Windows Server 2025: Hotpatching Hiccup or Security Snafu?
In a twist worthy of a tech sitcom, the KB5070881 security update meant to patch the CVE-2025-59287 flaw has unexpectedly broken hotpatching on some Windows Server 2025 devices. Admins can now enjoy a brief intermission while they download the new update, KB5070893, that fixes the flaw without causing hotpatching chaos.
Hot Take:
Who would have thought that a quick fix could turn your hotpatching dreams into lukewarm nightmares? Looks like Windows Server 2025 admins are riding the rollercoaster of updates – one that occasionally derails but promises a thrilling patching experience!
Key Points:
- Out-of-band security update KB5070881 causes hotpatching issues on Windows Server 2025.
- The update addresses a critical CVE-2025-59287 RCE vulnerability actively exploited in the wild.
- Microsoft halts the KB5070881 update for Hotpatch-enrolled systems.
- New update KB5070893 fixes the vulnerability without breaking hotpatching.
- Additional Microsoft fixes involve Windows 11 Task Manager and Media Creation Tool issues.
Patch It Up, Buttercup
In the grand theater of cybersecurity, where every vulnerability is the star of its own show, the out-of-band (OOB) security update KB5070881 has made quite the dramatic entrance. Released faster than you can say “critical-severity CVE-2025-59287,” it aimed to patch an actively exploited Windows Server Update Service (WSUS) vulnerability. Yet, in a plot twist worthy of a Shakespearean tragedy, this emergency update has broken hotpatching on some Windows Server 2025 devices. It’s like inviting an exterminator to handle a pest problem, only to find they’ve brought a few extra critters along for the ride.
The Hotpatching Conundrum
Microsoft’s intention to address the CVE-2025-59287 remote code execution flaw was as noble as a knight’s quest. But, alas, the update inadvertently led to some Hotpatch-enrolled systems losing their hotpatch enrollment status. The epicenter of this digital drama features a limited number of Windows Server 2025 devices, now deprived of the convenience of Hotpatch updates. And just when you thought you were on a smooth ride, turns out the train’s off the tracks until January 2026. Microsoft’s decision to stop offering the update to Hotpatch-enrolled systems is like pulling the emergency brake on a rollercoaster ride—necessary, but a little jarring.
A New Challenger Appears
Fear not, for a savior has arrived in the form of KB5070893! This new update swoops in, cape fluttering, to patch the CVE-2025-59287 vulnerability without derailing the hotpatching express. Admins who haven’t yet deployed the buggy update can breathe a sigh of relief and embrace the smooth transition to the October 24, 2025, Security Update for Windows Server Update Services. It’s like swapping out a faulty magic wand for one that actually works, ensuring that the show goes on without a hitch.
Microsoft’s Fix-it Parade
Meanwhile, Microsoft continues its valiant quest to squash bugs and smoothen the path for Windows 11 users. Alongside the WSUS fixes, they’ve tackled a bug that turned quitting the Windows 11 Task Manager into an Olympic sport, resolved issues with the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool, and banished the pesky 0x800F081F update errors. It’s a veritable parade of fixes, where each bug is marched out with a flourish and a final bow.