Newsletter Archives

• MS-DEFCON 4: Patching weather is clearing

  Posted on January 24, 2023 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.04.1 • 2023-01-24

  

  By Susan Bradley

  In general, the January updates have been well behaved.

  So far, I’m not seeing any trending issues with them; accordingly, I’m lowering the MS-DEFCON level to 4. But that’s not to say we haven’t seen some other issues related to other types of updates. In addition to describing those, I’ll discuss a vulnerability in a part of your computer you may never think about.

  Two issues recently impacted Start menus and shortcuts but were unrelated to one another.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (20.04.1, 2023-01-24).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, Hardware drivers, macOS Ventura, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 4, Printer Drivers, Windows Recovery Environment

• MS-DEFCON 2: Getting ready for 2023

  Posted on January 5, 2023 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.01.1 • 2023-01-05

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Once again, we are preparing for another year of patching.

  And to start out the year auspiciously, I must raise the MS-DEFCON level to 2. That’s because I’m recommending that updates to Windows be deferred until later in the month. Although Microsoft takes a long Christmas vacation, and the resulting January is usually limited to just security updates, it’s best to be very cautious until the issues that cropped up in December are resolved.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (20.01.1, 2023-01-05).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, BSOD, Microsoft Lifecycle, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Windows Servers EoL

• MS-DEFCON 3: Windows 10 22H2 may leave you blue

  Posted on December 27, 2022 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 19.52.1 • 2022-12-27

  

  By Susan Bradley

  I have a favorite Christmas song titled “We need a little Christmas,” from the Broadway musical “Mame.”

  The uplifting tone of the song expresses the pleasure and happiness we experience during the holiday. We don’t usually associate “blue” feelings with the season (except Elvis).

  Windows 10 could use a little of that holiday spirit. Unfortunately, two different patches for 22H2 appear to be throwing off blue screens of death for some — but not all — users. As much as I’d like to lower the MS-DEFCON level to the more serene level 4, so you can enjoy the holiday while applying updates, out of caution I am dropping it only one notch.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (19.52.1, 2022-12-27).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, BSOD, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 3, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Windows 10

• MS-DEFCON 2: The maintenance window for Windows closes

  Posted on December 8, 2022 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 19.49.1 • 2022-12-08

  

  By Susan Bradley

  This is your last call to install updates.

  Businesses typically have a concept in their information technology divisions about maintenance windows. It’s a period of time set aside to install updates, review computer systems, and in general ensure that everything is working as it should.

  Consumers and home users should follow a similar concept. Devote a period of time, no matter the platform, to ensure that your devices are working as they should. Then let your maintenance window close. That’s why I’m raising the MS-DEFCON level to 2 — with fresh updates due next week, get the current updates installed now.

  Everyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (19.49.1, 2022-12-08).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, Domain Controllers, macOS Ventura, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts

• MS-DEFCON 3: Side effect with Domain patch

  Posted on November 25, 2022 at 15:51 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  Special alert

  

  By Susan Bradley

  November Domain controller update leads to memory leak

  Business patchers only:  Microsoft has posted up a known side effect introduced by the November updates applied to domain controllers.

  As they note in their health release: (with my slight edits for clarification)

  After installing November or later updates on Domain Controllers (DCs), you might experience a memory leak with Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS,exe). Depending on the workload of your DCs and the amount of time since the last restart of the server, LSASS might continually increase memory usage with the up time of your server and the server might become unresponsive or automatically restart. Note: The out-of-band updates for DCs released November 17, 2022 and November 18, 2022 do not fix the issue and are also affected by this issue.

  Workaround one if you can remove the patch: Uninstall the November 8th updates and out of band updates that are listed here.

  Workaround two if you are mandated to keep the patch installed: To mitigate this issue, open Command Prompt as Administrator and use the following command to set the registry key KrbtgtFullPacSignature to 0:

  • reg add “HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\services\KDC” -v “KrbtgtFullPacSignature” -d 0 -t REG_DWORD

  Note that this ONLY impacts business patchers and does NOT impact consumers.

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, Master Patch List, Patch Lady Posts

• MS-DEFCON 3: Issues with domains

  Posted on November 22, 2022 at 02:45 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 19.47.1 • 2022-11-22

  

  By Susan Bradley

  November updates lead to side effects

  My usual advice regarding updates with known side effects is to wait until the problems are resolved. But every so often, the risk of waiting is greater than the risks associated with the side effects.

  That’s the way I see the situation now. The November updates require you to slog through the issues and deal with the side effects. For that reason, I’m lowering the MS-DEFCON level to 3. I’d really like to go to 4, but I think greater caution is required.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (19.47.1, 2022-11-22).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, Domain Controllers, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 3, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts

• November updates are here

  Posted on November 8, 2022 at 12:11 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  It’s DefCon Tuesday again.

  We are still waiting to hear how we are going to control the Windows 10/11 ‘moment’ releases – those incremental dribble updates.

  Links below as they go public…..

  Listing of vulnerabilities

  Dustin Child’s zero day blog

  Ghacks

  SANS Internet Storm Center

  Known issues include:

  Windows 11 22H2 (2022 whatever you want to call it) still has the file copy bug: “Copying large multiple gigabyte (GB) files might take longer than expected to finish on Windows 11, version 22H2. You are more likely to experience this issue copying files to Windows 11, version 22H2 from a network share via Server Message Block (SMB) but local file copy might also be affected.Windows devices used by consumers in their home or small offices are not likely to be affected by this issue”

  Exchange is FINALLY being patched for it’s zero day from a month ago.

  A print spooler patch – aka we watch for printer issues.

  MS-DEFCON, Windows Security November 2022 Black Tursday

• MS-DEFCON 2: More “dribbled” changes coming

  Posted on November 3, 2022 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 19.44.1 • 2022-11-03

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Defer them.

  Microsoft’s incremental protocol for bringing new features to Windows has its good and bad sides. To the good, one or two new features is better than 50 delivered all at once. To the bad, we must study the safety of such updates every month, not every year.

  In effect, “dribbling” requires a heightened state of awareness because we’re not dealing just with bug fixes — we must deal with new stuff as well. That increased awareness is reflected in my raising of the MS-DEFCON level to 2.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (19.44.1, 2022-11-03).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON DCOM, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, OpenSSL, Patch Lady Posts, Windows 22H2, Windows Update

• MS-DEFCON 4: Install or defer updates? Your choice.

  Posted on October 25, 2022 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 19.43.1 • 2022-10-25

  

  By Susan Bradley

  I’ve got a slightly mixed message about the latest round of updates.

  In the most general terms, updates this month have proven safe and unlikely to cause many problems. It is for that reason I am lowering the MS-DEFCON level to 4. But there’s a grain of salt to go along with that recommendation.

  I continue to recommend that you not install the feature-release updates for Windows 10 or Windows 11 version 22H2. But I do recommend that you allow the rest of the updates to install. That’s the mixed message.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (19.43.1, 2022-10-25).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON AskWoody Alert, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 4, Patch Lady Posts, Windows 10, Windows 11

• MS-DEFCON 2: Windows 10 22H2 expected this month

  Posted on October 6, 2022 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 19.40.1 • 2022-10-06

  

  By Susan Bradley

  We originally had the impression that Windows 10 and 11 updates would appear simultaneously, but — for this time at least — it looks like Windows 10 22H2 will be here in October, a month after Windows 11 2022 (22H2).

  As with Windows 11 2022, I am not expecting a major release. As per my usual recommendation, don’t accept the Windows 10 22H2 update right away. Instead, defer it until I’ve had a chance to test and review. That advice also comes with an elevation of the MS-DEFCON level to 2.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (19.40.1, 2022-10-06).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON AskWoody Alert, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, Patch Lady Posts, Windows 10, Windows 11

• Microsoft email zero day

  Posted on September 30, 2022 at 11:05 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  What is it?  Microsoft is investigating targeted attacks on their on premises Email servers.  Attackers have found a way into servers that are already fully patched.

  If we have online email with Microsoft, are we at risk?  No.

  Is this disturbing that EVERY time there is a zero day in Microsoft on premises email servers, Microsoft can conveniently scramble and get their online servers patched and meanwhile those that purchase on premises software are stuck holding the bag.

  If you are an Exchange admin and need help, pile on here

  (note I am sending this out as a defcon text alert but not an email alert)

  Follow the guidance in the MSRC post to protect your on premise email servers:

  The current mitigation is to add a blocking rule in “IIS Manager -> Default Web Site -> URL Rewrite -> Actions” to block the known attack patterns

  Note:

  If you don’t run Microsoft Exchange on premise, and don’t have Outlook Web App facing the internet, you are not impacted.

  MS-DEFCON AskWoody Alert, AskWoody Plus Alerts, Master Patch List, Patch Lady Posts

• MS-DEFCON 4: A well-behaved September

  Posted on September 27, 2022 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 19.39.1 • 2022-09-27

  

  By Susan Bradley

  September updates have few side effects.

  It’s always nice when the monthly update process is calm, with no storms. But due to a few snags, the best I can do is lower the MS-DEFCON level to 4.

  These side effects are limited to issues seen in businesses; we ordinary, consumer mortals are not much affected.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (19.39.1, 2022-09-27).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON AskWoody Alert, AskWoody Plus Newsletter, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 4, Patch Lady Posts
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