Krebs on Security: Microsoft Patch Tuesday, September 2025 Edition

Source URL: https://krebsonsecurity.com/2025/09/microsoft-patch-tuesday-september-2025-edition/
Source: Krebs on Security
Title: Microsoft Patch Tuesday, September 2025 Edition

Feedly Summary: Microsoft Corp. today issued security updates to fix more than 80 vulnerabilities in its Windows operating systems and software. There are no known “zero-day" or actively exploited vulnerabilities in this month’s bundle from Redmond, which nevertheless includes patches for 13 flaws that earned Microsoft’s most-dire "critical" label. Meanwhile, both Apple and Google recently released updates to fix zero-day bugs in their devices.

AI Summary and Description: Yes

Summary: Microsoft recently released security updates addressing over 80 vulnerabilities in its Windows operating systems, including critical flaws that allow privilege escalation and potential remote code execution. The updates are crucial for maintaining system security, especially with existing privilege escalation vulnerabilities requiring network access. Concurrently, Apple and Google also patched zero-day vulnerabilities on their devices.

Detailed Description: Microsoft’s extensive security updates are significant due to the following key points:

* **Volume and Severity**: Microsoft addressed more than 80 vulnerabilities, with 13 categorized as “critical,” emphasizing the continued risk of exploitation in operating systems.

* **Critical Vulnerabilities**:
– **CVE-2025-54918 (NTLM Vulnerability)**: This flaw, labeled as privilege escalation, can be exploited over the network, allowing unauthorized access to SYSTEM-level privileges. This requires attackers to send specially crafted packets without needing direct access.

– **CVE-2025-55234 (SMB Client Vulnerability)**: Another critical issue, allowing attackers with network access to perform replay attacks, leading to elevated privileges and potential code execution.

* **Privilege Escalation Insight**: A notable trend indicates that nearly half of the flaws patched involve privilege escalation, suggesting a shift in attack methods where attackers first gain system access before elevating privileges.

* **Comparison with Other Companies**: Similar updates from Apple and Google highlight a broader industry effort to mitigate security risks, as they addressed zero-day vulnerabilities recently under attack.

* **Recommendations for Users**:
– **Keep Systems Updated**: Users should promptly install the latest patches to protect against known vulnerabilities.

– **Regular Backups**: Regular data backups are recommended to mitigate the risk of data loss during exploit attempts or system failures.

* **Resources for Admins**: IT professionals should utilize resources like the SANS Internet Storm Center and AskWoody for detailed vulnerability information and patch testing before implementation.

* **Long-Term Implications**: As Microsoft phases out free security updates for Windows 10, organizations using these older systems must be vigilant in maintaining security, potentially considering upgrades to newer operating systems to avoid vulnerabilities in unsupported versions.

In summary, staying informed and proactive about security updates is critical for professionals in the fields of information security and infrastructure management, especially as threat landscapes continue to evolve.