Microsoft Defender AV must randomize scheduled task times.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-278659 | WNDF-AV-000055 | SV-278659r1190748_rule | CCI-002624 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| In Microsoft Defender Antivirus, randomize the start time of the scan to any interval from 0 to 23 hours. By default, scheduled tasks begin at a random time within four hours of the time specified in Task Scheduler. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Microsoft Defender Antivirus Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2026-02-17 | |||
Related Frameworks
7 paths across 3 frameworks
Related Frameworks
NIST 800-531 mapping
SI-3
1.00
- DISA · V2R8 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
NIST 800-1715 mappings
3.14.1
1.00
- DISA · V2R8 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
- NIST · Rev 2 (Feb 2020, errata Jan 2021) · nist_800_171_app_d · equivalent
3.14.2
1.00
- DISA · V2R8 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
- NIST · Rev 2 (Feb 2020, errata Jan 2021) · nist_800_171_app_d · equivalent
3.14.3
1.00
- DISA · V2R8 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
- NIST · Rev 2 (Feb 2020, errata Jan 2021) · nist_800_171_app_d · equivalent
3.14.4
1.00
- DISA · V2R8 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
- NIST · Rev 2 (Feb 2020, errata Jan 2021) · nist_800_171_app_d · equivalent
3.14.5
1.00
- DISA · V2R8 · disa_xccdf · related
- DISA · 2025-01-23 · disa_cci_list · equivalent
- NIST · Rev 2 (Feb 2020, errata Jan 2021) · nist_800_171_app_d · equivalent
CCI1 mapping
CCI-002624
1.00
- DISA · V2R8 · disa_xccdf · related
Details
Check Text (C-278659r1190748_chk)
Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Randomize scheduled task times 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 "RandomizeScheduleTaskTimes" is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.
If the value is 0, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-83098r1190747_fix)
Set the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Randomize scheduled task times to "Enabled".