Browser updates are back for Update

Browser updates are back for Update; testing may be needed for Windows patches

Though we return to monthly browser updates after last month's brief respite — none of this November's browser security issues are worm-able, and we have not seen anything that would require a return to an urgent browser update cycle. The Windows platform gets the most attention this time, but no single issue requires immediate deployment — though some legacy systems may require full testing for graphically intensive applications that rely on older graphic/media conversion technology. And the Microsoft Office and associated development platforms receive some lower-rated patches, with recommendations for a standard roll-out regime.

We have included a helpful infographic that this month looks a little lopsided, as all of the attention should be on the Windows components.

Key testing scenarios

Working with Microsoft, we have developed a system that interrogates Microsoft updates and matches any file changes (deltas) released each month against our testing library. The result is a “hot-spot” testing matrix that drives our portfolio testing process. This month, our analysis of the Patch Tuesday release generated the following testing scenarios:

• Test connecting via Remote Desktop Connection and a VPN and confirm that copy/paste operations between devices and connected devices are successful.

• Test applications that render large windows on GPU-enabled devices.

• Confirm that EMF files playback as expected and that EMF files can successfully be converted to EMF+ files.

• Test JScript apps that use recursive function calls.

Known Issues

Each month, Microsoft includes a list of known issues that relate to the operating system and platforms included in this update cycle. Here are a few key issues related to the latest builds from Microsoft:

• Microsoft SharePoint (2016 and 2019): When you try to manually install this security update by double-clicking the update file (.msp) to run it in Normal mode (that is, not as an administrator), some files are not correctly updated. To complete the install and ensure that the update is correctly applied, workaround details are provided by Microsoft here.

• Windows 10 (1909 and later): System and user certificates might be lost when updating a device from Windows 10, version 1809 or later to a newer version of Windows 10. For more information about the issues, workaround steps, and the currently resolved issues, see KB4564002.

• Windows 10 (2004 and later): Certain Japanese half-width Katakana and full-width Katakana characters that have a consonant mark aren’t interpreted as the same character. There are no published fixes or work-arounds at the moment.

• Windows ESU: After installing this update and restarting your device, you might receive the error, “Failure to configure Windows updates. Reverting Changes. Do not turn off your computer." Microsoft is working on this one. I suggest waiting until next week before large-scale deployments to legacy systems.