Metadata is data that describes other data, such as its format, origin, creation date, author, and other attributes. Video files, like other types of files, can contain metadata that can provide useful information for forensic analysis. For example, metadata can reveal the camera model, location, date and time, and software used to create or edit the video file. To query the file’s metadata, a security analyst can use various tools, such as MediaInfo1, ffprobe2, or hexdump3, to extract and display the metadata from the video file. By querying the file’s metadata, the security analyst can most likely identify both the creation date and the file’s creator, as well as other relevant information. Obtaining the file’s SHA-256 hash, checking endpoint logs, or using hexdump on the file’s contents are other possible actions, but they are not the most appropriate to answer the question. The file’s SHA-256 hash is a cryptographic value that can be used to verify the integrity or uniqueness of the file, but it does not reveal any information about the file’s creation date or creator. Checking endpoint logs can provide some clues about the file’s origin or activity, but it may not be reliable or accurate, especially if the logs are tampered with or incomplete. Using hexdump on the file’s contents can show the raw binary data of the file, but it may not be easy or feasible to interpret the metadata from the hex output, especially if the file is large or encrypted. References: 1: How do I get the meta-data of a video file? 2: How to check if an mp4 file contains malware? 3: [Hexdump - Wikipedia]