Microsoft Defender AV must scan packed executables.
Severity | Group ID | Group Title | Version | Rule ID | Date | STIG Version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium | V-278679 | SRG-APP-000278 | WNDF-AV-000076 | SV-278679r1190773_rule | 2026-02-17 | 2 |
Description
This policy setting manages whether Microsoft Defender Antivirus scans packed executables. Packed executables are executable files that contain compressed code.
ℹ️ Check
Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Scan >> Scan packed executables 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\Scan
Criteria: If the value "DisablePackedExeScanning" is REG_DWORD = 0, this is not a finding.
If the value is 1, this is a finding.
✔️ Fix
Set the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Scan >> Scan packed executables to "Enabled".