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

CAT II V-213449 WNDF-AV-000025

Microsoft Defender AV must be configured to scan removable drives.

Documentable No
Rule ID SV-213449r960852_rule
CCI References
CCI-000870

This policy setting allows the management of whether or not to scan for malicious software and unwanted software in the contents of removable drives such as USB flash drives when running a full scan. If this setting is enabled, removable drives will be scanned during any type of scan. If this setting is disabled or not configured, removable drives will not be scanned during a full scan. Removable drives may still be scanned during quick scan and custom scan.

Check Procedure

Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Scan >> "Scan removable drives" is set to "Enabled".
 
Procedure: Use the Windows Registry Editor to navigate to the following key: 
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Scan

Criteria: If the value "DisableRemovableDriveScanning" is REG_DWORD = 0, this is not a finding.

Fix Action

Set the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Windows Defender Antivirus >> Scan >> "Scan removable drives" to "Enabled".