Windows Defender AV must be configured to impede JavaScript and VBScript to launch executables.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-77973	WNDF-AV-000036	SV-92669r1_rule		Medium

Description
JavaScript and VBScript scripts can be used by malware to launch other malicious apps. This rule prevents these scripts from being allowed to launch apps, thus preventing malicious use of the scripts to spread malware and infect machines.

STIG	Date
Windows Defender Antivirus Security Technical Implementation Guide	2017-12-27

Details

Check Text ( C-77583r1_chk )
This setting is applicable starting with v1709 of Windows 10, it is NA for prior versions. Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Defender Antivirus -> Windows Defender Exploit Guard -> Attack Surface Reduction -> "Configure Attack Surface Reduction rules" is set to "Enabled”. Click ‘Show...’. Verify the rule ID in the Value name column and the desired state in the Value column is set as follows: Value name: D3E037E1-3EB8-44C8-A917-57927947596D Value: 1 Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\ASR\Rules Criteria: If the value “D3E037E1-3EB8-44C8-A917-57927947596D” is REG_SZ = 1, this is not a finding.

Check Text ( C-77583r1_chk )

This setting is applicable starting with v1709 of Windows 10, it is NA for prior versions.

Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Defender Antivirus -> Windows Defender Exploit Guard -> Attack Surface Reduction -> "Configure Attack Surface Reduction rules" is set to "Enabled”. Click ‘Show...’. Verify the rule ID in the Value name column and the desired state in the Value column is set as follows:
Value name: D3E037E1-3EB8-44C8-A917-57927947596D
Value: 1

Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key:
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Exploit Guard\ASR\Rules

Criteria: If the value “D3E037E1-3EB8-44C8-A917-57927947596D” is REG_SZ = 1, this is not a finding.

Fix Text (F-84685r1_fix)
Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Defender Antivirus -> Windows Defender Exploit Guard -> Attack Surface Reduction -> "Configure Attack Surface Reduction rules" to "Enabled”. Click ‘Show...’. Set the Value name to “D3E037E1-3EB8-44C8-A917-57927947596D” and the Value to “1”.