Microsoft Windows Users at Risk
Microsoft Windows users worldwide are currently navigating the aftermath of a significant outage triggered by a problematic update from CrowdStrike. This incident has instilled a sense of caution among users regarding the installation of new updates. While such disruptions are uncommon, it remains crucial to stay current with vendor updates to safeguard against potential vulnerabilities. In light of this, the Indian government has issued a timely warning to Microsoft Windows users, emphasizing the risks of neglecting this alert.
The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), operating under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has raised an alert specifically for Microsoft Windows users in India. According to CERT-In, several vulnerabilities have been identified within Microsoft Windows that could enable an attacker to elevate their privileges on a compromised system.
These vulnerabilities are particularly concerning for Windows-based systems that support Virtualization Based Security (VBS) and Windows Backup. An attacker with the necessary privileges could exploit these weaknesses to reintroduce previously mitigated issues or circumvent VBS protections. The successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could lead to unauthorized elevated privileges on the targeted systems.
What Can Users Do to Stay Safe
In response to these vulnerabilities, CERT-In has advised users to follow the recommendations provided by Microsoft until a security update is released. Below is a list of affected Microsoft Windows versions:
- Windows Server 2016 (Server Core installation)
- Windows Server 2016
- Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems
- Windows 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems
- Windows 10 for x64-based Systems
- Windows 10 for 32-bit Systems
- Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems
- Windows 11 Version 24H2 for ARM64-based Systems
- Windows Server 2022, 23H2 Edition (Server Core installation)
- Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems
- Windows 11 Version 23H2 for ARM64-based Systems
- Windows 10 Version 22H2 for 32-bit Systems
- Windows 10 Version 22H2 for ARM64-based Systems
- Windows 10 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems
- Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems
- Windows 11 Version 22H2 for ARM64-based Systems
- Windows 10 Version 21H2 for x64-based Systems
- Windows 10 Version 21H2 for ARM64-based Systems
- Windows 10 Version 21H2 for 32-bit Systems
- Windows 11 version 21H2 for ARM64-based Systems
- Windows 11 version 21H2 for x64-based Systems
- Windows Server 2022 (Server Core installation)
- Windows Server 2022
- Windows Server 2019 (Server Core installation)
- Windows Server 2019
- Windows 10 Version 1809 for ARM64-based Systems
- Windows 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems
For those seeking to stay informed, updates from the world of technology can also be followed through WhatsApp Channels, ensuring that users remain aware of the latest developments.
