Chainsaw
Chainsaw quickly searches and hunts through Windows event logs using Sigma rules and built-in detection logic.
Legal & ethical use. Use this tool only on systems, networks and data that you own or have explicit written permission to test. Unauthorised access or scanning can break computer-misuse laws (for example Pakistan's Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016, and equivalents elsewhere). Practise in your own lab or in authorised environments such as CTFs.
What it is used for
- Triage exported Windows event logs after a suspected incident
- Apply Sigma rules to .evtx files
Key features
- Fast .evtx parsing
- Sigma rule support
- Built-in hunting rules
Installation
Download a release binary from the repository.
Beginner usage guide
Point it at a folder of .evtx exports with a Sigma rules directory and review the detections.
Example commands
Run these only against your own lab or authorised targets. Placeholder addresses such as 192.0.2.x are documentation ranges.
Hunt with Sigma rules
chainsaw hunt ./evtx -s ./sigma --mapping mappings/sigma-event-logs-all.ymlRuns Sigma rules against the logs; see the README for the current mapping file name.
Keep learning
🚩 Practice challenge: Triage the Alert medium
References
Source verification
Last reviewed: 2026-10-27
Links checked over HTTP: 2026-10-27 07:51 UTC — official: 200, docs: 200, repo: 200
Commands were written from the official documentation and have not been executed on this site; test them in your lab.