Microsoft has released its monthly Patch Tuesday security updates for January 2024, including KB5034122 for Windows 10. This critical update addresses several high-profile vulnerabilities and other issues impacting the operating system.
Overview of the KB5034122 Update
The KB5034122 update is part of Microsoft’s January 2024 Patch Tuesday release, which contains fixes for a total of 49 common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVEs).
According to reports from The Hacker News and BleepingComputer, 12 of the bugs addressed this month are rated as critical in severity. The most urgent of these impact Windows Kerberos and Hyper-V and could enable elevation of privilege, security feature bypass, and remote code execution.
Specific fixes in the Windows 10 KB5034122 update include:
- A patch for a bug causing some devices to get stuck shutting down
- Mitigation for a elevation of privilege vulnerability in Win32k (tracked as CVE-2023-21715) that is being actively exploited
- Fixes for multiple remote code execution flaws in Hyper-V
- Updates to improve startup reliability
This critical update is considered urgent and highly recommended for all Windows 10 users to install.
Background Leading Up to the Release
The January Patch Tuesday updates cap off several eventful weeks for Microsoft to kick off 2024.
In late December, researchers discovered two security flaws that could have enabled bypassing of BitLocker protection on Windows devices. Microsoft responded by releasing emergency out-of-band updates (KB5034440 and KB5034441) on January 3rd.
Additional analysis and forecasts leading up to Patch Tuesday prepared organizations for a relatively calm release addressing fewer critical flaws than average, with 49 CVEs total predicted across Windows, Office, and other products.
However, the updates were still considered essential due to the actively exploited elevation of privilege bug in Win32k affecting Windows 8.1 and later. Several of the RCE flaws fixed this month also garnered extra scrutiny.
What’s Next After the KB5034122 Release
The January Patch Tuesday updates help kick off 2024 on a secure note for Microsoft products. However, organizations need to remain vigilant about installing these latest fixes promptly before threat actors have a chance to reverse engineer them.
Researchers recommend prioritizing deployment of KB5034122 and the other Windows security updates within the next couple weeks. Some of the fixed vulnerabilities are ranked high on the exploitation risk scale.
IT teams should also continue monitoring for any new issues or bugs arising from this month’s patches, such as compatibility problems or broken drivers. So far reports indicate the January updates are not causing widespread disruptions.
Additionally, start preparing for next month’s round of Patch Tuesday releases. February 2024 is likely to bring another sizable batch of critical CVEs requiring urgent attention.
On the horizon, Microsoft is expected to ramp up security hardening in Windows 11 throughout 2024. Features like Smart App Control and hardware-backed isolation for credential guards are high priorities on the roadmap.
Overall the January Patch Tuesday updates like KB5034122 demonstrate Microsoft’s commitment to transparent vulnerability disclosure and patching. Keeping Windows desktops, servers, and cloud services locked down takes ongoing vigilance through prompt installation of the company’s latest security rollups.
Notable Statistics
Here is a breakdown of some notable statistics on the January 2024 Patch Tuesday updates:
| CVEs Addressed | 49 |
|---|---|
| Critical Vulnerabilities | 12 |
| Exploited Vulnerabilities | 1 (CVE-2023-21715) |
| Remote Code Execution | 8 |
| Elevation of Privilege | 15 |
| Security Feature Bypass | 5 |
| Spoofing | 4 |
| Denial of Service | 5 |
Timeline of Key Events
Here is a quick timeline of events related to this month’s updates:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| December 21st, 2023 | Bitlocker/Secure Boot vulnerabilities publicly disclosed |
| January 3rd, 2024 | Microsoft releases emergency patches for BitLocker issues |
| January 5th, 2024 | January Patch Tuesday forecast released |
| January 10th, 2024 | Microsoft releases January 2024 Patch Tuesday updates, including KB5034122 |
| January 10th, 2024 | Organizations begin deploying latest cumulative updates and security fixes |
Moving forward, companies should set a goal of installing updates like KB5034122 within two weeks of release to limit exposure to fixed vulnerabilities.
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
