Windows Process Creation: Remove-MpPreference Used to Tamper Windows Defender Settings

Flags process executions that call Remove-MpPreference with Defender tampering-related parameters.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1

Product: windows
Category: process_creation
Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-08-05
Updated: 2026-07-30

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 identifies PowerShell or scripting activity that invokes the Remove-MpPreference cmdlet and includes parameters consistent with modifying or disabling Windows Defender protections. Attackers can use this behavior to reduce endpoint security coverage and facilitate follow-on malicious activity. The detection relies on process creation telemetry, specifically CommandLine contents that include Remove-MpPreference and the relevant Defender configuration flags.

Reporting behind it

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Windows Process Creation: Remove-MpPreference Used to Tamper Windows Defender Settings

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.

windows-process-creation-remove-mppreference-used-to-tamper-windows-defender-set-07e3cb2c

title: "Windows Process Creation: Remove-MpPreference Used to Tamper Windows Defender Settings"
id: 36ce3062-6468-4eac-996a-01e901cd321c
related:
  - id: ae2bdd58-0681-48ac-be7f-58ab4e593458
    type: similar
  - id: 07e3cb2c-0608-410d-be4b-1511cb1a0448
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule identifies PowerShell or scripting activity that invokes the Remove-MpPreference cmdlet and includes parameters consistent with modifying or disabling Windows Defender protections. Attackers can use this behavior to reduce endpoint security coverage and facilitate follow-on malicious activity. The detection relies on process creation telemetry, specifically CommandLine contents that include Remove-MpPreference and the relevant Defender configuration flags.
references:
  - https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/core-infrastructure-and-security/windows-10-controlled-folder-access-event-search/ba-p/2326088
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_powershell_remove_mppreference.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-08-05
tags:
  - attack.defense-impairment
  - attack.t1685
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: process_creation
detection:
  selection_remove:
    CommandLine|contains: Remove-MpPreference
  selection_tamper:
    CommandLine|contains:
      - "-ControlledFolderAccessProtectedFolders "
      - "-AttackSurfaceReductionRules_Ids "
      - "-AttackSurfaceReductionRules_Actions "
      - "-CheckForSignaturesBeforeRunningScan "
  condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate PowerShell scripts
level: high
license: DRL-1.1

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