Despite previously claiming the DogWalk vulnerability did not constitute a security issue, Microsoft has now released a patch to stop attackers from actively exploiting the vulnerability. Credit: Magdalena Petrova Microsoft has confirmed that a high-severity, zero-day security vulnerability is actively being exploited by threat actors and is advising all Windows and Windows Server users to apply its latest monthly Patch Tuesday update as soon as possible. The vulnerability, known as CVE-2022-34713 or DogWalk, allows attackers to exploit a weakness in the Windows Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool (MSDT). By using social engineering or phishing, attackers can trick users into visiting a fake website or opening a malicious document or file and ultimately gain remote code execution on compromised systems. DogWalk affects all Windows versions under support, including the latest client and server releases, Windows 11 and Windows Server 2022. The vulnerability was first reported in January 2020 but at the time, Microsoft said it didn’t consider the exploit to be a security issue. This is the second time in recent months that Microsoft has been forced to change its position on a known exploit, having initially rejected reports that another Windows MSDT zero-day, known as Follina, posed a security threat. A patch for that exploit was released in June’s Patch Tuesday update. Charl van der Walt, head of security research at Orange Cyberdefense, said that although Microsoft could perhaps be criticised for failing to consider how frequently and easily files with apparently innocent extensions are used to deliver malicious payloads, also noted that with several thousand vulnerabilities reported each year, it’s to be expected that Microsoft’s risk-based triage approach to assessing vulnerabilities won’t be infallible. “If everything is urgent, then nothing is urgent,” he said. “The security community has long stopped believing vulnerabilities and threats will be eradicated any time soon, so the challenge now becomes the development of a kind of agility that can perceive changes in the threat landscape and adapt accordingly.” Related content news analysis Google can’t seem to quit cookies, delays killing them again Google cited regulatory challenges in its oft-delayed plans to phase out third-party cookies from its Chromium products. It now plans to eliminate cookies in 2025 By Lucas Mearian Apr 25, 2024 5 mins Chrome Browser Security Chrome OS news Apple reportedly cuts Vision Pro production due to low demand Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims Apple is putting the brakes on production of the spatial computing headset due to low demand; the Vision Pro launched in the US earlier this year. By Matthew Finnegan Apr 25, 2024 4 mins Augmented Reality Apple Virtual Reality feature Windows 11: A guide to the updates Here’s what you need to know about the latest updates to Windows 11 as they’re released from Microsoft. Now updated for KB506980 Preview, released on April 23, 2024. By Preston Gralla Apr 25, 2024 59 mins Small and Medium Business Windows 11 Windows feature Windows 10: A guide to the updates Here's what you need to know about each update to the current version of Windows 10 as it's released from Microsoft. Now updated for KB5036979 Preview, released on April 23, 2024. By Preston Gralla Apr 25, 2024 172 mins Small and Medium Business Windows 10 Microsoft Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe