Ensure 'Configure Attack Surface Reduction rules: Set the state for each ASR rule' is set to 'e6db77e5-3df2-4cf1-b95a- 636979351e5b:1'

HighLevel 1Automateddefender

Description

This rule prevents malware from abusing WMI to attain persistence on a device. Rule ID and name: - e6db77e5-3df2-4cf1-b95a-636979351e5b (Block persistence through WMI event subscription) The recommended state for this setting is: e6db77e5-3df2-4cf1-b95a- 636979351e5b:1 (Block). Rationale: Attack surface reduction helps prevent actions and apps that are typically used by exploit-seeking malware to infect machines. Fileless threats employ various tactics to stay hidden, to avoid being seen in the file system, and to gain periodic execution control. Audit reads the Group Policy registry value and prints 'compliant', 'unset' (policy not configured, reported as FAIL) or the non-compliant value. Registry value: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\ASR\Rules:e6db77e5-3df2-4cf1-b95a-636979351e5b (REG_SZ); compliant when it is 1.

How it is checked

Audit method: Windows registry

registry

$v = (Get-ItemProperty -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\ASR\Rules' -Name 'e6db77e5-3df2-4cf1-b95a-636979351e5b' -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).'e6db77e5-3df2-4cf1-b95a-636979351e5b'; if ($null -eq $v) { 'unset' } elseif (($null -ne $v -and @('1') -contains "$v")) { 'compliant' } else { "non-compliant: $v" }

Expected output: compliant

How it is fixed

Fix method: Guidance or infrastructure patch

Configure through Group Policy: Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Microsoft Defender Antivirus\Microsoft Defender Exploit Guard\Attack Surface Reduction\Configure Attack Surface Reduction rules: Set the state for each ASR rule = e6db77e5-3df2-4cf1-b95a-636979351e5b with a value of 1. Test in audit mode (2) first. Local alternative (writes Defender preferences, not the Group Policy value this audit reads): Add-MpPreference -AttackSurfaceReductionRules_Ids e6db77e5-3df2-4cf1-b95a-636979351e5b -AttackSurfaceReductionRules_Actions 1

Properties

Operating systems: Any
Tags: defenderantiviruscis-l1
Reference: CIS Microsoft Defender Antivirus Benchmark v1.0.0 - 1.6.1.13 Ensure 'Configure Attack Surface Reduction rules: Set the state for each ASR rule' is set to 'e6db77e5-3df2-4cf1-b95a- 636979351e5b:1'

Check this host

Run this on a machine you are allowed to audit. The scan is read-only.

shell

tmaegis scan --target defender