Windows Registry: Disable Windows Defender Exploit Guard Network Protection via Policy Override

Alerts on registry policy changes that override Exploit Guard Network Protection settings for Windows Defender.

FreeUnreviewedSigmamediumv1

windows-registry-disable-windows-defender-exploit-guard-network-protection-via-p-bf9e1387

title: "Windows Registry: Disable Windows Defender Exploit Guard Network Protection via Policy Override"
id: 5580b8f3-ae6a-44e7-809c-b5e130e9fbc7
status: test
description: This rule flags registry policy settings that set DisallowExploitProtectionOverride to 0x00000001 under the Windows Defender Security Center App and Browser protection key. Disabling or overriding Exploit Guard Network Protection can reduce host defenses and enable exploitation or malicious network activity. The detection relies on registry modification telemetry indicating the target key path and the specific DWORD value.
references:
  - https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/105533-enable-disable-windows-defender-exploit-protection-settings.html
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/registry/registry_set/registry_set_disabled_exploit_guard_net_protection_on_ms_defender.yml
author: Austin Songer @austinsonger, Huntrule Team
date: 2021-08-04
modified: 2023-08-17
tags:
  - attack.defense-impairment
  - attack.t1685
logsource:
  category: registry_set
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    TargetObject|contains: SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender Security Center\App and Browser protection\DisallowExploitProtectionOverride
    Details: DWORD (00000001)
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: bf9e1387-b040-4393-9851-1598f8ecfae9
    type: derived

What it detects

This rule flags registry policy settings that set DisallowExploitProtectionOverride to 0x00000001 under the Windows Defender Security Center App and Browser protection key. Disabling or overriding Exploit Guard Network Protection can reduce host defenses and enable exploitation or malicious network activity. The detection relies on registry modification telemetry indicating the target key path and the specific DWORD value.

Known false positives

Unknown

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.