Critical Patches Issued for Microsoft Products, December 14, 2021
MS-ISAC ADVISORY NUMBER:
2021-161DATE(S) ISSUED:
12/14/2021OVERVIEW:
Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in Microsoft products, the most severe of which could allow for remote code execution in the context of the logged on user. Depending on the privileges associated with the user, an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than those who operate with administrative user rights.
THREAT INTELLIGENCE:
There are currently reports of CVE-2021-43890 being exploited in the wild to spread malware such as Emotet, Trickbot, and Bazaloader.
SYSTEMS AFFECTED:
- Apps
- ASP.NET Core & Visual Studio
- Azure Bot Framework SDK
- BizTalk ESB Toolkit
- Internet Storage Name Service
- Microsoft Defender for IoT
- Microsoft Devices
- Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based)
- Microsoft Local Security Authority Server (lsasrv)
- Microsoft Message Queuing
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Office Access
- Microsoft Office Excel
- Microsoft Office SharePoint
- Microsoft PowerShell
- Microsoft Windows Codecs Library
- Office Developer Platform
- Remote Desktop Client
- Role: Windows Fax Service
- Role: Windows Hyper-V
- Visual Studio Code
- Visual Studio Code - WSL Extension
- Windows Common Log File System Driver
- Windows Digital TV Tuner
- Windows DirectX
- Windows Encrypting File System (EFS)
- Windows Event Tracing
- Windows Installer
- Windows Kernel
- Windows Media
- Windows Mobile Device Management
- Windows NTFS
- Windows Print Spooler Components
- Windows Remote Access Connection Manager
- Windows Storage
- Windows Storage Spaces Controller
- Windows SymCrypt
- Windows TCP/IP
- Windows Update Stack
RISK:
Government:
Businesses:
Home Users:
TECHNICAL SUMMARY:
Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in Microsoft products, the most severe of which could allow for remote code execution.
A full list of all vulnerabilities can be found at the link below:
https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide
Successful exploitation of the most severe of these vulnerabilities could result in an attacker gaining the same privileges as the logged-on user. Depending on the privileges associated with the user, an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than those who operate with administrative user rights.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
We recommend the following actions be taken:
- Apply appropriate patches or appropriate mitigations provided by Microsoft to vulnerable systems immediately after appropriate testing.
- Apply the Principle of Least Privilege to all systems and services, and run all software as a non-privileged user (one without administrative rights) to diminish the effects of a successful attack.
- Remind all users not to visit untrusted websites or follow links/open files provided by unknown or untrusted sources.