MS15-097: Description of the security update for the graphics component in Windows: September 8, 2015

Applies To
Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials Windows Server 2012 R2 Foundation Windows 8.1 Enterprise Windows 8.1 Pro Windows 8.1 Windows RT 8.1 Windows Server 2012 Datacenter Windows Server 2012 Standard Windows Server 2012 Essentials Windows Server 2012 Foundation Windows 8 Enterprise Windows 8 Pro Windows 8 Windows RT Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard Windows Server 2008 R2 Web Edition Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Windows 7 Ultimate Windows 7 Enterprise Windows 7 Professional Windows 7 Home Premium Windows 7 Home Basic Windows 7 Starter Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 Windows Server 2008 Datacenter Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Windows Server 2008 Standard Windows Server 2008 Web Edition Windows Server 2008 Foundation Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Windows Vista Ultimate Windows Vista Enterprise Windows Vista Business Windows Vista Home Premium Windows Vista Home Basic Windows Vista Starter Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2

Important This article contains information that shows how to help lower security settings or how to turn off security features on a computer. You can make these changes to work around a specific problem. Before you make these changes, we recommend that you evaluate the risks that are associated with implementing this workaround in your particular environment. If you implement this workaround, you should take any appropriate additional steps to help protect the computer.

Summary

In addition to the changes that are listed for the vulnerabilities that are described in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS15-097, this security bulletin addresses a defense-in-depth update for the secdrv.sys driver, a third-party driver. The update turns off the service for the secdrv.sys driver. This may affect the ability to run some older games.

To learn more about the vulnerabilities, see Microsoft Security Bulletin MS15-097.

More Information

Important

  • All future security and nonsecurity updates for Windows RT 8.1, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 R2 require update 2919355 to be installed. We recommend that you install update 2919355 on your Windows RT 8.1-based, Windows 8.1-based, or Windows Server 2012 R2-based computer so that you receive future updates.
  • If you install a language pack after you install this update, you must reinstall this update. Therefore, we recommend that you install any language packs that you need before you install this update. For more information, see Add language packs to Windows.

Known issues in this security update

  • After you install this security update, some programs may not run. (For example, some video games may not run.) To work around this issue, you can temporarily turn on the service for the secdrv.sys driver by running certain commands, or by editing the registry.

    Note When you no longer require the service to be running, we recommend that you turn off the service again.

    Warning This workaround may make a computer or a network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We do not recommend this workaround but are providing this information so that you can implement this workaround at your own discretion. Use this workaround at your own risk.

    To do this, type the following commands at an elevated command prompt. You should press Enter after you type each command.

    • To disable the driver's service, type the following command: sc config secdrv start= disabled
    • To set the driver's service to manual, type the following command: sc config secdrv start= demand
    • To enable the driver's service (and to set it to automatic), type the following command: sc config secdrv start=auto
    • To manually start the driver's service, type the following command: sc start secdrv
    • To manually stop the driver's service, type the following command: sc stop secdrv

ImportantThis section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322756 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows Or, you can edit the registry directly. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.

  2. Locate and then click the following subkey in the registry:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\secdrv

  3. Right-click Start, and then click Modify.

  4. In the Value data box, do one of the following:

    • Type 4 to disable the driver's service, and then click OK.
    • Type 3 to set the driver's service to manual, and then click OK.
    • Type 2 to set the driver's service to automatic, and then click OK.
  5. Exit Registry Editor.

How to obtain and install the update

Method 1: Windows Update

This update is available through Windows Update. When you turn on automatic updating, this update will be downloaded and installed automatically. For more information about how to turn on automatic updating, see
Get security updates automatically.

Note For Windows RT and Windows RT 8.1, this update is available through Windows Update only.

Method 2: Microsoft Download Center

You can obtain the stand-alone update package through the Microsoft Download Center. Follow the installation instructions on the download page to install the update.

Click the download link in the following table that corresponds to the version of Windows that you are running. Find out if your computer is running the 32 or 64-bit version of Windows

Windows version Download link
Windows Vista SP2 Download Download 32-bit (KB3086255)
Download Download 64-bit (KB3086255)
Windows Server 2008 SP2 Download Download 32-bit (KB3086255)
Download Download 64-bit (KB3086255)
Windows 7 SP1 Download Download 32-bit (KB3086255)
Download Download 64-bit (KB3086255)
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Download Download 64-bit (KB3086255)
Windows 8 Download Download 32-bit (KB3086255)
Download Download 64-bit (KB3086255)
Windows Server 2012 Download Download 64-bit (KB3086255)
Windows 8.1 Download Download 32-bit (KB3086255)
Download Download 64-bit (KB3086255)
Windows Server 2012 R2 Download Download 64-bit (KB3045685)

More Information

File information

The English United States) version of this software update installs files that have the attributes that are listed in the following tables. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time UTC). The dates and times for these files on your local computer are displayed in your local time and with your current daylight saving time DST) bias. Additionally, the dates and times may change when you perform certain operations on the files.

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 file information

  • The files that apply to a specific product, milestone SPn), and service branch LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table:

    Version Product Milestone Service branch
    6.0.6002.19xxx Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 SP2 GDR
    6.0.6002.23xxx Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 SP2 LDR
  • GDR service branches contain only those fixes that are widely released to address widespread, critical issues. LDR service branches contain hotfixes in addition to widely released fixes.

Note The MANIFEST files .manifest) and MUM files .mum) that are installed are not listed.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Secdrv.sys 4.3.86.0 20,480 24-Aug-2015 13:59 x86
Secdrv.sys 4.3.86.0 20,480 24-Aug-2015 14:00 x86

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Secdrv.sys 4.3.86.0 23,040 07-May-2014 23:47 x64
Secdrv.sys 4.3.86.0 23,040 07-May-2014 23:51 x64

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 file information

  • The files that apply to a specific product, milestone RTM, SPn), and service branch LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table:

    Version Product Milestone Service branch
    6.1.7601.18xxx Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 GDR
    6.1.7601.22xxx Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 LDR
  • GDR service branches contain only those fixes that are widely released to address widespread, critical issues. LDR service branches contain hotfixes in addition to widely released fixes.

Note The MANIFEST files .manifest) and MUM files .mum) that are installed are not listed.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows 7

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Secdrv.sys 4.3.86.0 20,480 24-Aug-2015 15:02 x86
Secdrv.sys 4.3.86.0 20,480 24-Aug-2015 15:03 x86

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Secdrv.sys 4.3.86.0 23,040 03-Jun-2015 20:16 x64
Secdrv.sys 4.3.86.0 23,040 03-Jun-2015 20:16 x64

Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 file information

  • The files that apply to a specific product, milestone RTM,SPn), and service branch LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table:

    Version Product Milestone Service branch
    6.2.920 0.16 xxx Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 RTM GDR
    6.2.920 0.20 xxx Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 RTM LDR
  • GDR service branches contain only those fixes that are widely released to address widespread, critical issues. LDR service branches contain hotfixes in addition to widely released fixes.

Note The MANIFEST files .manifest) and MUM files .mum) that are installed are not listed.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows 8

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Secdrv.sys 4.3.86.0 20,480 02-Jun-2012 14:32 x86
Secdrv.sys 4.3.86.0 20,480 02-Jun-2012 14:32 x86

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Secdrv.sys 4.3.86.0 23,040 02-Jun-2012 14:32 x64
Secdrv.sys 4.3.86.0 23,040 02-Jun-2012 14:32 x64

Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 file information

  • The files that apply to a specific product, milestone RTM,SPn), and service branch LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table:

    Version Product Milestone Service branch
    6.3.920 0.16 xxx Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 RTM GDR
  • GDR service branches contain only those fixes that are widely released to address widespread, critical issues. LDR service branches contain hotfixes in addition to widely released fixes.

Note The MANIFEST files .manifest) and MUM files .mum) that are installed are not listed.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows 8.1

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Secdrv.sys 4.3.86.0 20,480 18-Jun-2013 12:25 x86

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2

File name File version File size Date Time Platform
Secdrv.sys 4.3.86.0 23,040 18-Jun-2013 14:48 x64

      

How to obtain help and support for this security update

Help for installing updates: Support for Microsoft Update

Security solutions for IT professionals: TechNet Security Troubleshooting and Support

Help for protecting your Windows-based computer from viruses and malware: Virus Solution and Security Center

Local support according to your country: International Support