Microsoft Defender AV must configure local administrator merge behavior for lists.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-278656 | WNDF-AV-000052 | SV-278656r1190744_rule | CCI-001170 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| This policy setting configures how locally defined lists are combined or merged with globally defined lists. This setting applies to exclusion lists, specified remediation lists, and attack surface reduction. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Microsoft Defender Antivirus Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2026-02-17 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-278656r1190744_chk)
Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Configure local administrator merge behavior for lists is set to "Enabled". Otherwise, this is a finding.
Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key:
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender
Criteria: If the value "DisableLocalAdminMerge" is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.
If the value is 0, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-83095r1190743_fix)
Set the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Configure local administrator merge behavior for lists to "Enabled".