Suspicious Defender Exclusion Added via Add-MpPreference (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 PowerShell adding a Microsoft Defender exclusion path via Add-MpPreference. AresLoader excludes a broad path such as the C drive root so its downloaded payload runs without antivirus scanning. Programmatic creation of Defender exclusions is a common impair-defenses step that precedes payload deployment.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1685 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious Windows Defender Service Disabled via Registry (via registry_set)

Suspicious Windows Defender or Firewall Service Disabled via Registry

Malicious Windows Defender Service Disable via Registry

Suspicious Defender Exclusion Added via Add-MpPreference (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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