CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#databasesqlitedll
meiryo
meiryo

Reputation: 11687

Dumping an SQLite database stored as dll file?

A little background first: I need to extract a database from an SQLite dll file for my client who has burned bridges with the previous dev.

I have these 4 files sitting on my desktop:

I am also given the password for the SQLite DB which Payroll.exe uses to interact with the database. With this is it possible for me to dump an SQL file (so I can work with something familiar)?

Major problem is that I have no experience with C#, .NET stuff and DLL files (I know it stands for Dynamic Link Library!)

I'm willing to dabble and learn some C# to do this.

As suggested, I decompiled the source and found some interesting code:

namespace Payroll
{
  internal class Payroll_Database
  {
    private static string ConnectionStr = "Data Source=.\\System.Data.SQLite.Linq.dll; Password=******!";
    private static SQLiteConnection Connection = new SQLiteConnection();

It seems certain that System.Data.SQLite.Linq.dll is the database file. I have trouble opening it with tools such as SQLite Browser. I have tried renaming it to a .db, but again no dice.

Upvotes: 2

Views: 3252

Answers (1)

Ergwun
Ergwun

Reputation: 12978

Your database won't be in the dll and exe files you list. It should be in a separate file, possibly with an extension like .sqlite, .sqlite3, .sdb3 .db or .db3 (but this is not mandated).

If you can locate the db file, you can open it with any sqlite client (e.g. you can use the firefox sqlite-manager plugin), and extract the data as required.

You could probably find the database filename from the Payroll.exe source code, which you can read by opening Payroll.exe in ILSpy.

If you cannot locate the db file, you will be unable to retrieve the data. In which case, the best you can achieve with the files you list would be to determine the database schema by reading the payroll application's source code.

Update:

Now you've found the connection string, it looks possible that the database could indeed be the System.Data.SQLite.Linq.dll file, and the developer has given it a name to match a known .NET assembly as some kind of security through obscurity.

If that is indeed the db file you should be able to open it directly in a SQLite client application like the firefox sqlite-manager plugin I mentioned above. If you can't open it in a SQLite client application, then you can to check to see if it is a .NET assembly after all by opening it with ILSpy or Microsoft's MSIL disassmebler.

Update 2:

According to this SO question, you should be able to open your encrypted db file with the free SQLite2009 Pro Enterprise Manager.

Upvotes: 1

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