How can defenders detect or mitigate this UAC bypass technique?

The primary detection method is to monitor unusual invocations of `wusa.exe` by standard users, especially when it extracts files to high-privilege directories like `C:\Windows`. Antivirus software may flag the script components, but attackers can bypass that. From a mitigation standpoint, applying the principle of least privilege, blocking non-admin execution of `wusa.exe`, and using Application Control policies (e.g., AppLocker) can help. The article also notes that Microsoft does not consider this a vulnerability, so no official patch exists. Related techniques like bypassing AppLocker with LUA scripts further illustrate post-exploitation challenges.