Protect Your Systems: Critical Microsoft Patches Released for March 2024

13.03.24

Threat Intelligence Alerts

Microsoft has released its latest batch of security updates through the March 2024 Patch Tuesday. This month’s release addresses a total of 60 vulnerabilities, 18 of which are rated as Remote Code Execution (RCE) bugs, which are among the most severe types of vulnerabilities.

Background on Patch Tuesday

Patch Tuesday refers to the monthly release of security updates and patches by Microsoft for its Windows operating systems and other software products. These updates are released on the second Tuesday of each month, providing fixes for newly discovered vulnerabilities and security flaws. Keeping systems up-to-date with the latest patches is crucial for maintaining a secure computing environment and protecting against potential cyber threats.

Critical Vulnerabilities Addressed

Among the most significant vulnerabilities addressed in this month’s release are several RCE bugs that could allow an attacker to remotely execute malicious code on a victim’s system without user interaction. These vulnerabilities affect various Microsoft products, including:

If left unpatched, these vulnerabilities could be exploited by cybercriminals to gain unauthorised access, install malware, or carry out other malicious activities on affected systems.

Protecting Your Systems

To mitigate the risks posed by these vulnerabilities, it is essential for individuals and organisations to apply the latest security updates as soon as possible. Microsoft has made these updates available through the Windows Update service and the Microsoft Update Catalog.

Here are some best practices to help protect your systems:

Enable automatic updates: Configure your systems to automatically install updates as they become available. This ensures that your systems are always up-to-date with the latest security patches.

Manually check for updates: If you prefer to install updates manually, regularly check for and install new updates through the Windows Update feature or the Microsoft Update Catalog.

Prioritise critical updates: Pay close attention to updates marked as “Critical” or “Important,” as these address the most severe vulnerabilities and should be installed promptly.

Keep software updated: In addition to Windows updates, ensure that you keep other software applications, such as web browsers, office suites, and multimedia players, up-to-date with the latest security patches.

Implement defence-in-depth measures: While patching is essential, it’s also crucial to adopt a multi-layered security approach, including the use of firewalls, antivirus/antimalware software, and regular backups, to further reduce your risk exposure.

By staying vigilant and promptly applying security updates, individuals and businesses can better protect their systems against cyber threats and maintain a secure computing environment.