kernel Archives

Winsage

June 18, 2025

It’s time to update Asus Armoury Crate, folks—the latest vulnerability could allow hackers to compromise your Windows OS

A newly discovered vulnerability in Asus Armoury Crate, identified as CVE-2025-3464, has a severity rating of 8.4 out of 10 and allows hackers to gain low-level privileges on Windows systems. The affected versions of Armoury Crate range from V5.9.9.0 to V6.1.18.0. Researcher Marcin "Icewall" Noga from Cisco Talos highlighted this issue, prompting Asus to issue a product security advisory. Users are advised to verify their version of Armoury Crate and update to the latest version if necessary. No incidents of this exploit being actively used have been reported thus far. This is the second vulnerability found in an Asus utility within two months, following a separate issue with DriverHub reported in May.

Winsage

June 14, 2025

LibreOffice backs campaign to help users move from Windows 10 to Linux – and ditch Office, too

Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, prompting users to consider upgrading to Windows 11 or exploring alternatives like Linux. The End of 10 initiative aims to guide users toward affordable options, particularly Linux and LibreOffice, as many existing Windows 10 devices may not meet Windows 11's hardware requirements. The transition to Windows 11 may also lead to increased costs and reduced user autonomy due to its cloud-centric design. LibreOffice, an open-source productivity suite, offers essential tools without licensing fees and promotes open standards, though compatibility with Microsoft Office documents may vary. The Document Foundation suggests three steps for transitioning to Linux and LibreOffice: testing the new platform, assessing software compatibility, and providing training for users.

Winsage

June 13, 2025

Windows 11 update aims to fix game crashes for Nvidia GPUs

Microsoft has released its June 2025 security update for Windows 11, designated as KB5060999. This update addresses graphics and display-related issues, particularly within the Graphics Kernel, affecting users on Windows 11 version 24H2. It aims to resolve game freezing, memory leaks, and display glitches for users with Nvidia graphics cards. The update is being rolled out in phases due to a compatibility issue affecting a limited number of devices. It is fully functional for Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2. Users can manually check for the update if it does not appear immediately in their settings.

Winsage

June 12, 2025

Windows Task Scheduler Vulnerability Let Attackers Escalate Privileges

A critical security vulnerability, designated as CVE-2025-33067, has been identified in the Windows Task Scheduler, allowing attackers to escalate privileges to SYSTEM level access without prior administrative rights. This vulnerability is rated as "Important" with a CVSS score of 8.4 and is due to improper privilege management within the Windows Kernel’s task scheduling component. It affects multiple Windows versions, including Windows 10 (Versions 1607, 1809, 21H2, 22H2), Windows 11 (22H2, 23H2, 24H2), and Windows Server 2016-2025. Microsoft released security updates on June 10, 2025, to address this flaw across 27 different Windows configurations. The vulnerability requires local system access, no prior privileges, and no user interaction, making it particularly dangerous. Security researcher Alexander Pudwill discovered and disclosed the vulnerability.

Winsage

June 11, 2025

Microsoft June 2025 Patch Tuesday fixes exploited zero-day, 66 flaws

On June 2025 Patch Tuesday, Microsoft released security updates for 66 vulnerabilities, including one actively exploited and one publicly disclosed zero-day vulnerability. The updates addressed ten "Critical" vulnerabilities, with eight being remote code execution vulnerabilities and two related to elevation of privileges. The breakdown of vulnerabilities includes 13 Elevation of Privilege, 3 Security Feature Bypass, 25 Remote Code Execution, 17 Information Disclosure, 6 Denial of Service, and 2 Spoofing vulnerabilities. The actively exploited zero-day vulnerability is CVE-2025-33053, a WebDAV Remote Code Execution vulnerability, while the publicly disclosed zero-day is CVE-2025-33073, a Windows SMB Client Elevation of Privilege vulnerability. Other companies also released updates in June 2025, including Adobe, Cisco, Fortinet, Google, HPE, Ivanti, Qualcomm, Roundcube, and SAP, addressing various vulnerabilities across their products.

Tech Optimizer

June 3, 2025

Misspell one word and you’re infected: New malware campaign fools developers on both Windows and Linux

Cybersecurity experts have highlighted the risks of typosquatting, where developers accidentally download malicious packages due to typographical errors. A report from Checkmarx reveals that attackers exploit this trust by creating counterfeit packages that can grant unauthorized access to systems. Malicious packages have been found in the Python Package Index (PyPI) and can enable remote control, posing serious threats to system integrity. Attackers employ a cross-platform strategy, mixing names from different programming environments to target unsuspecting users. On Windows, malware can create scheduled tasks and disable antivirus protections, while on Linux, certain packages facilitate encrypted reverse shells for data exfiltration. Although the malicious packages have been removed, the threat remains, prompting developers to verify package sources and spellings. Checkmarx recommends organizations conduct audits of deployed packages and scrutinize application code to enhance security.

Winsage

May 30, 2025

Still on Windows 11 23H2 because you’re worried 24H2 is a disaster for PC gaming? Microsoft’s latest update could persuade you to finally upgrade

The latest optional patch for Windows 11, identified as KB5058499, addresses critical issues affecting PC games, particularly those using Nvidia GPUs. It resolves problems such as games freezing upon launch and specific titles becoming unresponsive after upgrading to version 24H2. The patch also targets a memory leak within the ‘Input Service,’ which may contribute to input lag and blue screen crashes linked to ‘memory management’ errors. The root cause of the game lock-up problem was found to be within the Windows 11 kernel, not Nvidia's graphics drivers. Users can install the patch to potentially restore functionality to their games or wait for the full cumulative update scheduled for June 10.

Winsage

May 30, 2025

Updaing your Windows 10 PC? I found a Linux distro that can give it 5 to 10 more years of life

FunOS is a Linux distribution focused on stability, performance, and security, built on Ubuntu LTS. It features a lightweight architecture with Joe's Window Manager, resulting in an idle RAM usage of approximately 250 MB and an installer size of 1.8 GB. The installation process takes less than five minutes, and the desktop layout resembles traditional environments. FunOS lacks a graphical user interface for the package manager and does not include an app store, requiring users to manage software via the command line. Users can install Synaptic for easier software management. FunOS is designed for older Windows 10 machines, offering a practical solution for extending their lifespan without the bloat of heavier operating systems.

Winsage

May 28, 2025

The Windows File Explorer is still so bad when it comes to networked drives

File Explorer in Windows 11 has usability issues, particularly with sluggish search functionality and problems accessing networked drives. Users often experience drives disappearing after reboot, inaccessibility to files, and freezing of File Explorer, with error codes like c0000375 indicating deeper issues. The networked drive feature relies on outdated technology, as Microsoft has deprecated older protocols like SMBv1, complicating file sharing. Users can mitigate freezing by restarting File Explorer and ensuring network settings are correctly configured, such as setting Wi-Fi to private and enabling file sharing options. Excessive pinned items in Quick Access can cause crashes, and clearing the cache may resolve these issues. Alternatives to File Explorer, like XYplorer and File Pilot, can provide better access to networked drives. Overall, the challenges stem from outdated technology and the corruption of the Quick Access cache, with third-party solutions available for relief.

Winsage

May 27, 2025

This lean Linux distro can give your Windows 10 PC an extra 5 to 10 years of life

FunOS is a Linux distribution built on Ubuntu LTS, focusing on stability, performance, and security. It has an idle RAM usage of approximately 250 MB and an installer size of 1.8 GB, making it suitable for older hardware. The installation process is straightforward, taking about five minutes. FunOS features a familiar desktop layout but lacks a graphical user interface for the package manager and does not include an app store. Users can install Synaptic via the terminal for software management. FunOS is designed for users with older Windows 10 machines, aiming to extend their lifespan while prioritizing a simple and efficient user experience.