diff --git a/windows/security/threat-protection/windows-defender-exploit-guard/attack-surface-reduction-exploit-guard.md b/windows/security/threat-protection/windows-defender-exploit-guard/attack-surface-reduction-exploit-guard.md index 3cc13b3320..8cecfe7be5 100644 --- a/windows/security/threat-protection/windows-defender-exploit-guard/attack-surface-reduction-exploit-guard.md +++ b/windows/security/threat-protection/windows-defender-exploit-guard/attack-surface-reduction-exploit-guard.md @@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ ms.pagetype: security ms.localizationpriority: medium author: andreabichsel ms.author: v-anbic -ms.date: 06/13/2018 +ms.date: 06/29/2018 --- @@ -82,6 +82,10 @@ Windows 10, version 1803 has five new Attack surface reduction rules: - Block process creations originating from PSExec and WMI commands - Block untrusted and unsigned processes that run from USB +In addition, the following rule is available for beta testing: + +- Block Office communication applications from creating child processes + The following sections describe what each rule does. Each rule is identified by a rule GUID, as in the following table: Rule name | GUID @@ -98,6 +102,7 @@ Use advanced protection against ransomware | c1db55ab-c21a-4637-bb3f-a12568109d3 Block credential stealing from the Windows local security authority subsystem (lsass.exe) | 9e6c4e1f-7d60-472f-ba1a-a39ef669e4b2 Block process creations originating from PSExec and WMI commands | d1e49aac-8f56-4280-b9ba-993a6d77406c Block untrusted and unsigned processes that run from USB | b2b3f03d-6a65-4f7b-a9c7-1c7ef74a9ba4 +Block Office communication applications from creating child processes (available for beta testing) | 26190899-1602-49e8-8b27-eb1d0a1ce869 The rules apply to the following Office apps running on Windows 10, version 1709. See the **Applies to** section at the start of this topic for a list of supported Office version. @@ -123,7 +128,7 @@ This rule blocks the following file types from being run or launched from an ema ### Rule: Block Office applications from creating child processes -Office apps will not be allowed to create child processes. This includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, and Access. +Office apps will not be allowed to create child processes. This includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Access. This is a typical malware behavior, especially for macro-based attacks that attempt to use Office apps to launch or download malicious executables. @@ -174,10 +179,16 @@ This rule attempts to block Office files that contain macro code that is capable This rule blocks the following file types from being run or launched unless they meet prevalence or age criteria set by admins, or they are in a trusted list or exclusion list: - Executable files (such as .exe, .dll, or .scr) + +>[!NOTE] +>You must [enable cloud-delivered protection](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/windows-defender-antivirus/enable-cloud-protection-windows-defender-antivirus) to use this rule. ### Rule: Use advanced protection against ransomware This rule provides an extra layer of protection against ransomware. Executable files that enter the system will be scanned to determine whether they are trustworthy. If the files exhibit characteristics that closely resemble ransomware, they are blocked from being run or launched, provided they are not already in the trusted list or exception list. + +>[!NOTE] +>You must [enable cloud-delivered protection](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/windows-defender-antivirus/enable-cloud-protection-windows-defender-antivirus) to use this rule. ### Rule: Block credential stealing from the Windows local security authority subsystem (lsass.exe) @@ -203,6 +214,12 @@ With this rule, admins can prevent unsigned or untrusted executable files from r - Executable files (such as .exe, .dll, or .scr) - Script files (such as a PowerShell .ps, VisualBasic .vbs, or JavaScript .js file) +### Rule: Block Office communication applications from creating child processes + +Office communication apps will not be allowed to create child processes. This includes Outlook. + +This is a typical malware behavior, especially for macro-based attacks that attempt to use Office apps to launch or download malicious executables. + ## Review Attack surface reduction events in Windows Event Viewer You can review the Windows event log to see events that are created when an Attack surface reduction rule is triggered (or audited): diff --git a/windows/security/threat-protection/windows-defender-exploit-guard/customize-attack-surface-reduction.md b/windows/security/threat-protection/windows-defender-exploit-guard/customize-attack-surface-reduction.md index 7260ed4758..0732ac1826 100644 --- a/windows/security/threat-protection/windows-defender-exploit-guard/customize-attack-surface-reduction.md +++ b/windows/security/threat-protection/windows-defender-exploit-guard/customize-attack-surface-reduction.md @@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ ms.pagetype: security ms.localizationpriority: medium author: andreabichsel ms.author: v-anbic -ms.date: 06/15/2018 +ms.date: 06/29/2018 --- # Customize Attack surface reduction @@ -76,6 +76,8 @@ Use advanced protection against ransomware | [!include[Check mark yes](images/sv Block credential stealing from the Windows local security authority subsystem (lsass.exe) | [!include[Check mark no](images/svg/check-no.svg)] | 9e6c4e1f-7d60-472f-ba1a-a39ef669e4b2 Block process creations originating from PSExec and WMI commands | [!include[Check mark yes](images/svg/check-yes.svg)] | d1e49aac-8f56-4280-b9ba-993a6d77406c Block untrusted and unsigned processes that run from USB | [!include[Check mark yes](images/svg/check-yes.svg)] | b2b3f03d-6a65-4f7b-a9c7-1c7ef74a9ba4 +Block Office communication applications from creating child processes (available for beta testing) | [!include[Check mark no](images/svg/check-yes.svg)] | 26190899-1602-49e8-8b27-eb1d0a1ce869 + See the [Attack surface reduction](attack-surface-reduction-exploit-guard.md) topic for details on each rule. diff --git a/windows/security/threat-protection/windows-defender-exploit-guard/enable-attack-surface-reduction.md b/windows/security/threat-protection/windows-defender-exploit-guard/enable-attack-surface-reduction.md index 8541457872..de3f852b51 100644 --- a/windows/security/threat-protection/windows-defender-exploit-guard/enable-attack-surface-reduction.md +++ b/windows/security/threat-protection/windows-defender-exploit-guard/enable-attack-surface-reduction.md @@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ ms.pagetype: security ms.localizationpriority: medium author: andreabichsel ms.author: v-anbic -ms.date: 05/30/2018 +ms.date: 06/29/2018 --- @@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ Use advanced protection against ransomware | c1db55ab-c21a-4637-bb3f-a12568109d3 Block credential stealing from the Windows local security authority subsystem (lsass.exe) | 9e6c4e1f-7d60-472f-ba1a-a39ef669e4b2 Block process creations originating from PSExec and WMI commands | d1e49aac-8f56-4280-b9ba-993a6d77406c Block untrusted and unsigned processes that run from USB | b2b3f03d-6a65-4f7b-a9c7-1c7ef74a9ba4 +Block Office communication applications from creating child processes (available for beta testing) | 26190899-1602-49e8-8b27-eb1d0a1ce869 See the [Attack surface reduction](attack-surface-reduction-exploit-guard.md) topic for details on each rule.