Windows MiniDump (MDMP) file provides a concise way to store process core dumps, which is useful for debugging. Given its small size, modularity, some cross-platform features and native support in some debuggers, it is particularly useful for crash reporting, and is used for that purpose in Windows and Google Chrome projects.
The file itself is a container, which contains a number of typed "streams", which contain some data according to its type attribute.
This page hosts a formal specification of Windows MiniDump using Kaitai Struct. This specification can be automatically translated into a variety of programming languages to get a parsing library.
All parsing code for Python generated by Kaitai Struct depends on the Python runtime library. You have to install it before you can parse data.
The Python runtime library can be installed from PyPI:
python3 -m pip install kaitaistructParse a local file and get structure in memory:
data = WindowsMinidump.from_file("path/to/local/file.dmp")
Or parse structure from a bytes:
from kaitaistruct import KaitaiStream, BytesIO
raw = b"\x00\x01\x02..."
data = WindowsMinidump(KaitaiStream(BytesIO(raw)))
After that, one can get various attributes from the structure by invoking getter methods like:
data.magic1 # => get magic1
# This is a generated file! Please edit source .ksy file and use kaitai-struct-compiler to rebuild
import kaitaistruct
from kaitaistruct import KaitaiStruct, KaitaiStream, BytesIO
from enum import Enum
if getattr(kaitaistruct, 'API_VERSION', (0, 9)) < (0, 9):
raise Exception("Incompatible Kaitai Struct Python API: 0.9 or later is required, but you have %s" % (kaitaistruct.__version__))
class WindowsMinidump(KaitaiStruct):
"""Windows MiniDump (MDMP) file provides a concise way to store process
core dumps, which is useful for debugging. Given its small size,
modularity, some cross-platform features and native support in some
debuggers, it is particularly useful for crash reporting, and is
used for that purpose in Windows and Google Chrome projects.
The file itself is a container, which contains a number of typed
"streams", which contain some data according to its type attribute.
.. seealso::
Source - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/minidumpapiset/ns-minidumpapiset-minidump_header
"""
class StreamTypes(Enum):
unused = 0
reserved_0 = 1
reserved_1 = 2
thread_list = 3
module_list = 4
memory_list = 5
exception = 6
system_info = 7
thread_ex_list = 8
memory_64_list = 9
comment_a = 10
comment_w = 11
handle_data = 12
function_table = 13
unloaded_module_list = 14
misc_info = 15
memory_info_list = 16
thread_info_list = 17
handle_operation_list = 18
token = 19
java_script_data = 20
system_memory_info = 21
process_vm_counters = 22
ipt_trace = 23
thread_names = 24
ce_null = 32768
ce_system_info = 32769
ce_exception = 32770
ce_module_list = 32771
ce_process_list = 32772
ce_thread_list = 32773
ce_thread_context_list = 32774
ce_thread_call_stack_list = 32775
ce_memory_virtual_list = 32776
ce_memory_physical_list = 32777
ce_bucket_parameters = 32778
ce_process_module_map = 32779
ce_diagnosis_list = 32780
md_crashpad_info_stream = 1129316353
md_raw_breakpad_info = 1197932545
md_raw_assertion_info = 1197932546
md_linux_cpu_info = 1197932547
md_linux_proc_status = 1197932548
md_linux_lsb_release = 1197932549
md_linux_cmd_line = 1197932550
md_linux_environ = 1197932551
md_linux_auxv = 1197932552
md_linux_maps = 1197932553
md_linux_dso_debug = 1197932554
def __init__(self, _io, _parent=None, _root=None):
self._io = _io
self._parent = _parent
self._root = _root if _root else self
self._read()
def _read(self):
self.magic1 = self._io.read_bytes(4)
if not self.magic1 == b"\x4D\x44\x4D\x50":
raise kaitaistruct.ValidationNotEqualError(b"\x4D\x44\x4D\x50", self.magic1, self._io, u"/seq/0")
self.magic2 = self._io.read_bytes(2)
if not self.magic2 == b"\x93\xA7":
raise kaitaistruct.ValidationNotEqualError(b"\x93\xA7", self.magic2, self._io, u"/seq/1")
self.version = self._io.read_u2le()
self.num_streams = self._io.read_u4le()
self.ofs_streams = self._io.read_u4le()
self.checksum = self._io.read_u4le()
self.timestamp = self._io.read_u4le()
self.flags = self._io.read_u8le()
class ThreadList(KaitaiStruct):
"""
.. seealso::
Source - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/minidumpapiset/ns-minidumpapiset-minidump_thread_list
"""
def __init__(self, _io, _parent=None, _root=None):
self._io = _io
self._parent = _parent
self._root = _root if _root else self
self._read()
def _read(self):
self.num_threads = self._io.read_u4le()
self.threads = []
for i in range(self.num_threads):
self.threads.append(WindowsMinidump.Thread(self._io, self, self._root))
class LocationDescriptor(KaitaiStruct):
"""
.. seealso::
Source - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/minidumpapiset/ns-minidumpapiset-minidump_location_descriptor
"""
def __init__(self, _io, _parent=None, _root=None):
self._io = _io
self._parent = _parent
self._root = _root if _root else self
self._read()
def _read(self):
self.len_data = self._io.read_u4le()
self.ofs_data = self._io.read_u4le()
@property
def data(self):
if hasattr(self, '_m_data'):
return self._m_data
io = self._root._io
_pos = io.pos()
io.seek(self.ofs_data)
self._m_data = io.read_bytes(self.len_data)
io.seek(_pos)
return getattr(self, '_m_data', None)
class MinidumpString(KaitaiStruct):
"""Specific string serialization scheme used in MiniDump format is
actually a simple 32-bit length-prefixed UTF-16 string.
.. seealso::
Source - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/minidumpapiset/ns-minidumpapiset-minidump_string
"""
def __init__(self, _io, _parent=None, _root=None):
self._io = _io
self._parent = _parent
self._root = _root if _root else self
self._read()
def _read(self):
self.len_str = self._io.read_u4le()
self.str = (self._io.read_bytes(self.len_str)).decode(u"UTF-16LE")
class SystemInfo(KaitaiStruct):
""""System info" stream provides basic information about the
hardware and operating system which produces this dump.
.. seealso::
Source - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/minidumpapiset/ns-minidumpapiset-minidump_system_info
"""
class CpuArchs(Enum):
intel = 0
arm = 5
ia64 = 6
amd64 = 9
unknown = 65535
def __init__(self, _io, _parent=None, _root=None):
self._io = _io
self._parent = _parent
self._root = _root if _root else self
self._read()
def _read(self):
self.cpu_arch = KaitaiStream.resolve_enum(WindowsMinidump.SystemInfo.CpuArchs, self._io.read_u2le())
self.cpu_level = self._io.read_u2le()
self.cpu_revision = self._io.read_u2le()
self.num_cpus = self._io.read_u1()
self.os_type = self._io.read_u1()
self.os_ver_major = self._io.read_u4le()
self.os_ver_minor = self._io.read_u4le()
self.os_build = self._io.read_u4le()
self.os_platform = self._io.read_u4le()
self.ofs_service_pack = self._io.read_u4le()
self.os_suite_mask = self._io.read_u2le()
self.reserved2 = self._io.read_u2le()
@property
def service_pack(self):
if hasattr(self, '_m_service_pack'):
return self._m_service_pack
if self.ofs_service_pack > 0:
io = self._root._io
_pos = io.pos()
io.seek(self.ofs_service_pack)
self._m_service_pack = WindowsMinidump.MinidumpString(io, self, self._root)
io.seek(_pos)
return getattr(self, '_m_service_pack', None)
class ExceptionRecord(KaitaiStruct):
"""
.. seealso::
Source - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/minidumpapiset/ns-minidumpapiset-minidump_exception
"""
def __init__(self, _io, _parent=None, _root=None):
self._io = _io
self._parent = _parent
self._root = _root if _root else self
self._read()
def _read(self):
self.code = self._io.read_u4le()
self.flags = self._io.read_u4le()
self.inner_exception = self._io.read_u8le()
self.addr = self._io.read_u8le()
self.num_params = self._io.read_u4le()
self.reserved = self._io.read_u4le()
self.params = []
for i in range(15):
self.params.append(self._io.read_u8le())
class MiscInfo(KaitaiStruct):
"""
.. seealso::
Source - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/minidumpapiset/ns-minidumpapiset-minidump_misc_info
"""
def __init__(self, _io, _parent=None, _root=None):
self._io = _io
self._parent = _parent
self._root = _root if _root else self
self._read()
def _read(self):
self.len_info = self._io.read_u4le()
self.flags1 = self._io.read_u4le()
self.process_id = self._io.read_u4le()
self.process_create_time = self._io.read_u4le()
self.process_user_time = self._io.read_u4le()
self.process_kernel_time = self._io.read_u4le()
self.cpu_max_mhz = self._io.read_u4le()
self.cpu_cur_mhz = self._io.read_u4le()
self.cpu_limit_mhz = self._io.read_u4le()
self.cpu_max_idle_state = self._io.read_u4le()
self.cpu_cur_idle_state = self._io.read_u4le()
class Dir(KaitaiStruct):
"""
.. seealso::
Source - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/minidumpapiset/ns-minidumpapiset-minidump_directory
"""
def __init__(self, _io, _parent=None, _root=None):
self._io = _io
self._parent = _parent
self._root = _root if _root else self
self._read()
def _read(self):
self.stream_type = KaitaiStream.resolve_enum(WindowsMinidump.StreamTypes, self._io.read_u4le())
self.len_data = self._io.read_u4le()
self.ofs_data = self._io.read_u4le()
@property
def data(self):
if hasattr(self, '_m_data'):
return self._m_data
_pos = self._io.pos()
self._io.seek(self.ofs_data)
_on = self.stream_type
if _on == WindowsMinidump.StreamTypes.memory_list:
self._raw__m_data = self._io.read_bytes(self.len_data)
_io__raw__m_data = KaitaiStream(BytesIO(self._raw__m_data))
self._m_data = WindowsMinidump.MemoryList(_io__raw__m_data, self, self._root)
elif _on == WindowsMinidump.StreamTypes.misc_info:
self._raw__m_data = self._io.read_bytes(self.len_data)
_io__raw__m_data = KaitaiStream(BytesIO(self._raw__m_data))
self._m_data = WindowsMinidump.MiscInfo(_io__raw__m_data, self, self._root)
elif _on == WindowsMinidump.StreamTypes.thread_list:
self._raw__m_data = self._io.read_bytes(self.len_data)
_io__raw__m_data = KaitaiStream(BytesIO(self._raw__m_data))
self._m_data = WindowsMinidump.ThreadList(_io__raw__m_data, self, self._root)
elif _on == WindowsMinidump.StreamTypes.exception:
self._raw__m_data = self._io.read_bytes(self.len_data)
_io__raw__m_data = KaitaiStream(BytesIO(self._raw__m_data))
self._m_data = WindowsMinidump.ExceptionStream(_io__raw__m_data, self, self._root)
elif _on == WindowsMinidump.StreamTypes.system_info:
self._raw__m_data = self._io.read_bytes(self.len_data)
_io__raw__m_data = KaitaiStream(BytesIO(self._raw__m_data))
self._m_data = WindowsMinidump.SystemInfo(_io__raw__m_data, self, self._root)
else:
self._m_data = self._io.read_bytes(self.len_data)
self._io.seek(_pos)
return getattr(self, '_m_data', None)
class Thread(KaitaiStruct):
"""
.. seealso::
Source - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/minidumpapiset/ns-minidumpapiset-minidump_thread
"""
def __init__(self, _io, _parent=None, _root=None):
self._io = _io
self._parent = _parent
self._root = _root if _root else self
self._read()
def _read(self):
self.thread_id = self._io.read_u4le()
self.suspend_count = self._io.read_u4le()
self.priority_class = self._io.read_u4le()
self.priority = self._io.read_u4le()
self.teb = self._io.read_u8le()
self.stack = WindowsMinidump.MemoryDescriptor(self._io, self, self._root)
self.thread_context = WindowsMinidump.LocationDescriptor(self._io, self, self._root)
class MemoryList(KaitaiStruct):
"""
.. seealso::
Source - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/minidumpapiset/ns-minidumpapiset-minidump_memory64_list
"""
def __init__(self, _io, _parent=None, _root=None):
self._io = _io
self._parent = _parent
self._root = _root if _root else self
self._read()
def _read(self):
self.num_mem_ranges = self._io.read_u4le()
self.mem_ranges = []
for i in range(self.num_mem_ranges):
self.mem_ranges.append(WindowsMinidump.MemoryDescriptor(self._io, self, self._root))
class MemoryDescriptor(KaitaiStruct):
"""
.. seealso::
Source - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/minidumpapiset/ns-minidumpapiset-minidump_memory_descriptor
"""
def __init__(self, _io, _parent=None, _root=None):
self._io = _io
self._parent = _parent
self._root = _root if _root else self
self._read()
def _read(self):
self.addr_memory_range = self._io.read_u8le()
self.memory = WindowsMinidump.LocationDescriptor(self._io, self, self._root)
class ExceptionStream(KaitaiStruct):
"""
.. seealso::
Source - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/minidumpapiset/ns-minidumpapiset-minidump_exception_stream
"""
def __init__(self, _io, _parent=None, _root=None):
self._io = _io
self._parent = _parent
self._root = _root if _root else self
self._read()
def _read(self):
self.thread_id = self._io.read_u4le()
self.reserved = self._io.read_u4le()
self.exception_rec = WindowsMinidump.ExceptionRecord(self._io, self, self._root)
self.thread_context = WindowsMinidump.LocationDescriptor(self._io, self, self._root)
@property
def streams(self):
if hasattr(self, '_m_streams'):
return self._m_streams
_pos = self._io.pos()
self._io.seek(self.ofs_streams)
self._m_streams = []
for i in range(self.num_streams):
self._m_streams.append(WindowsMinidump.Dir(self._io, self, self._root))
self._io.seek(_pos)
return getattr(self, '_m_streams', None)