August’s Patch Cycle from Microsoft: A Critical Update for Organizations

As we approach the midpoint of 2024, Microsoft has released its latest set of security patches as part of its monthly Patch Tuesday cycle. The update brings a significant 90 new vulnerabilities across various Microsoft products, with six of these flaws already being actively exploited by attackers. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the details of what’s being patched and provide insights on why patching is crucial for organizations.

The Lowdown: What’s Being Patched

Microsoft has identified an astonishing 90 new vulnerabilities across its products, including:

• Six elevation of privilege bugs (CVE-2024-38189) in Microsoft Project Remote, which are already under active exploitation. These flaws allow attackers to gain elevated privileges, potentially leading to data breaches or system compromise.
• Four publicly known vulnerabilities, with nine rated as critical by Microsoft. While none of these have been exploited yet, it’s only a matter of time before attackers start exploiting them.
• A dozen bugs from third-party vendors that are now included in Microsoft’s monthly update.

The majority of the patched flaws are rated as important or moderate severity, indicating that they could potentially lead to system compromise, data breaches, or other security issues. It’s essential for organizations to prioritize patching and ensure that their systems are up-to-date with the latest security updates.

Why Patching is Important

Patching is no longer a nicety; it’s a necessity. With the constant evolution of cyber threats, vulnerabilities can quickly become exploited, resulting in significant financial losses, reputational damage, or even legal consequences. Here are just a few reasons why patching is critical for organizations:

• Protection from Attacks: Patching helps protect systems from attacks by eliminating known vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit.
• Prevention of Data Breaches: Unpatched vulnerabilities can lead to data breaches, compromising sensitive information and putting organizations at risk of non-compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Mitigation of Risk: By patching regularly, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of system compromise or data breaches, ensuring business continuity and minimizing downtime.

What You Can Do

As an organization, it’s essential to prioritize patching and ensure that your systems are up-to-date with the latest security updates. Here are some steps you can take:

• Keep Your Systems Updated: Regularly update your Windows, Office, and Exchange systems to prevent exploitation of vulnerabilities.
• Monitor for Suspicious Activity: Implement robust monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to potential attacks.
• Stay Informed: Stay up-to-date with the latest security patches and advisories from Microsoft and other trusted sources.

Conclusion

Microsoft’s August patch cycle is a critical update that organizations cannot afford to ignore. With 90 new vulnerabilities being patched, it’s essential to prioritize patching and ensure that your systems are up-to-date with the latest security updates. Remember: patching is no longer a nicety; it’s a necessity. Don’t wait – get patching!

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