STIGQter: STIG Summary: Microsoft Defender Antivirus Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 2 Release: 9 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

Microsoft Defender AV must block Office communication application from creating child processes.

DISA Rule

SV-278654r1192815_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-278654

Group Title

SRG-APP-000210

Rule Version

WNDF-AV-000050

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-001170 - Prevents the automatic execution of mobile code in organization-defined software applications.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

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 "26190899-1602-49e8-8b27-eb1d0a1ce869" in the "Value Name" column.

Enter "1" in the "Value" column.

Check Contents

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 "26190899-1602-49e8-8b27-eb1d0a1ce869" is REG_SZ = 1, this is not a finding.

If the value is other than 1, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-278654

Documentable

False

Rule Version

WNDF-AV-000050

Severity Override Guidance

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 "26190899-1602-49e8-8b27-eb1d0a1ce869" is REG_SZ = 1, this is not a finding.

If the value is other than 1, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

3985