Microsoft Defender AV must block process creations originating from PSExec and WMI commands.

Severity	Group ID	Group Title	Version	Rule ID	Date	STIG Version
medium	V-278651	SRG-APP-000210	WNDF-AV-000047	SV-278651r1144039_rule	2025-11-25	2

Description
This policy setting blocks processes created through PsExec and WMI from running. Both PsExec and WMI can remotely execute code. There is a risk of malware abusing functionality of PsExec and WMI for command and control purposes, or to spread an infection throughout an organization's network.

ℹ️ Check
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 "d1e49aac-8f56-4280-b9ba-993a6d77406c" is REG_SZ = 2, this is not a finding. If the value is other than 2, this is a finding.

ℹ️ Check

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 "d1e49aac-8f56-4280-b9ba-993a6d77406c" is REG_SZ = 2, this is not a finding. If the value is other than 2, this is a finding.

✔️ Fix
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 "d1e49aac-8f56-4280-b9ba-993a6d77406c" in the "Value Name" column. Enter "2" in the "Value" column. Click "OK". Click "Apply".

✔️ Fix

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 "d1e49aac-8f56-4280-b9ba-993a6d77406c" in the "Value Name" column. Enter "2" in the "Value" column. Click "OK". Click "Apply".