Windows Defender Exclusions Added via PowerShell

Identifies modifications to the Windows Defender configuration settings using PowerShell to add exclusions at the folder directory or process level.

Rule type: eql

Rule indices:

• winlogbeat-*
• logs-endpoint.events.*
• logs-windows.*

Severity: medium

Risk score: 47

Runs every: 5m

Searches indices from: now-9m (https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/common-options.html#date-math[Date Math format], see also Additional look-back time)

Maximum alerts per execution: 100

References:

• https://www.bitdefender.com/files/News/CaseStudies/study/400/Bitdefender-PR-Whitepaper-MosaicLoader-creat5540-en-EN.pdf

Tags:

• Elastic
• Host
• Windows
• Threat Detection
• Defense Evasion

Version: 1

Rule authors:

• Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

Detections should be investigated to identify if the activity corresponds to legitimate activity used to put in exceptions for Windows Defender. As this rule detects post-exploitation process activity, investigations into this should be prioritized

process where event.type == "start" and
 (process.name : ("powershell.exe", "pwsh.exe") or process.pe.original_file_name : ("powershell.exe", "pwsh.exe")) and
  process.args : ("*Add-MpPreference*-Exclusion*", "*Set-MpPreference*-Exclusion*")

Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM

• Tactic:

  • Name: Defense Evasion
  • ID: TA0005
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/

• Technique:

  • Name: Impair Defenses
  • ID: T1562
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1562/

• Sub-technique:

  • Name: Indicator Blocking
  • ID: T1562.006
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1562/006/

• Sub-technique:

  • Name: Disable or Modify Tools
  • ID: T1562.001
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1562/001/

• Tactic:

  • Name: Execution
  • ID: TA0002
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/

• Technique:

  • Name: Command and Scripting Interpreter
  • ID: T1059
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/

• Sub-technique:

  • Name: PowerShell
  • ID: T1059.001
  • Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001/