> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/analytics-alerts/alerts-by-name/uncommon-creation-or-access-operation-of-sensitive-shadow-copy.md).

# Uncommon creation or access operation of sensitive shadow copy

### Synopsis

| Field                | Value                                        |
| -------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| Activation Period    | 14 Days                                      |
| Training Period      | 30 Days                                      |
| Test Period          | N/A (single event)                           |
| Deduplication Period | 1 Day                                        |
| Required Data        | XDR Agent with eXtended Threat Hunting (XTH) |
| ATT\&CK Tactic       | Credential Access (TA0006)                   |
| ATT\&CK Technique    | OS Credential Dumping (T1003)                |
| Severity             | Low                                          |

### Description

An uncommon creation or access of a sensitive Shadow Copy volume path.

### Attacker's Goals

Attackers may try to copy sensitive data or dump OS credentials from the host file system by using Shadow Copy volume utilities.

### Investigative actions

* Verify if the shadow copy operation is part of an IT activity.
* Look for other hosts performing the same shadow copy event with similar causality process behavior.\* Inspect the causality process and its characteristics as they appear on other hosts.

### Variations

<details>

<summary>Uncommon creation or access operation of sensitive shadow copy by a remote actor</summary>

**Synopsis**

| Field             | Value                         |
| ----------------- | ----------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic    | Credential Access (TA0006)    |
| ATT\&CK Technique | OS Credential Dumping (T1003) |
| Severity          | Low                           |

**Description**

An uncommon creation or access of a sensitive Shadow Copy volume path.

**Attacker's Goals**

Attackers may try to copy sensitive data or dump OS credentials from the host file system by using Shadow Copy volume utilities.

**Investigative actions**

* Verify if the shadow copy operation is part of an IT activity.
* Look for other hosts performing the same shadow copy event with similar causality process behavior.\* Inspect the causality process and its characteristics as they appear on other hosts.
* Investigate the remote machine, search for the stolen shadow copies and for any infection that may initiated the activity.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Uncommon creation or access operation of sensitive shadow copy by a high-risk process</summary>

**Synopsis**

| Field             | Value                         |
| ----------------- | ----------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic    | Credential Access (TA0006)    |
| ATT\&CK Technique | OS Credential Dumping (T1003) |
| Severity          | High                          |

**Description**

An uncommon creation or access of a sensitive Shadow Copy volume path by a high-risk process.

**Attacker's Goals**

Attackers may try to copy sensitive data or dump OS credentials from the host file system by using Shadow Copy volume utilities.

**Investigative actions**

* Verify if the shadow copy operation is part of an IT activity.
* Look for other hosts performing the same shadow copy event with similar causality process behavior.\* Inspect the causality process and its characteristics as they appear on other hosts.

</details>


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/analytics-alerts/alerts-by-name/uncommon-creation-or-access-operation-of-sensitive-shadow-copy.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.