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Overview

The Windows Sticky Notes application stores user notes locally in a database file. Users frequently save credentials, VPN keys, server IPs, and internal information in their notes. This makes it a valuable post-exploitation and privilege escalation enumeration target.

File Locations

Windows 10 (1607+) & Windows 11

Main database:

Windows 10 (1507 / 1511), Windows 8, Windows 7

Main file:

Why This Matters

Users commonly store:
  • Domain credentials
  • RDP passwords
  • VPN credentials
  • Database credentials
  • API keys
  • Internal URLs
  • Administrator notes
This often leads directly to privilege escalation or lateral movement.

Quick Loot

Find all Sticky Notes files


From a low-privilege shell


Extract Data: Windows 10/11 (SQLite)

Copy file

Or exfiltrate:

Read locally (attacker machine)


Quick dump


Extract Data: Windows 7 / 8 / Early 10 (SNT)

The .snt file is an OLE structured storage file.

Convert using strings

Credentials often appear in plaintext.

Using oledump


PowerShell Live Dump (no file copy)


Post-Exploitation Use

After obtaining credentials:

Test local admin reuse

RunAs

SMB Exec / WinRM


Typical Findings

Examples commonly discovered in engagements: