out-of-band update Archives

Winsage

March 23, 2026

Microsoft fixes broken Windows update days after vowing fewer broken updates

Microsoft released an out-of-band update to address bugs from the March 2026 security update, which caused some users to receive a "no internet" error when signing into Microsoft applications, despite having a stable connection. Users utilizing Microsoft Entra ID were not affected by this issue. Prior to the fix, Microsoft advised users to restart their devices and maintain a stable internet connection. The new update includes all elements from the March 10 security update and specifically resolves the connectivity issue. Windows chief Pavan Davuluri has committed to improving reliability and stability in the operating system, emphasizing thorough testing of updates before release.

Winsage

March 20, 2026

Microsoft breaks Microsoft account sign-ins in Windows 11 with latest update

Microsoft is facing a significant issue affecting account sign-ins for Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 24H2 due to a recent update. Users signing in with Microsoft accounts may receive error messages indicating a lack of internet connectivity, despite being online. This issue does not affect businesses using Entra ID for authentication. Microsoft has acknowledged the problem and suggested that it may resolve on its own, with a device restart often helping if the device is connected to the internet. However, restarting without an active connection may perpetuate the issue. Microsoft is working on a resolution and may release an out-of-band update to address the complications from the March 10 update. Additionally, enterprise users have reported Bluetooth problems with hotpatching enabled.

Winsage

March 11, 2026

Microsoft Patch Tuesday, March 2026 Edition

Microsoft Corp. has released security updates addressing at least 77 vulnerabilities across its Windows operating systems and various software applications. Key vulnerabilities include: - CVE-2026-21262: Allows an attacker to elevate privileges on SQL Server 2016 and later, with a CVSS v3 base score of 8.8. - CVE-2026-26127: Affects applications running on .NET, potentially leading to denial of service. - CVE-2026-26113 and CVE-2026-26110: Remote code execution flaws in Microsoft Office exploitable by viewing malicious messages in the Preview Pane. - CVE-2026-24291, CVE-2026-24294, CVE-2026-24289, and CVE-2026-25187: Privilege escalation vulnerabilities rated CVSS 7.8. - CVE-2026-21536: A critical remote code execution bug identified by an AI agent, marking a shift toward AI-driven vulnerability discovery. Additionally, Microsoft previously addressed nine browser vulnerabilities and issued an out-of-band update on March 2 for Windows Server 2022. Adobe has released updates for 80 vulnerabilities across its products, and Mozilla Firefox version 148.0.2 has resolved three high-severity CVEs.

Winsage

January 26, 2026

Microsoft issues SECOND emergency out of band update for Windows 11 to address disastrous Patch Tuesday bugs

Microsoft's January 2026 Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 11 have caused significant user frustration, leading to two emergency out-of-band updates within a week to address critical issues. The latest emergency update, KB5078127, was released to fix problems that made applications like Outlook, OneDrive, and Dropbox inoperable after the January 13 updates. Initially, users were advised to uninstall the updates as a temporary fix. The first emergency update on January 17 aimed to resolve shutdown and hibernation failures for version 23H2 and issues with Remote Desktop sign-in, but it inadvertently caused further disruptions to essential applications. The Windows release health dashboard remains a key resource for users seeking updates on ongoing issues.

Winsage

January 26, 2026

Microsoft’s first Windows 11 update of 2026 has been a mess

Microsoft has issued two emergency fixes for issues arising from its January 2026 update for Windows 11. The first patch aimed to resolve various problems but resulted in shutdown issues for certain machines, particularly those using the Enterprise and IoT editions of Windows 11 version 23H2. In response, Microsoft released an out-of-band update to fix these shutdown problems. A week later, another out-of-band update was required to address crashes in OneDrive and Dropbox for users on Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2. Additionally, Microsoft is investigating reports of boot failures linked to the January update, with some machines experiencing bluescreen errors and requiring manual recovery. This situation mirrors a previous incident where a security update was initially blamed for SSD issues, which were later attributed to firmware and motherboard BIOS problems.

Winsage

January 26, 2026

Microsoft releases second emergency Windows 11 update to fix Outlook crashes

Microsoft has released an out-of-band update to fix a critical bug causing Outlook to crash for Windows 11 users, following complications from the January 2026 Windows security update. The update addresses issues where applications became unresponsive or generated errors when opening or saving files in cloud-backed locations, particularly affecting PST files on OneDrive. This is Microsoft's second emergency patch this year, reflecting their commitment to urgent user concerns. Additionally, some Windows 11 devices experienced shutdown and hibernation issues, while users of Windows 10 and 11 faced login difficulties via remote connections. The update allows users to resolve these issues with a single installation, restoring application functionality.

Winsage

January 19, 2026

Windows 11 shutdown bug forces Microsoft into out-of-band damage control

Microsoft released an out-of-band update for Windows 11, designated as KB5077797, on January 17 for version 23H2 to address a critical malfunction that prevented some systems from shutting down, restarting, or hibernating after the January Patch Tuesday update. This issue primarily affected systems with System Guard Secure Launch enabled by default. The update also resolves a separate authentication problem with Remote Desktop that caused credential prompts to fail or loop indefinitely. Additionally, Microsoft acknowledged a bug affecting classic Outlook POP account profiles, which has not yet been fixed. Users are urged to install KB5077797 to resolve these issues.

Winsage

January 19, 2026

Windows 11 PCs Fail To Shut Down After Update

Some users of Windows 11 have experienced a problem where their PCs reboot instead of shutting down after the Patch Tuesday security update KB5073455. This issue primarily affects devices with Secure Launch on Windows 11 version 23H2. Microsoft has confirmed this behavior, which disrupts the usual power-off sequence and can drain battery life for laptops and complicate remote management processes. An out-of-band update, KB5077797, has been released to restore normal shutdown and hibernation functionalities for affected systems. Users can check for this update in Windows Update or download it from the Microsoft Update Catalog. To determine if they are affected, users should look for immediate restarts when selecting Shut Down or Hibernate and check if Secure Launch is enabled in System Information.

Winsage

January 18, 2026

Microsoft Confirms Emergency Updates For Most Windows PCs

Microsoft has released emergency fixes in response to issues arising from January's Patch Tuesday security updates. Users experienced shutdown failures and Remote Desktop login difficulties after the updates. Microsoft has resolved two critical bugs: one related to shutdown failures on Windows 11 version 23H2 and another concerning Remote Desktop connection failures on versions 24H2 and 25H2. However, three issues remain unpatched: a black screen before the cursor appears, a glitch resetting the desktop background to black, and problems with the desktop.ini file in File Explorer. Additionally, there is an unresolved issue with Outlook Classic that may cause it to freeze for users with older POP accounts. Microsoft has provided two emergency updates: KB5077744 for Remote Desktop connection failures on versions 25H2 and 24H2, and KB5077797 for the shutdown issue on version 23H2.

Winsage

January 16, 2026

Easterly helms RSAC, Windows update problems, Police Copilot gaffe

Jen Easterly has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of the RSA Conference. She is a cybersecurity expert and former Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Palo Alto Networks has released security updates for a vulnerability (CVE-2026-0227) with a CVSS score of 7.7 affecting its GlobalProtect Gateway and Portal, which can cause a denial-of-service condition in PAN-OS software. The January 2026 security update from Microsoft has caused connection and authentication failures in Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365, affecting users across various Windows versions. Microsoft is working on a resolution. The chief constable of West Midlands Police acknowledged an error by Microsoft’s Copilot AI in generating a fictional intelligence report. Microsoft has not confirmed Copilot's involvement. Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has collaborated with Five Eyes partners to provide guidance on securing industrial operational technology, highlighting risks associated with remotely monitored systems. Kyowon, a South Korean conglomerate, confirmed a ransomware attack on January 10 that may have compromised customer information, affecting approximately 5.5 million members. Researchers at Varonis have identified a new attack technique called "Reprompt" that allows data exfiltration from Microsoft Copilot via a malicious link, exploiting a Parameter 2 Prompt (P2P) injection technique. Central Maine Healthcare is notifying over 145,000 patients about a data breach that compromised personal, treatment, and health insurance information, discovered on June 1.