Malicious Windows Defender Disable via Set-MpPreference

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 Set-MpPreference being invoked to disable Microsoft Defender protection features which the Dark Pink APT uses to blind endpoint defenses before deploying its tooling. Turning off real time monitoring and scanning lets subsequent payloads run unimpeded. It is important because tampering with Defender is an early and deliberate defense evasion step.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1685 — drag to rearrange

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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 Windows Defender Disable via Set-MpPreference

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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