[opensourcedex]

MasterParser is a free, open source business intelligence & reporting project written in PowerShell and released under MIT. It has 760 GitHub stars, 69 forks and 3 open issues, and was last pushed 8 months ago. On this registry it ranks #29 of 34 tracked projects in Business Intelligence & Reporting, with 5 head-to-head comparisons available.

What is MasterParser?

What it is

MasterParser is a Digital Forensics and Incident Response tool written in PowerShell for analyzing Linux log files from the /var/log directory. The project focuses on the investigative workflow used by incident responders who need to review system logs after a security event, and it is positioned within the Linux DFIR, cyber-security, and incident-response ecosystem.

The concrete problem it addresses is the manual effort required to inspect Linux logs during an investigation. MasterParser scans supported log files, extracts important details such as SSH logins, user creations, event names, and IP addresses, and produces a summary that presents the findings in a concise report. The repository also includes training materials that show how the tool can be used in scenarios such as brute-force attacks and reconnaissance activities.

Key capabilities

  • MasterParser parses supported Linux log files located in /var/log, and the README lists auth.log as the supported format.
  • The tool extracts SSH login information from supported logs for incident review.
  • The tool extracts user creation events from supported logs.
  • The tool extracts event names and IP addresses from supported logs.
  • The tool generates a summary report that organizes extracted details for incident responders.
  • The PowerShell script provides a command menu through the -O Menu option.
  • The repository includes training materials, exercises, scenarios, a PDF presentation, and a live recorded workshop for practical use.

Who uses it and how

  • Incident response teams use the tool to review Linux logs after a suspected security event.
  • DFIR practitioners use the generated summary to identify login, user creation, event, and IP address details without manually reading every supported log line.
  • Training users and practitioners use the included exercises and scenarios to practice investigations for brute-force attacks and reconnaissance activities.
  • InfoSec and IT users can use the tool for broader assessment of security events on Linux platforms.
  • Users can submit feature or log-format requests through GitHub issues.

Getting started

The README instructs users to download the repository ZIP, place Linux /var/log files in the 01-Logs folder, open a PowerShell terminal in the extracted MasterParser folder, run MasterParser.ps1 with the -O Menu option to view the command menu, and execute the tool from that folder.

When to use it — and when not to

MasterParser is useful when an investigator needs a PowerShell-based summary of supported Linux logs, especially auth.log, during a Linux incident response or training exercise. It is less suitable when the investigation requires analysis of many Linux log types, because the README currently lists only auth.log as supported. The tool also expects manual placement of logs into the 01-Logs folder and operation through PowerShell, so users need that local workflow.

project readme (upstream, from github) — read inline

MasterParser v2.5

Stop wasting time, let MasterParser do the work!

MasterParserBanner

Created & Maintained by: Eilay Yosfan

What is MasterParser ?

MasterParser stands as a robust Digital Forensics and Incident Response tool meticulously crafted for the analysis of Linux logs within the var/log directory. Specifically designed to expedite the investigative process for security incidents on Linux systems, MasterParser adeptly scans supported logs, such as auth.log for example, extract critical details including SSH logins, user creations, event names, IP addresses and much more. The tool's generated summary presents this information in a clear and concise format, enhancing efficiency and accessibility for Incident Responders. Beyond its immediate utility for DFIR teams, MasterParser proves invaluable to the broader InfoSec and IT community, contributing significantly to the swift and comprehensive assessment of security events on Linux platforms.

MasterParser Training Materials

We have developed a comprehensive set of training materials to help you get the most out of MasterParser. These resources are designed to provide practical, real-world scenarios that you might encounter, such as brute force attacks, reconnaissance activities, and more. By training with these materials, you'll gain hands-on experience and deeper insights into how MasterParser can be utilized effectively.

In addition to practical scenarios, we have also created a comprehensive PDF presentation ,this presentation covers everything you need to know before using MasterParser. All these resources are conveniently organized in a folder called MasterParser Training within the repository. Whether you are new to MasterParser or looking to deepen your expertise, these materials will provide valuable guidance and support.

In addition to all of the materials, there is also a live recorded workshop on how to use MasterParser that can be found on YouTube under the Security Joes YouTube channel.

MasterParser Wallpapers

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Supported Logs Format

This is the list of supported log formats within the var/log directory that MasterParser can analyze.
In future updates, MasterParser will support additional log formats for analysis.

Supported Log Formats List
auth.log

Feature & Log Format Requests:

If you wish to propose the addition of a new feature \ log format,
kindly submit your request by creating an issue
Click here to create a request

How To Use ?

howto use

How To Use - Text Guide

  1. From this GitHub repository press on " Code" and then press on "Download ZIP".
  2. From "MasterParser-main.zip" export the folder "MasterParser-main" to you Desktop.
  3. Open a PowerShell terminal and navigate to the "MasterParser-main" folder.
# How to navigate to "MasterParser-main" folder from the PS terminal
PS C:\> cd "C:\Users\user\Desktop\MasterParser-main\"
  1. Now you can execute the tool, for example see the tool command menu, do this:
# How to show MasterParser menu
PS C:\Users\user\Desktop\MasterParser-main> .\MasterParser.ps1 -O Menu
  1. To run the tool, put all your /var/log/* logs in to the 01-Logs folder, and execute the tool like this:
# How to run MasterParser
PS C:\Users\user\Desktop\MasterParser-main> .\MasterParser.ps1 -O Start
  1. That's it, enjoy the tool!

How To Use - Video Guide

https://github.com/YosfanEilay/MasterParser/assets/132997318/d26b4b3f-7816-42c3-be7f-7ee3946a2c70

MasterParser Social Media Publications

Social Media Posts
1. First Tool Post
2. First Tool Story Publication By Help Net Security
3. Second Tool Story Publication By Forensic Focus
4. MasterParser featured in Help Net Security: 20 Essential Open-Source Cybersecurity Tools That Save You Time
5. Tool Story Publication By endpointcave Newsletter

Frequently asked questions

Is MasterParser free to use?

MasterParser is open source under the MIT licence. There is no licence fee and no seat count — you can self-host it or, where the project offers one, pay a vendor for a managed version instead.

What does MasterParser do?

MasterParser is a powerful DFIR tool designed for analyzing and parsing Linux logs

What is MasterParser written in?

MasterParser is primarily written in PowerShell. Its source is publicly available at https://github.com/securityjoes/MasterParser, and it has 760 GitHub stars.