Malicious Windows Defender Exclusion Added via Command Line

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 the creation of Windows Defender scan exclusions through PowerShell MpPreference cmdlets. DarkGate and related crimeware loaders add exclusion paths for their staging directories so subsequently dropped payloads are not scanned, weakening endpoint defenses before further execution.

Reporting behind it

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Malicious Windows Defender Exclusion Added via Command Line

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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