Windows Defender Exclusion Path Added via Add-MpPreference

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 Windows Defender exclusion path with Add-MpPreference, a defense-evasion step that lets subsequent payloads run without antivirus inspection. Huntress observed this during ScreenConnect post-exploitation to shield dropped tooling. Attacker use typically excludes staging directories immediately before payload delivery.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1685 — drag to rearrange

Malicious ELAM Driver Disable via Bcdedit

Suspicious Windows Defender Exclusion Added via PowerShell Add-MpPreference

Suspicious Security Product Process Termination via Named Utility

Suspicious Windows Defender Disabling via SystemSettingsAdminFlows

Suspicious Hosts File Modification to Block Security Vendors via file_event

Malicious Windows Defender Real-Time Protection Disabled via Registry

Malicious Vulnerable Driver Load via TfSysMon.sys BYOVD (via driver_load)

Suspicious Defendnot Antivirus Disabling Component Dropped in ProgramData (via file_event)

Malicious Removal of Defender Safe Mode Service Registration via Process Creation

Windows Defender Exclusion Path Added via Add-MpPreference

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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