All news with #windows server tag

Microsoft to Natively Integrate Sysmon in Windows 11

🛡️ Microsoft will integrate Sysmon natively into Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025, removing the need to deploy the standalone Sysinternals tool. The built-in functionality will preserve Sysmon’s capabilities, including support for custom configuration files and advanced event filtering, and logs events to the Windows Event Log. Administrators can enable it via Optional Features or run sysmon -i (or sysmon -i <config>) to load a custom configuration, and updates will be delivered through Windows Update to simplify management and improve coverage in large environments.

Microsoft WSUS Patch Disrupted Windows Server Hotpatching

⚠️ An out-of-band update, KB5070881, that addressed CVE-2025-59287 for Windows Server Update Service inadvertently removed Hotpatch enrollment on a very limited number of Windows Server 2025 machines. Microsoft has stopped offering KB5070881 to Hotpatch-enrolled devices and released KB5070893 the next day to fix the flaw without breaking Hotpatch. Systems that installed the buggy update will receive regular monthly security updates requiring restarts in November and December and will rejoin Hotpatch after the January 2026 baseline. As part of mitigations, Microsoft also disabled the display of WSUS synchronization error details.

CISA orders patch for critical WSUS RCE exploited now

🔔 CISA ordered U.S. federal agencies to urgently patch a critical, actively exploited Windows Server Update Services vulnerability (CVE-2025-59287) that enables unauthenticated remote code execution with SYSTEM privileges. Microsoft released out-of-band security updates after proof-of-concept exploit code appeared, and administrators are urged to install them immediately or disable the WSUS Server role as an interim mitigation. Security firms reported scanning and attacks against WSUS instances exposed on default ports 8530/8531, and CISA has added the flaw to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, mandating federal patching under BOD 22-01.

Microsoft Releases Out-of-Band WSUS Patch for CVE-2025-59287

⚠ Microsoft released an out-of-band security update (October 23, 2025) to remediate a critical Windows Server Update Service (WSUS) remote code execution vulnerability, CVE-2025-59287, after a prior fix proved incomplete. The flaw affects WSUS on Windows Server 2012, 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2025 and could allow an unauthenticated actor to execute code with SYSTEM privileges. CISA urges organizations to identify affected WSUS servers, apply the update and reboot, or temporarily disable the WSUS Server Role or block inbound TCP ports 8530/8531 as mitigations until the patch is installed.

Microsoft Disables Explorer Preview for Internet Files

🔒 Microsoft has updated File Explorer to disable the preview pane by default for files downloaded from the Internet or marked with the Mark of the Web. The change, included in Windows security updates released on and after October 14, 2025, is designed to block exploits that can leak NTLM hashes when previewed documents reference external resources. When preview is blocked, File Explorer shows a warning and users can manually unblock trusted files via Properties > Unblock or add the location to Trusted sites/Local intranet; a sign-out may be required for the change to take effect.

Microsoft fixes USB input bug that broke WinRE access

🔧 Microsoft released an out-of-band cumulative update, KB5070773, to restore USB mouse and keyboard functionality in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) after October 2025 security updates disabled USB input in recovery on affected client and server builds. The patch began rolling out on October 20, 2025 and Microsoft recommends installing the latest updates. If a device cannot boot to install the patch, workarounds include using a touchscreen’s touch keyboard, connecting PS/2 peripherals, or booting from a previously created USB recovery drive.

Microsoft October update disables USB input in WinRE

⚠ After installing the October 14, 2025 security update KB5066835, USB-wired mice and keyboards do not function in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), Microsoft confirmed. The devices continue to operate normally inside the Windows OS, but WinRE navigation is blocked, affecting Windows 11 (24H2, 25H2) and Windows Server 2025. Microsoft is working on a fix expected in the coming days; meanwhile users can rely on Bluetooth peripherals or legacy PS/2 input devices as a workaround.

Microsoft October Windows Updates Break Smart Card Auth

🔒 Microsoft warns the October 2025 Windows security updates are causing smart card authentication and certificate failures by switching RSA-based smart card certificates to use KSP instead of CSP. Affected systems may report errors such as "invalid provider type specified" or "CryptAcquireCertificatePrivateKey error" and Event ID 624 in the Smart Card Service log. Microsoft provides a manual workaround: set the DisableCapiOverrideForRSA registry value to 0, back up the registry first, then restart. This impacts Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server releases; the company says the key will be removed in April 2026 and urges customers to work with application vendors to resolve compatibility.

Microsoft: September Windows Updates Break SMBv1 Shares

⚠️Microsoft confirmed that the September 2025 Windows security updates can break connections to SMBv1 shares when NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT) is used. The issue affects client releases (Windows 11 24H2/23H2/22H2, Windows 10 22H2/21H2) and server releases (Windows Server 2025, 2022) and may occur if either the SMB client or server has the update. As a temporary workaround, administrators are advised to allow SMB traffic on TCP port 445 so Windows can switch from NetBT to TCP. Microsoft is investigating and developing a fix.

Microsoft Fixes UAC Prompts and App Install Issues

🔧 Microsoft has issued a fix for an August 2025 update that caused unexpected User Account Control (UAC) prompts and blocked MSI app installations for non-administrative users across multiple Windows client and server releases. The behavior resulted from a security patch addressing CVE-2025-50173, which introduced broader elevation checks to mitigate privilege escalation. Microsoft’s September 2025 update narrows when UAC is required for MSI repairs and lets IT administrators add specific MSI packages to an allowlist via new SecureRepairPolicy and SecureRepairWhitelist registry keys. The company also resolved a separate bug that caused severe lag and stuttering in NDI streaming software on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

August Windows updates trigger UAC prompts, block installs

⚠️ Microsoft says the August 2025 security updates are causing unexpected User Account Control (UAC) credential prompts and preventing application installations and MSI repair operations for non‑admin users across supported Windows client and server releases. The behavior stems from a patch addressing CVE-2025-50173, a Windows Installer privilege escalation vulnerability that now enforces elevated UAC prompts during MSI repair and related operations. Affected scenarios include MSI repair commands, ConfigMgr deployments relying on per‑user advertising, Secure Desktop enablement, and launching certain Autodesk applications. Microsoft plans a fix allowing admins to exempt specific apps and recommends running affected apps as administrator or applying a Known Issue Rollback via support as a temporary mitigation.