November 2021 – Patch Tuesday

Fortify Security Team
Nov 9, 2021

Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in Microsoft products, the most severe of which could allow for arbitrary code execution in the context of the logged on user. Depending on the privileges associated with the user, an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than those who operate with administrative user rights.

THREAT INTELLIGENCE:

Per ZDNet, CVE-2021-42321 and CVE-2021-42292 are currently being exploited in the wild to achieve arbitrary code execution and security bypass, respectively. Severity for CVE-2021-42321 is not as high as other RCE vulnerabilities as it requires authentication.

SYSTEMS AFFECTED:

  • 3D Viewer
  • Azure
  • Azure RTOS
  • Azure Sphere
  • Microsoft Dynamics
  • Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based)
  • Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) in IE Mode
  • Microsoft Exchange Server
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft Office Access
  • Microsoft Office Excel
  • Microsoft Office SharePoint
  • Microsoft Office Word
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Windows Codecs Library
  • Power BI
  • Role: Windows Hyper-V
  • Visual Studio
  • Visual Studio Code
  • Windows Active Directory
  • Windows COM
  • Windows Core Shell
  • Windows Cred SSProvider Protocol
  • Windows Defender
  • Windows Desktop Bridge
  • Windows Diagnostic Hub
  • Windows Fastfat Driver
  • Windows Feedback Hub
  • Windows Hello
  • Windows Installer
  • Windows Kernel
  • Windows NTFS
  • Windows RDP
  • Windows Scripting
  • Windows Virtual Machine Bus

RISK:
Government:

  • Large and medium government entities: High
  • Small government entities: Medium

Businesses:

  • Large and medium business entities: High
  • Small business entities: Medium

Home users: Low

TECHNICAL SUMMARY:

Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in Microsoft products, the most severe of which could allow for arbitrary code execution.

A full list of all vulnerabilities can be found at the link below:

https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide

Successful exploitation of the most severe of these vulnerabilities could result in an attacker gaining the same privileges as the logged-on user. Depending on the privileges associated with the user, an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than those who operate with administrative user rights.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
We recommend the following actions be taken:

  • Apply appropriate patches or appropriate mitigations provided by Microsoft to vulnerable systems immediately after appropriate testing.
  • Apply the Principle of Least Privilege to all systems and services, and run all software as a non-privileged user (one without administrative rights) to diminish the effects of a successful attack.
  • Remind all users not to visit untrusted websites or follow links/open files provided by unknown or untrusted sources.

REFERENCES:
Microsoft:

ZDNet:

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