How VirtualBox handle EFS files

Discussions about using Windows guests in VirtualBox.
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Pipppero2007
Posts: 17
Joined: 15. Mar 2014, 14:57

How VirtualBox handle EFS files

Post by Pipppero2007 »

Hi all,
I am totally surpriced!
In my host (win7) I have many EFS files. I move them (with the shared folder) to the guest (win 7)... and I was totally surpriced that the guest read them as they are!
The EFS attribute is still there, the file is blue!
At begin, I thought the EFS attribute was removed by moved it to the shared folder... but no, it's still there!!!
Since EFS is based on the certificate and the Windows Profile, so, how that is possible?
The host and the guest are two totally different S.O. (even they are Win 7 both)!!!
socratis
Site Moderator
Posts: 27329
Joined: 22. Oct 2010, 11:03
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Win(*>98), Linux*, OSX>10.5
Location: Greece

Re: How VirtualBox handle EFS files

Post by socratis »

VirtualBox shared folders present a very simplified file system implementation, just enough to read/write files from/to the guest. Many applications do not work properly when using shared folders, because they expect advanced features, like file locking or access controls, which don't exist for shared folders. As for the blueness of the file, maybe you need to refresh your Explorer?

Bottom line is that if you want to honor Windows specific features, use Windows specific filesharing.
Do NOT send me Personal Messages (PMs) for troubleshooting, they are simply deleted.
Do NOT reply with the "QUOTE" button, please use the "POST REPLY", at the bottom of the form.
If you obfuscate any information requested, I will obfuscate my response. These are virtual UUIDs, not real ones.
Pipppero2007
Posts: 17
Joined: 15. Mar 2014, 14:57

Re: How VirtualBox handle EFS files

Post by Pipppero2007 »

Hi,
nope, the GUEST reads the EFS files exactly chipred just like they in the HOST.
It's something I cannot understand, tecnically impossibile, since the EFS files crypted in the HOST are encrypted by the USER-PASSWORD-CERTIFICATE of the HOST and the GUEST should not recognize them!
But, the GUEST read them with the EFS attribute, perfectly... I don't understand!
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39134
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: How VirtualBox handle EFS files

Post by mpack »

Since Windows is involved at both ends, I suggest that you ask this question on a Microsoft forum.

VirtualBox works at a hardware level (sectors or packets), where higher level file permissions and encyryption issues are not relevant.
Martin
Volunteer
Posts: 2562
Joined: 30. May 2007, 18:05
Primary OS: Fedora other
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: XP, Win7, Win10, Linux, OS/2

Re: How VirtualBox handle EFS files

Post by Martin »

It's not the guest who is reading the files, it the Virtualbox process started by the user with the rights of this user. Therefore it has access to the files.
Pipppero2007
Posts: 17
Joined: 15. Mar 2014, 14:57

Re: How VirtualBox handle EFS files

Post by Pipppero2007 »

Martin wrote:It's not the guest who is reading the files, it the Virtualbox process started by the user with the rights of this user. Therefore it has access to the files.
Maybe I understood.
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