Suspicious Windows Defender Exclusion Added via PowerShell (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 via Add-MpPreference. The SonicCrypt crypter behind TA585 MonsterV2 deliveries added its payload to Defender exclusions to evade scanning.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1685 — drag to rearrange

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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)

Suspicious Windows Defender Exclusion Added via PowerShell (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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