Microsoft March 2023 Security Updates

  

The Microsoft March 2023 security updates have been released and consist of 74 new CVEs.  Of these CVEs, 6 are rated critical and 67 are rated important and one rated moderate in severity.  At the time of release, one is listed as publicly known and two as being in the wild.

The security updates apply to the following products, features, and roles:  Azure, Client Server Run-time Subsystem (CSRSS), Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP), Microsoft Bluetooth Driver, Microsoft Dynamics, Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based), Microsoft Graphics Component, Microsoft Office Excel, Microsoft Office Outlook, Microsoft Office SharePoint, Microsoft OneDrive, Microsoft PostScript Printer Driver, Microsoft Printer Drivers, Microsoft Windows Codecs Library, Office for Android, Remote Access Service Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol, Role: DNS Server, Role: Windows Hyper-V, Service Fabric, Visual Studio, Windows Accounts Control, Windows Bluetooth Service, Windows Central Resource Manager, Windows Cryptographic Services, Windows Defender, Windows HTTP Protocol Stack, Windows HTTP.sys, Windows Internet Key Exchange (IKE) Protocol, Windows Kernel, Windows Partition Management Driver, Windows Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE), Windows Remote Procedure Call, Windows Remote Procedure Call Runtime, Windows Resilient File System (ReFS), Windows Secure Channel, Windows SmartScreen, Windows TPM, and Windows Win32K,

See the very long list of KBs at the bottom of the page at March 2023 Security Updates - Release Notes - Security Update Guide - Microsoft for information regarding known issues with the security updates as well as the CVEs with FAQs, Mitigations and/or Workarounds. 

Important:

After March 2023, there are no more optional, non-security preview releases for the supported editions of Windows 10, version 20H2 and Windows 10, version 21H2. Only cumulative monthly security updates (known as the "B" or Update Tuesday release) will continue for these versions. Windows 10, version 22H2 will continue to receive security and optional releases.

Recommended Reading:   See Dustin Childs review and analysis in Zero Day Initiative -- The March 2023 Security Update Review.

 

Additional Update Notes:

• MSRT -- The Malicious Software Removal Tool is now run on a quarterly basis rather than monthly.  See Remove specific prevalent malware with Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool. 
• Servicing Stack Updates -- Microsoft now combines the latest servicing stack update (SSU) for your operating system with the Latest Cumulative Updates (LCU). For general information about SSUs, see Servicing stack updates and Servicing Stack Updates (SSU): Frequently Asked Questions.
  
• Windows updates are cumulative. The monthly security release includes all security fixes for vulnerabilities that affect Windows, in addition to non-security updates. The updates are also available via search for the KB number in the Microsoft Update Catalog.
• For information on lifecycle and support dates for Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems, please see Windows 10 Home and Pro - Microsoft Lifecycle | Microsoft Docs and Windows 11 Home and Pro (Version 21H2) - Microsoft Lifecycle | Microsoft Docs.
• Windows Update History:
• Windows 11
• Windows 10

 

References

• Security Update FAQ
• Security Updates Guide

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...