New optional updates now available for download

Sep 24, 2019 08:32 GMT  ·  By

Microsoft has released new cumulative updates for all versions of Windows 10, and the only fix that is included concerns a vulnerability in Internet Explorer.

The flaw, which is detailed in CVE-2019-1367, is already being exploited in the wild, with Microsoft recommending Windows users to patch their systems as soon as possible.

A successful attack allows a hacker to take full control over the system if the compromised user account has administrator privileges.

The remote code execution (RCE) vulnerability affects Internet Explorer 9 and Internet Explorer 11 regardless of the version of the operating system that’s running on the device.

The new cumulative updates are thus aimed at all Windows 10 versions released so far, as Internet Explorer comes pre-loaded as a backup to Microsoft Edge. Windows 10 ships with Microsoft Edge as the default browser, but Internet Explorer continues to be offered for compatibility purposes given that enterprises need it to run their apps and services.

The new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge comes with a built-in IE mode, which could be a sign that Microsoft might be planning to remove Internet Explorer from Windows 10 at some point in the future.

All Windows 10 versions getting updates

The new cumulative updates released today are the following:  

KB4522016 for Windows 10 version 1903 KB4522015 for Windows 10 version 1809 and Server 2019 KB4522014 for Windows 10 version 1803 KB4522012 for Windows 10 version 1709 KB4522011 for Windows 10 version 1703 KB4522010 for Windows 10 version 2016 KB4522009 for Windows 10 original version
  What’s important to know, however, is that all these cumulative updates are offered as optional patches, so they aren’t shipped on Windows Update. This means you need to download them from the Microsoft Update Catalog (download links included on the pages linked above).

The security fixes here, however, will be included in the next cumulative updates shipping on the October 2019 Patch Tuesday rollout.