huntrule

Windows Registry Defender Exclusions Path Set (Microsoft\Windows Defender\Exclusions)

Identifies registry updates that reference the Windows Defender Exclusions path, indicating potential defense impairment.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v1
Product
windows
Category
registry_set
Author
Christian Burkard (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2021-07-06
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule flags registry activity where the target value contains the Windows Defender Exclusions path. Adding exclusions can help an attacker avoid scanning for selected files, processes, or locations, enabling defense impairment. The detection relies on registry_set telemetry and matches the target object string for the Defender Exclusions key path. Common false positives include legitimate administrator configuration changes.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1685 — drag to rearrange
Malicious Microsoft Defender Tampering via PowerShell Preference Cmdlets
Suspicious Windows Defender Exclusion via Add-MpPreference (via process_creation)
Malicious Windows Defender Service Tampering via PowerShell (via process_creation)
Windows Defender Disabled via DisableAntiSpyware Registry Key
Suspicious Vulnerable Intel Ethernet Driver Load for BYOVD via SCATTERED SPIDER (via driver_load)
Malicious Defender Disable And Executable Exclusion Via Registry
Malicious UAC Disable via EnableLUA Registry Modification (via registry_set)
Malicious AMSI and ETW Patching via PowerShell Script
Malicious PowMix AMSI Bypass via amsiInitFailed
Windows Registry Defender Exclusions Path Set (Microsoft\Windows Defender\Exclusions)
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.