Microsoft Defender AV must block Adobe Reader from creating child processes.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-278647 | WNDF-AV-000043 | SV-278647r1190726_rule | CCI-001170 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| This policy setting prevents Adobe Reader from launching other processes, which can help mitigate security risks associated with malicious PDF files. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Microsoft Defender Antivirus Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2026-02-17 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-278647r1190726_chk)
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 "7674ba52-37eb-4a4f-a9a1-f0f9a1619a2c" is REG_SZ = 1, this is not a finding.
If the value is other than 1, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-83086r1190725_fix)
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 "7674ba52-37eb-4a4f-a9a1-f0f9a1619a2c" in the "Value Name" column.
Enter "1" in the "Value" column.