Patch Tuesday: Microsoft’s Critical Fixes and Adobe’s Bug-Fixing Bonanza
It’s that time of the month again – Patch Tuesday has arrived, and with it, a slew of critical fixes from Microsoft and Adobe. In this post, we’ll dive into the key points and trends, highlighting the most critical issues and providing actionable insights for IT professionals and end-users alike.
Microsoft’s Critical Fixes
Microsoft has released patches for over 120 flaws, with 11 critical issues that allow remote code execution (RCE). The most notable one is CVE-2025-29824, an elevation of privilege (EoP) hole in the Windows Common Log File System Driver, which is already being exploited by a group designated as Storm-2460. This group uses the bug to deliver ransomware, dubbed PipeMagic, and has been found to target victims in the US, Spain, Venezuela, and Saudi Arabia.
The 7.8-rated flaw allows an attacker to elevate privileges up to system level, making it a significant concern. The issue affects all versions of Windows Server up to 2025 and Windows 10 and 11, with Windows Server and Windows 11 already receiving patches. However, Windows 10 is still awaiting a fix, with Microsoft promising to release updates “as soon as possible.”
Adobe’s Bug-Fixing Bonanza
Adobe has released over 50 fixes for various products, including Cold Fusion, After Effects, Media Encoder, Bridge, Commerce, AEM Forms, Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Animate, AEM Screens, FrameMaker, and the Adobe XMP Toolkit SDK. While none of the bugs are currently being actively exploited, Adobe has ranked the Cold Fusion bugs as both critical and important, urging users to prioritize the fixes.
Trends and Insights
Several trends and insights emerge from this month’s patch batch:
- Windows 10 exclusion: Many of the patches exclude Windows 10 for the moment, with Microsoft promising to release updates “as soon as possible.” This is likely due to the operating system’s approaching end-of-life, but it’s still a concern for users who rely on Windows 10.
- Remote code execution: All of the critical flaws allow remote code execution (RCE), making it essential to patch these vulnerabilities as soon as possible.
- Wormable bugs: Two of the RCE bugs, CVE-2025-26663 and CVE-2025-26670, are wormable, requiring a race condition to exploit. This highlights the importance of patching these vulnerabilities quickly, especially for remote desktop services.
- Additional steps required: CVE-2025-29809 requires extra steps to patch, including redeploying virtualization-based security policies.
Actionable Insights
To stay secure, IT professionals and end-users should:
- Prioritize patching critical flaws, especially those allowing remote code execution.
- Ensure Windows Server and Windows 11 are up-to-date, and wait for Windows 10 patches to be released.
- Test and deploy updates quickly for wormable bugs, such as CVE-2025-26663 and CVE-2025-26670.
- Review and redeploy virtualization-based security policies for CVE-2025-29809.
- Keep Adobe products up-to-date, with a focus on Cold Fusion bugs.
Conclusion
Patch Tuesday has brought a slew of critical fixes from Microsoft and Adobe. By understanding the key points and trends, IT professionals and end-users can take actionable steps to stay secure and protect their systems from potential threats. Remember to prioritize patching, test and deploy updates quickly, and review security policies to ensure your systems are secure and up-to-date.