Detectionhighexperimental

Windows Defender Disabled Via SystemSettingsAdminFlows.EXE

Detects the usage of SystemSettingsAdminFlows.exe to disable Windows Defender. SystemSettingsAdminFlows.exe is a legitimate Windows component used for administrative configuration tasks. However, attackers may abuse it to disable Windows Defender as part of their attack chain, especially in the context of ransomware or other malware campaigns.

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Launch

Chirag Damani (KPMG India), Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)Created Wed Jul 01da92713f-ca2d-4fab-8320-098013d3f43awindows

Log Source

WindowsProcess Creation

ProductWindows← raw: windows

CategoryProcess Creation← raw: process_creation

Events generated when a new process is spawned on the system. Covers command-line arguments, parent/child relationships, and process metadata.

Detection Logic

detection:
    selection_ssaf_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\SystemSettingsAdminFlows.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'SystemSettingsAdminFlows.EXE'
    selection_ssaf_cli:
        CommandLine|contains: 'defender'
    selection_cli_enable_opt:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'RTP '
            - 'RealTimeProtection '
            - 'DisableEnhancedNotifications '
    selection_cli_enable_value:
        CommandLine|contains: '1'
    selection_cli_disable_opt:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'SubmitSamplesConsent '
            - 'SpyNetReporting '
            - 'DisableCDPUserAuthPolicy '
    selection_cli_disable_value:
        CommandLine|contains: '0'
    # In Enterprise environments, if defender was disabled via GUI, it would be expected to see the following parent-child process relationship:
    # Thus, uncomment the below filter to exclude such cases because of high false positives:
    # filter_main_gui_options:
    #     ParentImage|endswith:
    #         - '\SystemSettings.exe'
    #         - '\Explorer.exe'
    condition: all of selection_ssaf_* and (all of selection_cli_enable_* or all of selection_cli_disable_*)