page = krebs on security – in-depth security news and …

url = https://krebsonsecurity.com analysed @ 2021-08-12 04:07 UTC

Microsoft today released software updates to plug at least 44 security vulnerabilities in its Windows operating systems and related products. The software giant warned that attackers already are pouncing on one of the flaws, which ironically enough involves an easy-to-exploit bug in the software component responsible for patching Windows 10 PCs and Windows Server 2019 machines.
Microsoft said attackers have seized upon CVE-2021-36948 , which is a weakness in the Windows Update Medic service. Update Medic is a new service that lets users repair Windows Update components from a damaged state so that the device can continue to receive updates.
Redmond says while CVE-2021-36948 is being actively exploited, it is not aware of exploit code publicly available. The flaw is an “elevation of privilege” vulnerability that affects Windows 10 and Windows Server 2019 , meaning it can be leveraged in combination with another vulnerability to let attackers run code of their choice as administrator on a vulnerable system.
“CVE-2021-36948 is a privilege escalation vulnerability – the cornerstone of modern intrusions as they allow attackers the level of access to do things like hide their tracks and create user accounts,” said Kevin Breen of Immersive Labs . “In the case of ransomware attacks, they have also been used to ensure maximum damage.” Continue reading →