SV-213426r1260200: Microsoft Defender AV must be configured to block the Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA) feature. | Microsoft Defender Antivirus STIG SCAP Benchmark

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Assessment Title

Rule Text

Microsoft Defender AV must be configured to block the Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA) feature.

Description

Discussion Text

After enabling this feature, PUA protection blocking takes effect on endpoint clients after the next signature update or computer restart. Signature updates take place daily under typical circumstances. PUA will be blocked and automatically quarantined.

How this relates to the STIG checklist: STIG vs SCAP benchmark.

IA Controls

NIST SP 800-53

Not mappedCCI-001243SV-89827V-75147

References

DPMS Target Microsoft Defender Antivirus DISA DPMS Target Microsoft Defender Antivirus 3985

SCC Automation Reference

The reconstructed evaluation script behind this rule's OVAL check(s) — every module a compound check combines, with this rule's own concrete values and DISA's SCC tool's real per-module mechanism curated from static teardown of SCC releases.

# Windows PowerShell
# Reconstructed from oval:mil.disa.stig.defenderantivirus:def:1
# Microsoft Defender AV must be configured to block the Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA) feature.
# Per-module read mechanism curated from static teardown of DISA's SCC tool
# (SCAP Compliance Checker) -- see the SCC Automation Reference above.

# registry_object (registry_test)
function test_1 {
  return ((((@{String='reg_sz';ExpandString='reg_expand_sz';Binary='reg_binary';DWord='reg_dword';MultiString='reg_multi_sz';QWord='reg_qword';None='reg_none'}[(Get-Item -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender').GetValueKind('PUAProtection').ToString()]) -eq 'reg_dword') -and (((Get-ItemProperty -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender' -Name 'PUAProtection' -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue) | Select-Object -ExpandProperty 'PUAProtection') -eq '1')) -or (((@{String='reg_sz';ExpandString='reg_expand_sz';Binary='reg_binary';DWord='reg_dword';MultiString='reg_multi_sz';QWord='reg_qword';None='reg_none'}[(Get-Item -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Policy Manager').GetValueKind('PUAProtection').ToString()]) -eq 'reg_dword') -and (((Get-ItemProperty -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Policy Manager' -Name 'PUAProtection' -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue) | Select-Object -ExpandProperty 'PUAProtection') -eq '1')))
}

if (test_1) {
  Write-Output "PASS"
} else {
  Write-Output "FAIL"
}

Assessment Script Powered by AISyntax-verified

A standalone PowerShell script to assess this control automatically. Review before running it in your environment.

Syntax-checked as valid PowerShell. Not executed here — running it for real needs the actual ms_defender_antivirus target this check assesses.

# OVAL Definition: oval:mil.disa.stig.defenderantivirus:def:1
$compliant = (Get-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender' -Name 'PUAProtection' -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).PUAProtection -eq 1 -and (Get-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Policy Manager' -Name 'PUAProtection' -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue).PUAProtection -eq 1
if ($compliant) { Write-Output "PASS"; Exit 0 } else { Write-Output "FAIL"; Exit 1 }

Remediation

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> "Configure Detection for Potentially Unwanted Applications" to "Enabled" and "Block".