Windows · Microsoft · released August 11, 2026
Windows security updates, August 2026: every vulnerability, rated
Microsoft published 230 Windows vulnerabilities in August 2026, most of them on Patch Tuesday, August 11, 2026. 20 are rated Critical. 1 was already being exploited, so it goes to the top of the list. 41 more deserve attention this week; 188 can follow the normal monthly rollout. 21 were fixed by an earlier update and only disclosed this month, so a PC that is already current is covered. The updates that carry these fixes need a restart.
- CVEs
- 230
- Patch now
- 1
- This week
- 41
- Normal cycle
- 177
- Low
- 11
Fixed in: August 2026 Windows security update restart requiredMicrosoft release notes
Page 4 of 4 · sorted by risk, then score
Normal cycle39 on this page · tap one for its risk review
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-61921Windows Remote Desktop Client
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 6.5
In Windows Remote Desktop Client, an attacker with no account could read information they shouldn't see over the network, but only if someone opens a file, link or message. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 6.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-61924Windows Remote Desktop Client
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 6.5
In Windows Remote Desktop Client, an attacker with no account could read information they shouldn't see over the network, but only if someone opens a file, link or message. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 6.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62714Windows DHCP Server
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 6.5
In Windows DHCP Server, an attacker with no account could read information they shouldn't see from the same local network without anyone clicking anything. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 6.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation unlikely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 12 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62715Windows DHCP Server
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 6.5
In Windows DHCP Server, an attacker with no account could read information they shouldn't see from the same local network without anyone clicking anything. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 6.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation unlikely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 10 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62716Windows DHCP Server
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 6.5
In Windows DHCP Server, an attacker with no account could read information they shouldn't see from the same local network without anyone clicking anything. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 6.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation unlikely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 12 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62718Windows DHCP Server
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 6.5
In Windows DHCP Server, an attacker with no account could read information they shouldn't see from the same local network without anyone clicking anything. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 6.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation unlikely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 12 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62720Windows DHCP Server
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 6.5
In Windows DHCP Server, an attacker with no account could read information they shouldn't see from the same local network without anyone clicking anything. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 6.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation unlikely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 12 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62742Windows DHCP Server
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 6.5
In Windows DHCP Server, an attacker with no account could read information they shouldn't see from the same local network without anyone clicking anything. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 6.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 12 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62745Windows DHCP Server
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 6.5
In Windows DHCP Server, an attacker with no account could read information they shouldn't see from the same local network without anyone clicking anything. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 6.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 12 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62750Windows HTTP Protocol Stack
Tampering · Severity Important · CVSS 6.5
In Windows HTTP Protocol Stack, an attacker with no account could change data or settings they shouldn't control from the same local network without anyone clicking anything. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 6.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation unlikely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62782Windows SMB Client
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 6.5
In Windows SMB Client, an attacker with no account could read information they shouldn't see over the network, but only if someone opens a file, link or message. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 6.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation unlikely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 26 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-65785Windows DHCP Client
Denial of Service · Severity Important · CVSS 6.5
In Windows DHCP Client, an attacker with no account could crash or stall the affected service from the same local network without anyone clicking anything. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 6.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation unlikely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120233, KB5120994) for 8 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-65794Windows SMB Client
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 6.5
In Windows SMB Client, an attacker with no account could read information they shouldn't see over the network, but only if someone opens a file, link or message. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 6.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation unlikely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62708Windows Kernel
Elevation of Privilege · Severity Important · CVSS 6.4
In Windows Kernel, an attacker with no account could take higher privileges with physical access to the device. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 6.4. Microsoft rates it "exploitation unlikely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120233, KB5120994) for 8 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 13, 2026
CVE-2026-50383Windows Print Spooler
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 6.1 · Fixed earlier (July 2026)
In Windows Print Spooler, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 6.1. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Microsoft disclosed it on August 13, 2026, but the fix had already shipped in the July 2026 Windows security update (KB5099536, KB5099538, KB5099539) for 19 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-6727MITRE: CVE-2026-6727 TPM 2.0 RSA OAEP Timing Side-Channel Vulnerability
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.9
In MITRE: CVE-2026-6727 TPM 2.0 RSA OAEP Timing Side-Channel Vulnerability, an attacker with no account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.9. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 24 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-59130AMD Zen
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.6
In AMD Zen, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.6. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 28 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 25, 2026
CVE-2026-59131AMD Zen
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.6 · Out of band
In AMD Zen, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.6. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 28 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 13, 2026
CVE-2026-44814Windows DWM Core Library
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5 · Fixed earlier (June 2026)
In Windows DWM Core Library, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Microsoft disclosed it on August 13, 2026, but the fix had already shipped in the June 2026 Windows security update (KB5095051) for 2 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-59135Microsoft Windows Search Component
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Microsoft Windows Search Component, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-59136Microsoft COM for Windows
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Microsoft COM for Windows, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-59137Windows Event Logging Service
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Windows Event Logging Service, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-61928Windows Hello
Tampering · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Windows Hello, an attacker with an ordinary user account could change data or settings they shouldn't control once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 26 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-61933Windows DWM Core Library
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Windows DWM Core Library, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120233, KB5120994) for 8 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62703Windows DWM Core Library
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Windows DWM Core Library, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 22 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62709Windows GDI+
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Windows GDI+, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62730Windows Wired AutoConfig Service
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Windows Wired AutoConfig Service, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62738Windows Management Instrumentation
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Windows Management Instrumentation, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62740Windows Imaging Component
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Windows Imaging Component, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62743Win32k
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Win32k, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62746Win32k
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Win32k, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62796Windows NTFS
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Windows NTFS, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-65662Windows GDI
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Windows GDI, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-70348Windows Management Services
Denial of Service · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Windows Management Services, an attacker with an ordinary user account could crash or stall the affected service once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120994, KB5121000, KB5121003) for 6 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62757Windows Schannel
Security Feature Bypass · Severity Important · CVSS 5.3
In Windows Schannel, an attacker with no account could get around a Windows security protection over the network, but only if someone opens a file, link or message. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.3. Microsoft rates it "exploitation unlikely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-65777Active Directory
Security Feature Bypass · Severity Important · CVSS 5.3
In Active Directory, an attacker with an ordinary user account could get around a Windows security protection over the network without anyone clicking anything. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.3. Microsoft rates it "exploitation unlikely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 12 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-61368Windows Hyper-V
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5
In Windows Hyper-V, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC, but only if someone opens a file, link or message. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.0. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 26 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-61350Windows NTFS
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 4.6
In Windows NTFS, an attacker with no account could read information they shouldn't see with physical access to the device. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 4.6. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- Normal cycleWindowsAugust 3, 2026
CVE-2026-50416Win32k
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 3.3 · Fixed earlier (July 2026)
In Win32k, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 3.3. Microsoft rates it "exploitation less likely". Microsoft disclosed it on August 3, 2026, but the fix had already shipped in the July 2026 Windows security update (KB5099536, KB5101649, KB5101650) for 8 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
Low11 on this page · tap one for its risk review
- LowWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-68819Windows Network File System
Denial of Service · Severity Important · CVSS 5.9
In Windows Network File System, an attacker with no account could crash or stall the affected service over the network without anyone clicking anything. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.9. Microsoft rates it "exploitation unlikely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 16 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- LowWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-59128Windows Encrypting File System (EFS)
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Windows Encrypting File System (EFS), an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation unlikely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- LowWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-61347Windows Event Logging Service
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Windows Event Logging Service, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation unlikely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- LowWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-61360Windows GDI
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Windows GDI, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation unlikely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- LowWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62775Windows Container Isolation FS Filter Driver (unionfs.sys)
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Windows Container Isolation FS Filter Driver (unionfs.sys), an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation unlikely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5121000) for 2 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- LowWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62786Win32k
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Win32k, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation unlikely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- LowWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62793Windows NTFS
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Windows NTFS, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation unlikely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- LowWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62798Win32k
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Win32k, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation unlikely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120233, KB5120240) for 10 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- LowWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-62887Windows NTFS
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Windows NTFS, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation unlikely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- LowWindowsAugust 11, 2026
CVE-2026-65784Windows NTFS
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 5.5
In Windows NTFS, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 5.5. Microsoft rates it "exploitation unlikely". Fixed in the August 2026 Windows security update (KB5120228, KB5120229, KB5120233) for 30 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
- LowWindowsAugust 18, 2026
CVE-2026-50419Windows Kernel
Information Disclosure · Severity Important · CVSS 3.3 · Fixed earlier (July 2026)
In Windows Kernel, an attacker with an ordinary user account could read information they shouldn't see once they can run code on the PC. Microsoft severity Important, CVSS 3.3. Microsoft rates it "exploitation unlikely". Microsoft disclosed it on August 18, 2026, but the fix had already shipped in the July 2026 Windows security update (KB5099444, KB5099445, KB5099535) for 27 supported Windows versions; a restart is required.
Why an MSP manages this
Reading the list is the easy part
Nobody running a business reads all of them, and nobody should have to. The work is deciding which ones matter today, testing the fixes, getting them onto every PC and Mac without breaking the workday, and proving it was done.
- 01
Triage that starts with the exploited ones
Most of these fixes can ride the normal monthly rollout. A handful need action the same day. Telling them apart, every month, on every machine, is the core of the work, and it is the part an office manager rarely has time for.
- 02
Testing before everyone gets it
Updates go to a test ring and a pilot group first, so a broken accounting package or design tool shows up on two machines instead of forty, and the rollout pauses until it is sorted.
- 03
Restarts that don't wreck the workday
Windows updates usually need a restart and macOS updates often do. Deadlines, maintenance windows and grace periods get the fix installed without forcing a reboot in the middle of a client call.
- 04
Macs managed as seriously as PCs
Windows patching tools don't patch Macs. macOS updates need their own install-by deadlines through device management, and major upgrades need the same compatibility testing a Windows feature update gets.
- 05
A plan for machines that can't update
Hardware that ages out and versions past end of support stop getting every fix. They need a decision, isolate, upgrade or replace, before they become the easiest way in.
- 06
Proof when someone asks
Cyber insurance applications, customer security questionnaires and frameworks such as the FTC Safeguards Rule all ask how you keep systems patched. A managed service keeps the inventory and the reports that answer them.
The ins and outs
What keeping Windows and Mac patched actually involves
Windows
Patch Tuesday, and the exceptions
Microsoft ships security updates on the second Tuesday of each month, and out of band when something can't wait. This log marks the out-of-band ones.
Cumulative updates
Each month's Windows update carries the earlier months' fixes, so a PC that missed one catches up with the next, as long as it actually installs.
Fixed first, announced later
Some fixes ship before the vulnerability is disclosed. This log flags them, because a PC that is already current is already covered.
Rings, deferrals and deadlines
Windows Update for Business and Intune let you delay updates for a test group, set an install-by deadline and give a grace period before a forced restart.
Known Issue Rollback and safeguard holds
Microsoft can quietly roll back a change that breaks something, and holds back feature updates from PCs it knows will have trouble. Both explain why two PCs on the same network can be on different builds.
Feature updates and end of support
Each Windows version is serviced for a fixed period. Windows 10 PCs past end of support only get security fixes through the paid Extended Security Updates program.
Mac
No fixed release day
Apple publishes security updates when they are ready, often several times a month around a major release, so Mac patching runs on alerts, not a calendar.
Updates versus upgrades
A point update (26.7 to 26.7.1) fixes problems. A major upgrade (Tahoe to Golden Gate) changes the system and needs the same app testing as a Windows feature update.
Older versions get some fixes, not all
Apple's deployment guide says not every security issue is fixed in previous major versions. Staying a version behind is a choice with a cost, not a safe default.
Install-by deadlines through device management
Without enforcement, a macOS update prompt can be put off again and again. Device management can set a deadline so the update installs on schedule.
Macs that age out
When a Mac can no longer run a current macOS version, it stops getting the full set of fixes. Inventory by model and macOS version shows which ones are next.
Apple Business for zero-touch setup
New Macs enrolled through Apple Business arrive already managed, so update policy applies from the first login instead of after someone remembers to enroll them.
Both platforms
Third-party apps aren't on these lists
Browsers, PDF readers, accounting software, VPN clients and plug-ins patch on their own schedules. A machine can be current on Windows or macOS and still exposed through an app.
Firmware and drivers
BIOS and UEFI firmware, docks and network gear get security fixes too, and they rarely update themselves.
Recovery keys before big changes
Before a feature update or a major macOS upgrade, confirm BitLocker and FileVault recovery keys are escrowed somewhere you can reach.
Laptops that are rarely in the office
Remote and travelling staff need updates delivered over the internet with the same deadlines as office machines, or they drift months behind.
You can't patch what you can't see
An up-to-date inventory of every PC and Mac, with its version and last update, is what turns a list like this one into a finished job.