Microsoft Defender Antivirus • Release: 7 Benchmark Date: 05 Jan 2026

CAT II V-213436 WNDF-AV-000012

Microsoft Defender AV must be configured for protocol recognition for network protection.

Documentable No
Rule ID SV-213436r961194_rule
CCI References
CCI-001242

This policy setting allows the configuration of protocol recognition for network protection against exploits of known vulnerabilities. If this setting is enabled or not configured, protocol recognition will be enabled. If this setting is disabled, protocol recognition will be disabled.

Check Procedure

Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Network Inspection System >> "Turn on protocol recognition" is set to "Enabled" or "Not Configured".
 
Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key:
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\NIS

Criteria: If the value "DisableProtocolRecognition" 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 Action

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Network Inspection System >> "Turn on protocol recognition" to "Enabled" or "Not Configured".