CISA orders Windows security updates before October 1
After the rollout of Microsoft’s Patch Tuesday security updates and the passing of Exploit Wednesday, it’s crucial not to become complacent. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, America’s premier cyber defense body, has instructed that three specific Windows vulnerabilities be remediated before October 1. While this directive specifically targets federal employees, the agency strongly recommends that all organizations refer to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog to stay updated with threat activities and enhance their vulnerability management strategies. These vulnerabilities are currently being exploited by cybercriminals, prompting an urgent call for everyone to fortify their defenses promptly.
CISA has included a total of four Microsoft vulnerabilities in the KEV catalog, among them one that affects users of Microsoft Publisher, with the others concerning Windows systems.
The CISA announcement details these updates.
When it comes to CVE-2024-38014, Satnam Narang, a senior staff research engineer at Tenable, explained that this vulnerability is used in post-compromise activities. Specifically, an attacker with existing access to a system can exploit this flaw to elevate their privileges, leading to further system compromise. Narang noted that attackers might gain initial access through various methods, which include other vulnerabilities, spear phishing, or brute force attacks.
The vulnerability designated as CVE-2024-30217 raises significant concerns. I have covered it in some detail here. According to Saeed Abbasi, manager of vulnerability research at Qualys Threat Research Unit, this vulnerability manipulates security warnings that are meant to alert users about the risks of opening files from unknown or untrusted sources. This type of manipulation is often exploited in ransomware attacks.
I have also examined the CVE-2024-43491 Windows Update remote code execution vulnerability. This issue affects a minor fraction of Windows 10 users but is incredibly serious, with a severity rating of 9.8 out of 10. The vulnerability allows an attacker to roll back installed security updates, re-exposing the system to previously patched vulnerabilities. According to Kev Breen, senior director of threat research at Immersive Labs, despite updates indicating full protection, previously patched vulnerabilities can still be exploited.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) strongly recommends that organizations prioritize timely remediation of vulnerabilities listed in their catalog as part of their vulnerability management practices. CISA confirmed they would continue updating their catalog with vulnerabilities that meet their specific criteria.
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