Microsoft Defender AV must scan packed executables.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-278679 | WNDF-AV-000076 | SV-278679r1190773_rule | CCI-002624 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| This policy setting manages whether Microsoft Defender Antivirus scans packed executables. Packed executables are executable files that contain compressed code. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Microsoft Defender Antivirus Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2026-02-17 | |||
Details
Check Text (C-278679r1190773_chk)
Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Scan >> Scan packed executables 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 "DisablePackedExeScanning" is REG_DWORD = 0, this is not a finding.
If the value is 1, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-83118r1190772_fix)
Set the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Scan >> Scan packed executables to "Enabled".