November 12, 2024—KB5046618 (OS Build 25398.1251)

For information about Windows update terminology, see the article about the types of Windows updates and the monthly quality update types. For an overview of Windows Server, version 23H2, see its update history page.

Improvements

This security update includes quality improvements. Below is a summary of the key issues that this update addresses when you install this KB. If there are new features, it lists them as well. The bold text within the brackets indicates the item or area of the change we are documenting.

[FrameShutdownDelay] Fixed: The browser ignores its value in the “HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main” registry key.
[vmswitch] Fixed: A vmswitch triggers a stop error. This occurs when you use Load Balancing and Failover (LBFO) teaming with two virtual switches on a virtual machine (VM). In this case, one virtual switch uses single root Input/Output virtualization (SR-IOV).
[Collector sets] Fixed: They do not close properly when an exception occurs during startup or while the set is active. Because of this, the command to stop a collector set stops responding.
[Windows Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist file (DriverSiPolicy.p7b)] This update adds to the list of drivers that are at risk for Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks.
[Windows Backup] Fixed: Backup sometimes fails. This occurs when a device has an Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) system partition (ESP).

For more information about security vulnerabilities, please refer to the Security Update Guide and the November 2024 Security Updates.

Windows Server, version 23H2 servicing stack update (KB5046717) - 25398.1241

This update makes quality improvements to the servicing stack, which is the component that installs Windows updates. Servicing stack updates (SSU) ensure that you have a robust and reliable servicing stack so that your devices can receive and install Microsoft updates.

Known issues in this update

Symptom	Workaround
Following the installation of the October 2024 security update, some customers report that the OpenSSH (Open Secure Shell) service fails to start, preventing SSH connections. The service fails with no detailed logging, and manual intervention is required to run the sshd.exe process. This issue is affecting both enterprise, IOT, and education customers, with a limited number of devices impacted. Microsoft is investigating whether consumer customers using Home or Pro editions of Windows are affected.	Customers can temporarily resolve the issue by updating permissions (ACLs) on the affected directories. Follow these steps: Open PowerShell as an Administrator. Update the permissions for C:\ProgramData\ssh and C:\ProgramData\ssh\logs to allow full control for SYSTEM and the Administrators group, while allowing read access for Authenticated Users. You can restrict read access to specific users or groups by modifying the permissions string if needed. Use the following commands to update the permissions: $directoryPath = "C:\ProgramData\ssh" $acl = Get-Acl -Path $directoryPath $sddlString = "O:BAD:PAI(A;OICI;FA;;;SY)(A;OICI;FA;;;BA)(A;OICI;0x1200a9;;;AU)" $securityDescriptor = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.RawSecurityDescriptor $sddlString $acl.SetSecurityDescriptorSddlForm($securityDescriptor.GetSddlForm("All")) Set-Acl -Path $directoryPath -AclObject $acl Repeat the above steps for C:\ProgramData\ssh\logs. Microsoft is actively investigating the issue and will provide a resolution in an upcoming Windows update. Further communications will be provided when a resolution or additional workarounds are available.

Symptom

Workaround

Following the installation of the October 2024 security update, some customers report that the OpenSSH (Open Secure Shell) service fails to start, preventing SSH connections. The service fails with no detailed logging, and manual intervention is required to run the sshd.exe process.

This issue is affecting both enterprise, IOT, and education customers, with a limited number of devices impacted. Microsoft is investigating whether consumer customers using Home or Pro editions of Windows are affected.

Customers can temporarily resolve the issue by updating permissions (ACLs) on the affected directories. Follow these steps:

Open PowerShell as an Administrator.
Update the permissions for C:\ProgramData\ssh and C:\ProgramData\ssh\logs to allow full control for SYSTEM and the Administrators group, while allowing read access for Authenticated Users. You can restrict read access to specific users or groups by modifying the permissions string if needed.

Use the following commands to update the permissions:

$directoryPath = "C:\ProgramData\ssh" $acl = Get-Acl -Path $directoryPath $sddlString = "O:BAD:PAI(A;OICI;FA;;;SY)(A;OICI;FA;;;BA)(A;OICI;0x1200a9;;;AU)" $securityDescriptor = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.RawSecurityDescriptor $sddlString $acl.SetSecurityDescriptorSddlForm($securityDescriptor.GetSddlForm("All")) Set-Acl -Path $directoryPath -AclObject $acl
Repeat the above steps for C:\ProgramData\ssh\logs.

Microsoft is actively investigating the issue and will provide a resolution in an upcoming Windows update. Further communications will be provided when a resolution or additional workarounds are available.

How to get this update

Before you install this update

Microsoft now combines the latest servicing stack update (SSU) for your operating system with the latest cumulative update (LCU). For general information about SSUs, see Servicing stack updates and Servicing Stack Updates (SSU): Frequently Asked Questions.

Install this update

To install this update, use one of the following Windows and Microsoft release channels.

Windows Update Business Catalog Server Update Services

Available	Next Step
Yes	None. This update will be downloaded and installed automatically from Windows Update and Microsoft Update.

Available	Next Step
Yes	None. This update will be downloaded and installed automatically from Windows Update for Business in accordance with configured policies.

Available	Next Step
Yes	To get the standalone package for this update, go to the Microsoft Update Catalog website.

Available

Next Step

Yes

This update will automatically sync with Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) if you configure Products and Classifications as follows:

Product: Microsoft Server operating system-21H2

Classification: Security Updates

If you want to remove the LCU

To remove the LCU after installing the combined SSU and LCU package, use the DISM/Remove-Package command line option with the LCU package name as the argument. You can find the package name by using this command: DISM /online /get-packages.

Running Windows Update Standalone Installer (wusa.exe) with the /uninstall switch on the combined package will not work because the combined package contains the SSU. You cannot remove the SSU from the system after installation.

File Information

For a list of the files that are provided in this update, download the file information for cumulative update 5046618.

For a list of the files that are provided in the servicing stack update, download the file information for the SSU (KB5046717) - version 25398.1241.

November 12, 2024—KB5046618 (OS Build 25398.1251)

Improvements

Windows Server, version 23H2 servicing stack update (KB5046717) - 25398.1241

Known issues in this update

How to get this update

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