IRONSMITHINTEL
MEDIUMCVSS5.4
|
Actively Exploited
|CISA KEV|CVE-2024-38217|Auth: none — unauthenticated|Reboot: required|Manual only

KB5042880: Windows Server 2019 / 2022 / 2016 +more Security Update (September 2024)

Microsoft Windows Mark of the Web (MOTW) contains a protection mechanism failure vulnerability that allows an attacker to bypass MOTW-based defenses. This can result in a limited loss of integrity and availability of security features such as Protected View in Microsoft Office, which rely on MOTW tagging.

Published Sep 10, 2024 · Updated Jun 10, 2026
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Why patchRisk explained in plain English
Worst-case scenarioIf unpatched

A remote attacker, without authentication, can achieve partial data exposure, partial data tampering, partial service disruption. Federal agencies are required to remediate by 2024-10-01 under CISA BOD 22-01.

How the attack worksNo clicks needed

This is a Software Vulnerability (CWE-693) (CWE-693) vulnerability in Microsoft Windows. Windows Mark of the Web Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability Exploitation requires remote network access, low attack complexity, no authentication required, and user interaction required.

📧

Phishing link

→

🖼

Malicious file

🔓

Server compromised

Am I affected?Quick check

Probably yes if any of these apply:

●Windows Administrators
●Systems Engineers
●IT Security
●Running windows 10 1507: v < 10.0.10240.20766; windows 10 1607: v < 10.0.14393.7336; windows 10 1809: v < 10.0.17763.6293; windows 10 21h2: v < 10.0.19044.4894; windows 10 22h2: v < 10.0.19045.4894; windows 11 21h2: v < 10.0.22000.3197; windows 11 22h2: v < 10.0.22621.4169; windows 11 23h2: v < 10.0.22631.4169; windows 11 24h2: v < 10.0.26100.1742; windows server 2008: -, r2; windows server 2012: -, r2; windows server 2016: v < 10.0.14393.7336; windows server 2019: v < 10.0.17763.6293; windows server 2022: v < 10.0.20348.2700; windows server 2022 23h2: v < 10.0.25398.1128

Affected OS versions

Windows Server 2019Windows Server 2022Windows Server 2016Windows Server 2012 R2
Fixed inKB5042880, KB5042881, KB5043050, KB5043051, KB5043055, KB5043064, KB5043067, KB5043076, KB5043080, KB5043083, KB5043087, KB5043092, KB5043125, KB5043129, KB5043135, KB5043138 (applies to 37 product versions) — build 10.0.10240.20766, 10.0.14393.7336+
Real-world incidentsWhat we've seen

Active exploitation documented in the wild. Threat-research write-up: https://www.elastic.co/security-labs/dismantling-smart-app-control

How to patch

Manual download

For air-gapped servers or out-of-band deployment. Microsoft Update Catalog returns every OS-version variant of this update.

↗ Microsoft Update CatalogKB5042880

Manual remediation steps

Apply the Microsoft Security Update

Microsoft has released an official security update that fixes this vulnerability.

Required KB Updates

    1
    KB5042880 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5042880
    1
    KB5042881 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5042881
    1
    KB5043050 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5043050
    1
    KB5043051 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5043051
    1
    KB5043055 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5043055
    1
    KB5043064 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5043064
    1
    KB5043067 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5043067
    1
    KB5043076 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5043076
    1
    KB5043080 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5043080
    1
    KB5043083 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5043083
    1
    KB5043087 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5043087
    1
    KB5043092 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5043092
    1
    KB5043125 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5043125
    1
    KB5043129 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5043129
    1
    KB5043135 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5043135
    1
    KB5043138 — https://support.microsoft.com/help/5043138

Supersedes: KB5041160, KB5041573, KB5041578, KB5041580, KB5041585, KB5041592, KB5041773, KB5041782, KB5041828, KB5041838, KB5041850, KB5041851

Affected Products

    1
    Windows 10 Version 1607 for 32-bit Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 1607 for x64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 1809 for 32-bit Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 1809 for x64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 21H2 for 32-bit Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 21H2 for ARM64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 21H2 for x64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 22H2 for 32-bit Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 22H2 for ARM64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 10 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 10 for 32-bit Systems
    1
    Windows 10 for x64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 11 Version 22H2 for ARM64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 11 Version 23H2 for ARM64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 11 Version 23H2 for x64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 11 Version 24H2 for ARM64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 11 version 21H2 for ARM64-based Systems
    1
    Windows 11 version 21H2 for x64-based Systems
    1
    (…17 more product versions)

Fixed Build Numbers

    1
    10.0.10240.20766
    1
    10.0.14393.7336
    1
    10.0.17763.6293
    1
    10.0.19044.4894
    1
    10.0.19045.4894
    1
    10.0.20348.2695
    1
    10.0.20348.2700
    1
    10.0.22000.3197
    1
    10.0.22621.4169
    1
    10.0.22631.4169
    1
    (…6 more builds)

Installation Methods

Windows Update (recommended)

1
Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates
2
The security update is offered if your system is in scope
3
Restart when prompted — a reboot IS required to complete the install

Microsoft Update Catalog (manual download)

1
Open https://catalog.update.microsoft.com
2
Search for KB5042880
3
Download the package matching your OS architecture and Windows build
4
Run the .msu installer with administrator privileges
5
Restart when prompted

WSUS / SCCM / Intune

Approve KB5042880 for the affected products in your update management console.

Microsoft Download Center Links

    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5042880
    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5042881
    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5043050
    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5043051
    1
    https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=KB5043055
    1
    (…11 more)

Verification

Confirm the update is installed:

Get-HotFix | Where-Object { $_.HotFixID -in @('KB5042880','KB5042881','KB5043050','KB5043051','KB5043055','KB5043064','KB5043067','KB5043076','KB5043080','KB5043083','KB5043087','KB5043092','KB5043125','KB5043129','KB5043135','KB5043138') }

References

    1
    Microsoft Security Response Center: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2024-38217
    1
    KB article: https://support.microsoft.com/help/5042881
    1
    KB article: https://support.microsoft.com/help/5043050
    1
    KB article: https://support.microsoft.com/help/5043051
    1
    NVD entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-38217
    1
    CISA KEV: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2024-38217

Discovery Credit

Joe Desimone with Elastic Security

PowerShell automationComing soon

No tested PowerShell script for this entry yet. We’re prioritising automation based on user demand.

References

↗ CVE-2024-38217↗ MSRC Advisory↗ KBKB5042880

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