o Note: bcdedit will return an ID for this entry that we will call {LinuxID} below. You will need to replace {LinuxID} by the returned identifier in this step. An example of {LinuxID} is {81ed7925-47ee-11db-bd26-cbb4e160eb27}

• Specify which device hosts a copy of the Linux boot sector

o bcdedit /set {LinuxID} device boot

• Specify the path to a copy of the Linux boot sector

o bcdedit /set {LinuxID} PATH \linux.bin

• Add Linux entry to the displayed menu at boot time

o bcdedit /displayorder {LinuxID} /addlast

• Let the menu be displayed 10 seconds to allow for OS selection

o bcdedit /timeout 10

Building a dual boot system with Windows Vista BitLocker protection with TPM support

Many people have wondered if it would be possible to dual boot a TPM-bitlockered instance of Windows Vista with Linux, or another OS. The answer is yes and the following procedure will hopefully help you setup your machine correctly.

Some (simplified) background on Bitlocker:

Bitlocker Drive Encryption allows encryption of Windows Vista’s partition and provides a secure startup process when in use with a TPM (a crypto chip on the motherboard). Basically the BIOS, the TPM, the MBR and the boot sector will collaborate to help verify that there was no modification to the boot sequence since Bitlocker was activated. This is done by using a function of the TPM to compute and store a hash of the code before executing it, at each of the initial steps of the boot sequence. Different hashes will be computed and stored in specific registers of the TPM. Then Windows Vista will ask the TPM to unseal its volume encryption key and the TPM will only provide this key if its registers are correctly set. Therefore if you replace Windows Vista’s MBR by a MBR that is not TPM aware, it won’t hash the boot sector before executing it and a register in the TPM won’t be populated. Same with the boot sector. Therefore Bitlocker will simply refuse to be enabled.

The underlying idea here is to have Bitlocker enabled with the original Windows Vista boot files. Another possibility would be to use a TPM-aware version of GRUB. However this would imply using files in the boot sequence that were not tested by Microsoft, which I would not recommend. Moreover, using original Windows Vista files offers you the benefits of code that went through the Security Development Lifecycle, which I personally find very valuable.

Note: I assume that you have a Bitlocker compatible machine (including TPM 1.2, TCG BIOS). See http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/library/c61f2a12-8ae6-4957-b031-97b4d762cf31.mspx#BKMK_require

Step 1 – Install Linux

Note: be sure to leave enough unpartitioned space for Windows Vista: about 11 GB of free unpartitioned space and slots for 2 partitions are needed

Step 2 – Install GRUB on the Linux partition (outside of MBR)

See other post “How to use Windows Vista’s Boot Manager to boot Linux”

Step 3 – Get a copy of Linux boot sector

See other post “How to use Windows Vista’s Boot Manager to boot Linux”

Step 4 – Create partitions for Windows Vista

We need to create 2 primary NTFS formatted partitions on the disk: one active, 1.5GB size minimum and another larger (all the rest for instance with a minimum of 8.5GB). The former will be used to boot the machine (active partition) and will remain unencrypted while the latter will host Windows Vista and will be encrypted when we activate Bitlocker.

You can use diskpart tool to do this (available from Repair options on the Windows Vista DVD). Here is what the instructions may look like :

· select disk 1

· create partition primary size=2048

· active

· create partition primary

Step 5 - Install Windows Vista

Install Windows Vista on the largest NTFS partition.

Step 6 - Set up Windows Vista Boot Manager to boot Linux

See other post “How to use Windows Vista’s Boot Manager to boot Linux”.

Step 7 - Enable BitLocker on Windows Vista

See BitLocker documentation, like http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/library/c61f2a12-8ae6-4957-b031-97b4d762cf31.mspx#BKMK_S3

Port 25: The Open Source Community at Microsoft : Server Center, Vista

Technical Analysis: Recovering Data from Windows systems by using Linux

Windows Vista Beta/Linux IPsec Interop Testing

Using Vista's Boot Manager to Boot Linux and Dual Booting with BitLocker Protection with TPM Support