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V-278656

CAT II (Medium)

Microsoft Defender AV must configure local administrator merge behavior for lists.

Rule ID

SV-278656r1190744_rule

STIG

Microsoft Defender Antivirus Security Technical Implementation Guide

Version

V2R8

CCIs

CCI-001170

Discussion

This policy setting configures how locally defined lists are combined or merged with globally defined lists. This setting applies to exclusion lists, specified remediation lists, and attack surface reduction.

Check Content

Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Configure local administrator merge behavior for lists is set to "Enabled". Otherwise, this is a finding.

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

Criteria: If the value "DisableLocalAdminMerge" is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.

If the value is 0, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Configure local administrator merge behavior for lists to "Enabled".