xcopy.exe
Sources: 300M+ executions observed in the wild.
Summary
Windows Extended Copy utility - copies files and directory trees with more options than the basic copy command.
xcopy.exe is the 806th most commonly executed Windows program in EchoTrail's dataset, observed 3,846 times across enterprise environments. It typically runs from C:\Windows\System32 and it is most often launched by cmd.exe.
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Behavior
Top Paths
- C:\Windows\System3283.81%
- C:\Windows\SysWOW6416.19%
Top Hashes (SHA256)
- 269eb0728413654856f4b2ee1fa7838cd69672ebc11baed4caa63f58c2df582379.1%
- 822c4e9f406b7544ba68083b03c83e79a38d57848f5549a560c5205ed0f2cfab5.99%
- 090ed2bd2623f57047f80711ce4a8ec2329e5c4e22316f992663fafc17cf1f3f4.07%
- a09f04fc2c4208827f6b817b85e13d3844c76d4f9dda7a9e76030a0ccf6e594f3.1%
- 6bb3fbaa37e680269d90ab7448d8a2cb578510b6e179dff9d46f721deb06097d1.43%
- dc5484e676ff14937d004b8c1895f0c3ef8b4d8b28589de8b77aee1f518d9a211.38%
- 309bad3c84c4830b6c71f8212a0cb13a44cc119bb4ebec57dfba0625ccdaec260.89%
- ebf89c15d0ce966b3bd6aa726e7db80fc545bac521c3ab99ef1d5942ed02528c0.86%
- 6f5ff1af741bdcaf2caeef27a922480271211ce8081a2aa73d7cbd0de2fa2fb20.83%
- adb4a07a567002816658087b3e053e1a1b847be0216be0627f2302f55fe2c63f0.83%
Process Ancestry
Top Grandparents
- services.exe41.54%
- msiexec.exe22.81%
- explorer.exe16.47%
- cmd.exe2.11%
- mcupdatemgr.exe0.3%
- svchost.exe0.3%
Top Parents
- cmd.exe87.34%
- msiexec.exe7.17%
- javaw.exe2.81%
- powershell.exe1.9%
- McInst.exe0.05%
Top Children
- conhost.exe100%
Security Analysis
What does xcopy.exe normally do?
Used in batch scripts for file copy operations, backup scripts, and deployment workflows.
When is xcopy.exe suspicious?
Copying files to network shares or removable media. Copying sensitive directories (user profiles, email stores, database files). Large-volume copy operations on endpoints.
How do attackers abuse xcopy.exe?
Attackers use xcopy for data staging before exfiltration and for lateral file transfer via network shares. The /h flag copies hidden and system files. Can be used to copy SAM database files.
Detection guidance
Monitor xcopy destinations, especially network paths and removable drives. Alert on copying from sensitive directories.
False positive notes
Backup scripts, deployment tools, and migration utilities commonly use xcopy.
Related Processes
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