The Register: Microsoft patches critical SharePoint 2016 zero-days amid active exploits

Jul 22, 2025

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Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/22/microsoft_sharepoint_2016_patch/
Source: The Register
Title: Microsoft patches critical SharePoint 2016 zero-days amid active exploits

Feedly Summary: Admins urged to rotate machine keys, restart IIS after emergency fix
Microsoft has good news for administrators running SharePoint Server 2016. The cloud and software megacorp has published updates to close a gaping hole in the document management service.…

AI Summary and Description: Yes

Summary: Microsoft has released emergency updates for SharePoint Server 2016 to address a significant vulnerability, urging administrators to rotate machine keys and restart their Internet Information Services (IIS). This development highlights the critical importance of regular updates in maintaining cloud and software security.

Detailed Description: The recent advisory from Microsoft signifies an important development in the realm of cloud computing and software security. The vulnerability identified in SharePoint Server 2016 underscores the risks that organizations face in their document management services.

Key points include:

– **Emergency Updates**: Microsoft has published urgent patches to mitigate a serious security flaw within SharePoint Server 2016, emphasizing the need for immediate action by system administrators.

– **Key Rotation**: Administrators are advised to rotate their machine keys, a practice that enhances security by ensuring that any compromised keys are no longer valid.

– **IIS Restart**: An additional step recommended is to restart Internet Information Services (IIS) to fully implement the emergency fix and ensure that the updates take effect.

– **Vulnerability Management**: This incident serves as a critical reminder about the importance of timely software updates and proactive management of vulnerabilities within enterprise applications, especially in cloud environments.

– **Cloud Security Implications**: Given that SharePoint is often deployed in the cloud, the updates and recommendations directly relate to cloud computing security, making it essential for professionals in this field to remain vigilant about such announcements.

The alert from Microsoft symbolizes broader trends in cybersecurity—where timely patching, key management, and system restarts are fundamental to maintaining robust security postures. Security professionals and system administrators should take heed to mitigate risks effectively.

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