Suspicious Change of Windows Defender Exclusion List (via security)

title: Suspicious Change of Windows Defender Exclusion List (via security)
id: 1e048952-73e8-5558-ad66-1bb94b93db8b
status: stable
description: This rule detects modifications to the Windows Defender exclusion registry key. This could indicate a potentially anomalous or even hostile behavior by an adversary trying to add a new exclusion to bypass security.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1685/
    - https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/gootkit-malware-bypasses-windows-defender-by-setting-path-exclusions/
author: 'Huntrule Team'
date: 2026-03-13
tags:
    - attack.defense-impairment
    - attack.t1685
logsource:
    product: windows
    service: security
    definition: 'Requirements: Audit Policy : Security Settings/Local Policies/Audit Policy, Registry System Access Control (SACL): Auditing/User'
detection:
    selection:
        EventID: 4657
        ObjectName|contains: '\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Exclusions\'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium