Suspicious Data Export From MSSQL Table Through BCP.EXE (via process_creation)

title: Suspicious Data Export From MSSQL Table Through BCP.EXE (via process_creation)
id: 9c5465e4-a1ac-5abc-8686-fbb66d02903d
status: stable
description: This rule detects the execution of the BCP utility to export data from the database. Attackers were seen saving their malware to a database column or table and then later extracting it via "bcp.exe" into a file.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1048/
    - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/tools/bcp-utility
    - https://asec.ahnlab.com/en/61000/
    - https://asec.ahnlab.com/en/78944/
    - https://www.huntress.com/blog/attacking-mssql-servers
    - https://www.huntress.com/blog/attacking-mssql-servers-pt-ii
    - https://news.sophos.com/en-us/2024/08/07/sophos-mdr-hunt-tracks-mimic-ransomware-campaign-against-organizations-in-india/
    - https://research.nccgroup.com/2018/03/10/apt15-is-alive-and-strong-an-analysis-of-royalcli-and-royaldns/
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-02-12
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.t1048
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\bcp.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'BCP.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ' out '
            - ' queryout '
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium