Microsoft Defender AV must enable network protection to be configured into block or audit mode on Windows Server.
Overview
| Finding ID | Version | Rule ID | IA Controls | Severity |
| V-278672 | WNDF-AV-000068 | SV-278672r1192825_rule | CCI-001170 | medium |
| Description | ||||
| Microsoft's Exploit Guard comprises several techniques to defend against phishing attacks and malware. These include controlled folder access, attack surface reduction, and network protection. | ||||
| STIG | Date | |||
| Microsoft Defender Antivirus Security Technical Implementation Guide | 2026-05-08 | |||
Related Frameworks
1 mapping across 3 frameworks
Related Frameworks
SCF0 mappings
No source states a mapping between these directly.
Also reachable in 3 hops (2) derived by us, not asserted by any source
Each of these is a route we composed by chaining published mappings. No publisher states a relationship between the two endpoints.
- DISA STIG Benchmark (XCCDF)V2R9intersects(normalised)
- DISA CCI List2025-01-23equal to(normalised)
- SCF Secure Traceability Relationship Mapping (STRM)2026.2intersects
- DISA STIG Benchmark (XCCDF)V2R9intersects(normalised)
- DISA CCI List2025-01-23equal to(normalised)
- SCF Secure Traceability Relationship Mapping (STRM)2026.2intersects
NIST 800-530 mappings
No source states a mapping between these directly.
Also reachable in 2 hops (3) derived by us, not asserted by any source
Each of these is a route we composed by chaining published mappings. No publisher states a relationship between the two endpoints.
- DISA STIG Benchmark (XCCDF)V2R9intersects(normalised)
- DISA STIG Benchmark (XCCDF)V2R1our copyintersects(normalised)
- DISA STIG Benchmark (XCCDF)V2R1intersects(normalised)
- DISA CCI List2025-01-23equal to(normalised)
- DISA STIG Benchmark (XCCDF)V2R9intersects(normalised)
- DISA STIG Benchmark (XCCDF)V2R1our copyintersects(normalised)
- DISA STIG Benchmark (XCCDF)V2R1intersects(normalised)
- DISA CCI List2025-01-23equal to(normalised)
- DISA STIG Benchmark (XCCDF)V2R9intersects(normalised)
- DISA CCI List2025-01-23equal to(normalised)
CCI1 mapping
CCI-001170
1.00
- DISA STIG Benchmark (XCCDF)V2R9intersects(normalised)
Details
Check Text (C-278672r1192825_chk)
Note: This requirement is not applicable to desktops.
Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Microsoft Defender Exploit Guard >> Network Protection >> This settings controls whether Network Protection is allowed to be configured into block or audit mode on Windows Server 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\Network Protection
Criteria: If the value "AllowNetworkProtectionOnWinServer" is REG_DWORD = 1, this is not a finding.
If the value is 0, this is a finding.
Fix Text (F-83111r1190760_fix)
Set the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Microsoft Defender Exploit Guard >> Network Protection >> This settings controls whether Network Protection is allowed to be configured into block or audit mode on Windows Server to "Enabled".