Suspicious Windows Defender Exclusions Added - PowerShell (via ps_script)

title: Suspicious Windows Defender Exclusions Added - PowerShell (via ps_script)
id: 8e2093e8-3208-5e7b-8c83-37de72c5d8b8
status: stable
description: This rule detects modifications to the Windows Defender configuration settings using PowerShell to add exclusions
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1685/
    - https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/security/current/windows-defender-exclusions-added-via-powershell.html
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-06-16
tags:
    - attack.defense-impairment
    - attack.t1685
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1059
logsource:
    category: ps_script
    product: windows
    definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
detection:
    selection_args_exc:
        ScriptBlockText|contains:
            - ' -ExclusionPath '
            - ' -ExclusionExtension '
            - ' -ExclusionProcess '
            - ' -ExclusionIpAddress '
    selection_args_pref:
        ScriptBlockText|contains:
            - 'Add-MpPreference '
            - 'Set-MpPreference '
    condition: all of selection*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium