It’s Time to Install Another Microsoft Security Patch (It Fixes 61 Vulnerabilities)
Yesterday, Microsoft released the March Patch Tuesday update for compatible PCs, and you won’t want to miss it . This update addresses a significant number of Windows security vulnerabilities: there are 61 fixes in total , two of which are marked as “critical”. While it is important to patch every security vulnerability a developer discovers, it is especially important to patch those that could put users at greatest risk.
Two critical vulnerabilities are tracked as CVE-2024-21407 and CVE-2024-21408 . Both vulnerabilities affect Hyper-V, a “hypervisor” that can run virtual machines on Windows. (Essentially, this is the ability to completely emulate a computer inside your computer.) The first flaw can enable remote code execution, in which an attacker runs their own code on your computer, and the second can lead to a denial of service (DoS). a situation in which attackers disconnect you from your own network or machine.
Fortunately, Microsoft has not disclosed that these two critical security vulnerabilities are currently being actively exploited. However, the company flagged six flaws as “more likely to be exploited,” suggesting that attackers could potentially discover these vulnerabilities and figure out how to exploit them.
Here are the six disadvantages:
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CVE-2024-21433: Windows Graphics Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
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CVE-2024-21437 : Windows Print Spooler Elevation of Privilege vulnerability.
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CVE-2024-26160 : Windows Cloud File Mini Filter driver information disclosure vulnerability.
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CVE-2024-26170 : Windows Composite Image File System (CimFS) elevation of privilege vulnerability.
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CVE-2024-26182 : Windows kernel elevation of privilege vulnerability.
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CVE-2024-26185 : Windows compressed folder spoofing vulnerability.
Interestingly, neither of the two “critical” vulnerabilities were marked in this way.
How to install the latest Windows security patch on your computer
For security reasons, it is important to update your computer as soon as possible. Whether you’re using Windows 11 or Windows 10, these security vulnerabilities pose a threat as attackers eventually learn how to exploit them.
To update, choose Start > Settings > Windows Update (Windows 11) or Update & Security (Windows 10). Either way, click Check for Updates . Once Windows recognizes the update, follow the onscreen instructions to install it.