Windows Defender AV must be configured to disable local setting override for reporting to Microsoft MAPS.

From Windows Defender Antivirus Security Technical Implementation Guide

Associated with: CCI-001170

SV-89841r2_rule Windows Defender AV must be configured to disable local setting override for reporting to Microsoft MAPS.

Vulnerability discussion

This policy setting configures a local override for the configuration to join Microsoft MAPS. This setting can only be set by Group Policy. If you enable this setting the local preference setting will take priority over Group Policy. If you disable or do not configure this setting Group Policy will take priority over the local preference setting.

Check content

This is applicable to unclassified systems, for other systems this is NA. Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Defender Antivirus -> MAPS -> "Configure local setting override for reporting to Microsoft MAPS" is set to "Disabled" or "Not Configured". Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Spynet Criteria: If the value "LocalSettingOverrideSpynetReporting" is REG_DWORD = 0, this is not a finding. If the value does not exist, this is not a finding. If the value is 1, this is a finding.

Fix text

This is applicable to unclassified systems, for other systems this is NA. Set the policy value for Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Defender Antivirus -> MAPS -> "Configure local setting override for reporting to Microsoft MAPS" to "Disabled" or "Not Configured".

Pro Tips

Lavender hyperlinks in small type off to the right (of CSS class id, if you view the page source) point to globally unique URIs for each document and item. Copy the link location and paste anywhere you need to talk unambiguously about these things.

You can obtain data about documents and items in other formats. Simply provide an HTTP header Accept: text/turtle or Accept: application/rdf+xml.