Malicious Tampering With Windows Defender Protection (via process_creation)

ATT&CK techniques

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects command-line attempts to disable core Microsoft Defender protections, such as turning off real-time monitoring through Set-MpPreference or adding broad exclusions, or stopping and disabling the WinDefend service. Impairing endpoint defenses is a common defense-evasion step in the Red Canary Threat Detection Report, clearing the way for follow-on tooling to run undetected. Detecting these tamper commands surfaces the adversary weakening the host before further action.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1685 — drag to rearrange

Windows Defender Tampering via Set-MpPreference and Exclusions

Suspicious Windows Defender Real-Time Protection Disabled via Policy Registry by Cephalus Ransomware

Suspicious Microsoft Defender Path Exclusion of User Directories (via process_creation)

Malicious Windows Defender Tampering via Set-MpPreference (via process_creation)

Malicious Container Runtime Tampering via chmod on runc (via process_creation)

In-Memory AMSI or ETW Bypass in PowerShell (via process_creation)

Malicious Microsoft Defender Critical Security Components Disabled - Command (via process_creation)

Malicious Microsoft Defender Service Deactivation Attempt - Command (via process_creation)

Malicious Wdigest Authentication Enabled - Reg via Command (via process_creation)

Malicious Tampering With Windows Defender Protection (via process_creation)

Pivot detection · T1685 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

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