A Deep Dive into Microsoft’s August 2023 Patch Release: What Enterprises Need to Know

Introduction

The digital security landscape is ever-evolving, and every patch released by tech giants like Microsoft offers a mirror into the present vulnerabilities and the ongoing tug-of-war between cyber defenders and attackers. Microsoft’s recent slew of patches is a call for organizations to up their cybersecurity game.

The Risks At Hand

A glance at the patch list reveals vulnerabilities across a wide range of Microsoft’s products, from Office applications to server tools and beyond. Notably:

• High-risk vulnerabilities: Multiple entries, like those in Microsoft Exchange Server and Teams, sport a CVSS score above 8.0, indicating a high severity. These vulnerabilities, if exploited, can have severe consequences, potentially leading to data breaches or even system shutdowns.
• Windows Kernel Threats: The kernel, being the core of an OS, is always a juicy target for attackers. Multiple vulnerabilities, some with a high likelihood of exploitation, signify the importance of patching these immediately.
• Microsoft Office Suite: Given the ubiquity of Office applications in businesses, vulnerabilities in Office, Excel, and Visio demand urgent attention.

The Business Implication

Beyond the technical ramifications, these vulnerabilities can have profound business implications:

• Reputational Damage: A security breach, especially one resulting from unpatched software, can erode trust.
• Financial Impact: The costs associated with a data breach, both immediate and long-term, can be astronomical.
• Operational Downtime: Exploitation can lead to system downtime, hampering productivity.

An Architectural Break-Down of the Patches

Given the Microsoft patches released in August 2023, several SABSA cybersecurity attributes can be identified as being relevant:

1. Confidentiality: Most of the vulnerabilities have potential impacts on data confidentiality. Any vulnerability that has the potential to allow unauthorized access to data or system resources will compromise confidentiality. For example, the CVEs related to Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft Office highlight this concern.
2. Integrity: The integrity of data and systems is paramount. Any successful exploitation of the vulnerabilities may lead to unauthorized modification of data or system configurations. This is evident in vulnerabilities found in components like the Windows Kernel or Microsoft Office Visio.
3. Availability: Some vulnerabilities can lead to Denial of Service (DoS) attacks, rendering systems unavailable. For instance, the CVEs related to Windows Message Queuing suggest potential availability concerns.
4. Authentication: Vulnerabilities may allow unauthorized access without proper authentication or may bypass existing authentication mechanisms. The ‘PR’ parameter in the CVSS Vector gives a hint about the required privileges, indicating the extent of authentication required.
5. Non-repudiation: If an attacker exploits a system, they might leave traces, but in the absence of adequate logging and monitoring, there may not be definitive proof of their actions.
6. Authorization: Once access is gained, an attacker might escalate privileges or access unauthorized data or functions. This can be discerned from vulnerabilities in systems like Microsoft Exchange Server or Microsoft Teams.
7. Accountability: Are there sufficient audit trails? If a breach happens, can the action be traced back to an individual user or system process? With the ‘FAQs?’ column indicating a ‘Yes’ for many entries, it suggests that there might be more details available for users to understand the scope and mitigation of the vulnerabilities.
8. Usability: If the vulnerabilities were to be exploited, it could result in software or services becoming difficult or impossible to use. The CVSS Vector’s ‘UI’ parameter provides a hint about user interaction required for the exploit.
9. Resilience: Can systems recover quickly from an attack or continue to operate under attack? Vulnerabilities in core components like the Windows Kernel suggest that resilience might be compromised if these vulnerabilities are exploited.
10. Discoverability: How easy is it to discover the vulnerabilities? The ‘Exploitability’ column gives insights into this, indicating whether exploitation is detected, less likely, or more likely.

Suggested Controls & Approaches to Manage The Risks

Most organizations have at least some basic practices and processes for patching, so this isn’t a topic we’ve dug into deeply before. While the below is applicable to the August patches, it is also guidance that can be used to improve an organization’s overall patch and vulnerability management approach.

Companies should consider a mix of various cybersecurity tools, processes, and controls to ensure they remain protected against potential threats. Let’s break down some of these recommendations according to their alignment with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) core functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover.

1. Identify:
   • Asset Management (ID.AM): Companies should maintain an inventory of all their assets, especially the Microsoft software that is vulnerable. Knowing what is on your network is the first step to securing it.
   • Risk Assessment (ID.RA): Continuously assess the risks associated with known vulnerabilities. Understand the business impact of a potential breach or compromise to prioritize patching efforts.
2. Protect:
   • Access Control (PR.AC): Implement strict access controls to ensure only authorized users can access critical systems. This is especially essential for systems like Microsoft Exchange Server.
   • Data Security (PR.DS): Ensure data at rest and in transit is encrypted. Consider using Microsoft’s own encryption tools or third-party solutions.
   • Maintenance (PR.MA): Regularly update and patch software. Given the vulnerabilities, a patch management process should be a priority.
   • Protective Technology (PR.PT): Use intrusion prevention systems (IPS) and web application firewalls (WAF) to block known malicious patterns associated with the vulnerabilities.
3. Detect:
   • Anomalies and Events (DE.AE): Use security information and event management (SIEM) systems to detect suspicious activities.
   • Security Continuous Monitoring (DE.CM): Employ network monitoring tools to identify abnormal traffic patterns or system behaviors that might indicate an exploit attempt.
   • Detection Processes (DE.DP): Regularly scan systems using vulnerability scanners to detect unpatched or misconfigured software.
4. Respond:
   • Response Planning (RS.RP): Have a clear plan for how to respond when a vulnerability is exploited. This includes communication plans, technical response steps, and stakeholder engagement.
   • Incident Handling (RS.IM): Establish a Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT) that is trained to handle incidents related to these vulnerabilities. Tools like incident response platforms can help manage and streamline the response process.
5. Recover:
   • Recovery Planning (RC.RP): Design and regularly test a disaster recovery plan. In the event of a successful exploit, systems might need to be restored from backups.
   • Improvements (RC.IM): After an incident, review the response and recovery processes to find areas for improvement.

Conclusion

While the immediate action is to address the vulnerabilities listed in the August 2023 patch release, the bigger picture for businesses is to cultivate an organizational culture where cybersecurity is a continuous process and not just a one-off event. By integrating frameworks like SABSA and NIST CSF, businesses can not only address immediate threats but also build a resilient cybersecurity posture for the future.