Sigma rule: Folder Removed From Exploit Guard ProtectedFolders List - Registry

Rule

Title

Folder Removed From Exploit Guard ProtectedFolders List - Registry

Status

test

Level

high

Author

Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)

Date

2022-08-05

Modified

2023-02-08

File

rules/windows/registry/registry_delete/registry_delete_exploit_guard_protected_folders.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects the removal of folders from the "ProtectedFolders" list of of exploit guard. This could indicate an attacker trying to launch an encryption process or trying to manipulate data inside of the protected folder

Log source

product

windows

category

registry_delete

Detection

selection:
    EventType: DeleteValue
    TargetObject|contains: 'SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\Controlled Folder Access\ProtectedFolders'
condition: selection

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Legitimate administrators removing applications (should always be investigated)

Tags

• attack.defense-impairment
• attack.t1685

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

• T1685

References

• https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2017/10/23/windows-defender-exploit-guard-reduce-the-attack-surface-against-next-generation-malware/

Read on 2026-11-03T00:58:21.399Z under licence sigma-drl-1.1@d5f4c36a from https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/rules/windows/registry/registry_delete/registry_delete_exploit_guard_protected_folders.yml