As the calm after the storm of April patches settles in, the tech world gears up for May 2024 Patch Tuesday. The previous month was a flurry of activity, with Microsoft addressing 150 new Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) in their updates. Windows 10 saw 91 CVEs fixed, Windows 11 had 69 addressed, and Microsoft SQL Server had 38 security updates. Despite this large number, only three CVEs were rated Critical, with one zero-day release, CVE-2024-26234.

Following the busy April Patch Tuesday, where Microsoft had their hands full with numerous vulnerabilities, May’s forecast appears to be a more manageable one. The focus shifts to the threats faced over the past year, providing context for the importance of timely and effective patch management. The recently released Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) 2024 sheds light on the evolving landscape of cyber threats and the critical role of patching vulnerabilities promptly.

One of the issues that have been making waves in the patch forums is the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) problem. A Bitlocker vulnerability fix introduced in the January 2024 Patch Tuesday update has led to errors during installation, requiring the manual resizing of the recovery partition before updating. Microsoft has provided instructions for users to manually enlarge the partition, but no automated solutions are currently available, causing frustration for some users.

In other Microsoft-related news, Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 is now available for commercial preview, offering a standalone on-premises version of Office that is not reliant on continuous cloud connectivity. Additionally, an April 2024 hotfix update for Exchange Server addresses issues from the previous month’s release and introduces Hybrid Modern Authentication (HMA) for Outlook Web App (OWA) and Exchange Control Panel (ECP).

Looking ahead to May 2024 Patch Tuesday, industry experts expect a smaller set of updates compared to the previous month. Windows and Server updates, along with Office and Sharepoint Server patches, are anticipated. Adobe recently added six additional CVEs to their security update list, prompting speculation about potential reissues. Apple and Google are also due for updates across their supported operating systems, with Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox releases expected.

As organizations prepare for the upcoming Patch Tuesday, the insights from the Data Breach Investigations Report serve as a valuable resource for understanding the evolving threat landscape. By staying informed and proactive in patch management practices, businesses can mitigate risks and strengthen their cybersecurity posture. Stay tuned for updates on May 2024 Patch Tuesday and be proactive in implementing necessary security measures to safeguard against potential vulnerabilities.

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