parse_smsdb

Extracts iMessage, RCS, SMS/MMS chat history from iOS database file.

Description

This tool parses sms.db originated from iOS devices and outputs a CSV (common-separated value) table with annotations useful for forensic examination.

Features:

• Highlight row gaps (indicative of deletions)
• Annotate unsent messages
• Flattens edited message data on to root table for easy review
• Output message read time and annotate unread messages (for services supporting read receipts)
• Generate HTML or CSV output file

Getting Started

Prerequisites

Windows

• nil

macOS / Linux

• Python 3.10+

Installation

Windows

1. Download https://github.com/h4x0r/parse_sms.db/releases/download/v0.1.8/parse_smsdb-win-x64-0.1.8.zip
2. Extract parse_smsdb.exe from the downloaded zip file and put it in C:\Windows\system32

macOS / Linux

1. Install from PyPI

pip install parse_smsdb

Usage

• Parse sms.db within a .zip archive, e.g.

parse_smsdb 'IACIS Certified Mobile Device Examiner (ICMDE)/03 iOS/iOS Files/Evidence/506 - Editing SMS iOS 16.zip'

• Parse sms.db, e.g.

parse_smsdb 'private/var/mobile/Library/SMS/sms.db'

• Generate HTML File, e.g. (By default will generate CSV file)

parse_smsdb sms.db -o file.html

Version History

• 0.1.8
  • Initial beta release

Contact

Albert Hui | albert@securityronin.com | @4n6h4x0r.bsky.social

Project Link: https://github.com/h4x0r/parse_sms.db

Acknowledgments

• IACIS MDF Training Course and Jung Son's teaching
• Magnet Forensic's blog posts: The Meaning of Messages, and A look into iOS 18's changes
• Chirag Mehta for output to file and HTML output format