Windows Modify Registry Disable WinDefender Notifications

name: Windows Modify Registry Disable WinDefender Notifications
id: 8e207707-ad40-4eb3-b865-3a52aec91f26
version: 10
date: '2026-03-10'
author: Teoderick Contreras, Splunk
status: production
type: TTP
data_source:
    - Sysmon EventID 13
description: The following analytic detects a suspicious registry modification aimed at disabling Windows Defender notifications. It leverages data from the Endpoint.Registry data model, specifically looking for changes to the registry path "*\\SOFTWARE\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Windows Defender Security Center\\Notifications\\DisableNotifications" with a value of "0x00000001". This activity is significant as it indicates an attempt to evade detection by disabling security alerts, a technique used by adversaries and malware like RedLine Stealer. If confirmed malicious, this could allow attackers to operate undetected, increasing the risk of further compromise and data exfiltration.
search: '| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime from datamodel=Endpoint.Registry where Registry.registry_path="*\\SOFTWARE\\Policies\\Microsoft\\Windows Defender Security Center\\Notifications\\DisableNotifications" AND Registry.registry_value_data="0x00000001" by Registry.action Registry.dest Registry.process_guid Registry.process_id Registry.registry_hive Registry.registry_path Registry.registry_key_name Registry.registry_value_data Registry.registry_value_name Registry.registry_value_type Registry.status Registry.user Registry.vendor_product | `drop_dm_object_name(Registry)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `windows_modify_registry_disable_windefender_notifications_filter`'
how_to_implement: To successfully implement this search you need to be ingesting information on process that include the name of the process responsible for the changes from your endpoints into the `Endpoint` datamodel in the `Processes` node. In addition, confirm the latest CIM App 4.20 or higher is installed and the latest TA for the endpoint product.
known_false_positives: administrators may enable or disable this feature that may cause some false positive.
references:
    - https://malpedia.caad.fkie.fraunhofer.de/details/win.redline_stealer
drilldown_searches:
    - name: View the detection results for - "$dest$"
      search: '%original_detection_search% | search  dest = "$dest$"'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
    - name: View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$dest$"
      search: '| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$dest$") starthoursago=168  | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime values(search_name) as "Search Name" values(risk_message) as "Risk Message" values(analyticstories) as "Analytic Stories" values(annotations._all) as "Annotations" values(annotations.mitre_attack.mitre_tactic) as "ATT&CK Tactics" by normalized_risk_object | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
rba:
    message: A registry modification to disable Windows Defender notification on $dest$
    risk_objects:
        - field: dest
          type: system
          score: 50
    threat_objects: []
tags:
    analytic_story:
        - CISA AA23-347A
        - RedLine Stealer
        - SolarWinds WHD RCE Post Exploitation
    asset_type: Endpoint
    atomic_guid:
        - 12e03af7-79f9-4f95-af48-d3f12f28a260
    mitre_attack_id:
        - T1112
    product:
        - Splunk Enterprise
        - Splunk Enterprise Security
        - Splunk Cloud
    security_domain: endpoint
tests:
    - name: True Positive Test
      attack_data:
        - data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/malware/redline/modify_registry/sysmon.log
          source: XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational
          sourcetype: XmlWinEventLog