← Back to Microsoft Defender Antivirus Security Technical Implementation Guide

V-278655

CAT II (Medium)

Microsoft Defender AV must block abuse of exploited vulnerable signed drivers.

Rule ID

SV-278655r1190742_rule

STIG

Microsoft Defender Antivirus Security Technical Implementation Guide

Version

V2R8

CCIs

CCI-001170

Discussion

This policy setting prevents an application from writing a vulnerable signed driver to disk. Vulnerable signed drivers can be exploited by local applications that have sufficient privileges to gain access to the kernel. Vulnerable signed drivers enable attackers to disable or circumvent security solutions, eventually leading to system compromise. The Block abuse of exploited vulnerable signed drivers rule does not block a driver already existing on the system from being loaded.

Check Content

Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Microsoft Defender Exploit Guard >> Attack Surface Reduction >> Configure Attack Surface Reduction rules is set to "Enabled".

Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: 
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\ASR\Rules

Criteria: If the value "56a863a9-875e-4185-98a7-b882c64b5ce5" is REG_SZ = 1, this is not a finding.

If the value is other than 1, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Microsoft Defender Exploit Guard >> Attack Surface Reduction >> Configure Attack Surface Reduction rules to "Enabled".

Under the policy option "Set the state for each ASR rule:", then click "Show".

Enter GUID "56a863a9-875e-4185-98a7-b882c64b5ce5" in the "Value Name" column.

Enter "1" in the "Value" column.