SV-213466r961086: Microsoft Defender AV must be configured for automatic remediation action to be taken for threat alert level Low. | Microsoft Defender Antivirus STIG SCAP Benchmark

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Assessment Title

Rule Text

Microsoft Defender AV must be configured for automatic remediation action to be taken for threat alert level Low.

Description

Discussion Text

This policy setting allows the customization of which automatic remediation action will be taken for each threat alert level. Threat alert levels should be added under the Options for this setting. Each entry must be listed as a name value pair. The name defines a threat alert level. The value contains the action ID for the remediation action that should be taken. Valid threat alert levels are: 1 = Low 2 = Medium 4 = High 5 = Severe Valid remediation action values are: 2 = Quarantine 3 = Remove 6 = Ignore

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

IA Controls

NIST SP 800-53

Not mappedCCI-001662SV-94675V-79971

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:42
# Microsoft Defender AV must be configured for automatic remediation action to be taken for threat alert level Low.
# 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\Threats\ThreatSeverityDefaultAction').GetValueKind('1').ToString()]) -eq 'reg_sz') -and (((Get-ItemProperty -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Threats\ThreatSeverityDefaultAction' -Name '1' -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue) | Select-Object -ExpandProperty '1') -le 3))
}

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:42

$compliant = $false
if (Test-Path -Path "HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Threats") {
    $regValue = Get-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Threats\ThreatSeverityDefaultAction" -Name "1" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
    if ($regValue -and $regValue.Value -le 3) {
        $compliant = $true
    }
}
if ($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 >> Threats >> "Specify threat alert levels at which default action should not be taken when detected" to "Enabled".  

Select the "Show…" option box and enter "1" in the "Value name" field and enter "2" in the "Value" field.