Microsoft Defender AV must scan excluded files and directories during quick scans.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-278676 | WNDF-AV-000072 | SV-278676r1190767_rule | CCI-002624 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| In Microsoft Defender Antivirus, when an exclusion for a file or folder is created, it will generally be skipped during both real-time protection and on-demand scans (including quick scans and full scans). However, with newer releases, the option exists to configure quick scans to include files and directories that are otherwise excluded from real-time protection. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Microsoft Defender Antivirus Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2026-02-17 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-278676r1190767_chk)
Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Scan >> Scan excluded files and directories during quick scans 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\Scan
Criteria: If the value "QuickScanIncludeExclusions" is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.
If the value is 0, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-83115r1190766_fix)
Set the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Scan >> Scan excluded files and directories during quick scans to "Enabled".