21 Aug, 2026

Critical RCE flaw in Windows IKE Extension now actively exploited

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warned that hackers are exploiting a critical-severity remote code execution (RCE) flaw in the Windows Internet Key Exchange (IKE) Service Extensions component. Also known as MS-IKEE, this is a set of additional capabilities Microsoft added to the IKE Protocol, including authentication via cryptographically generated addresses (CGAs), denial-of-service protection, […]

2 mins read

Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro reach end of support in 2 months

Microsoft has reminded customers that systems running Home and Pro editions of Windows 11 24H2 will stop receiving updates in two months. “On October 13, 2026, Windows 11, version 24H2 Home and Pro editions, and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016 will reach end of updates,” Microsoft warned in a message center update. “After this date, devices running […]

2 mins read

Microsoft tests faster Windows File Explorer, new context menu

Microsoft has started testing a faster File Explorer and a less cluttered and more customizable context menu in Windows 11 preview builds rolling out to Insiders this week. As the File Explorer team explained in a Monday blog post, the changes focus on improving File Explorer speed, performance, and reliability and addressing customer-reported issues. The […]

2 mins read

CISA: Windows Task Host flaw now exploited by ransomware gangs

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has confirmed that ransomware gangs are also exploiting a high-severity Windows Task Host vulnerability that was flagged as actively exploited in April. Task Host is a core Windows system component that allows DLL-based processes to run in the background and prevents data corruption by ensuring they close […]

2 mins read

Microsoft starts removing WMIC tool used by cybercriminals

Microsoft announced that it removed the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) tool from Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2, as well as from Windows 11 beta builds released this week. WMIC is a legacy built-in Windows command-line utility that helps interact with the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) system using text commands. This move is part of […]

2 mins read

Windows Server 2022 reaches end of mainstream support in 60 days

Microsoft has reminded IT administrators that Windows Server 2022 is rapidly approaching its mainstream end date of October 2026, when it will switch to extended support. The company announced Windows Server 2022 in March 2021, and it became generally available in September 2021 as the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) release, with 10 years of support. “On October 13, 2026, […]

2 mins read

Microsoft working on Defender patch for ShieldBreak zero-day

On Friday, Microsoft confirmed it has begun working on a security patch for a Defender zero-day vulnerability named “ShieldBreak.” A security researcher who uses the “Nightmare Eclipse” handle disclosed this privilege escalation vulnerability after Microsoft released the August 2026 Patch Tuesday security updates. ​”Microsoft is aware of the reported vulnerability and is actively investigating the […]

3 mins read

Microsoft patches LegacyHive Windows zero-day vulnerability

Microsoft has released security patches to address a Windows zero-day vulnerability known as “LegacyHive,” disclosed after the July 2026 Patch Tuesday. The security flaw was disclosed by a security researcher who uses the “Nightmare Eclipse” handle in protest of Microsoft’s bug bounty and vulnerability disclosure practices. Nightmare Eclipse published a LegacyHive proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit hours […]

2 mins read

Plug and Pwn attack uses fake USB devices for Windows SYSTEM access

Security researchers have disclosed new “Plug and Pwn” attacks that abuse the Windows Plug and Play feature to trigger Windows into installing vulnerable or insecure vendor software and gain SYSTEM privileges. The research, presented at DEF CON 34 by security researchers Alejandro Hernando and Borja Martínez, exploits how Windows automatically identifies new connected hardware, locates matching driver packages, and installs […]

8 mins read

Lazarus hackers exploited Windows zero-day to target defense firms

North Korean hackers have been exploiting a Windows zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2026-68820) to target defense-sector companies as part of the Operation Dream Job campaign. Microsoft addressed the flaw in this month’s Patch Tuesday security updates, marking it as actively exploited in the wild. Researchers found that the Lazarus threat group has been leveraging it since early July. Microsoft […]

3 mins read