Microsoft Defender Antivirus • Release: 7 Benchmark Date: 05 Jan 2026
CAT II V-213451 WNDF-AV-000027
Microsoft Defender AV must be configured to turn on e-mail scanning.
Discussion
This policy setting allows the configuration of e-mail scanning. When e-mail scanning is enabled, the engine will parse the mailbox and mail files according to their specific format in order to analyze the mail bodies and attachments. Several e-mail formats are currently supported, for example: pst (Outlook), dbx mbx mime (Outlook Express), binhex (Mac). If this setting is enabled, e-mail scanning will be enabled. If this setting is disabled or not configured, e-mail scanning will be disabled.
Check Procedure
Verify the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Scan >> "Turn on e-mail scanning" 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 "DisableEmailScanning" is REG_DWORD = 0, this is not a finding.
Fix Action
Set the policy value for Computer Configuration >> Administrative Templates >> Windows Components >> Microsoft Defender Antivirus >> Scan >> "Turn on e-mail scanning" to "Enabled".