Microsoft withdraws patches after reports of crashes on Windows and Exchange
Microsoft's "patch Tuesday" turns into a nightmare as patches cause the return of the "blue screen of death" for some users
A number of patches rolled out by Microsoft in its latest monthly "patch Tuesday" have caused a slew of problems with users.
Microsoft has admitted problems with patches KB 2876063, KB 2859537, KB 2873872, KB 2843638, KB 2843639, and KB 2868846, which were all released on Tuesday.
The KB 2876063 patch was intended to fix a remote-code execution security flaw in Microsoft Exchange Server 2013, but users have reported that since the installation of the security update, the content index for mailbox databases shows as failed and the Microsoft Exchange search host controller service is renamed.
Microsoft has advised users to download a further patch, KB 2879739, in order to resolve the problem, while the KB 2876063 patch has been temporarily withdrawn. The bug does not affect older versions of Exchange.
"Late last night we became aware of an issue with MS13-061 [KB 2876063] security update for Exchange Server 2013. Specifically, after the installation of the security update, the Content Index for mailbox databases shows as 'failed' and the Microsoft Exchange Search Host Controller service is renamed," Microsoft stated in an official blog post.
Windows kernel patch KB 2859537 has also caused problems with a number of home users. Reports suggest that the patch clashes with a number of popular games, such as Rift and Defiance, causing them to crash. According to Softpedia, the patch is causing some systems to BSOD - blue screen of death.
Active directory filing system (ADFS) is affected by problems with patches KB 2873872, KB 2843638, KB 2843639 and KB 2868846, which could cause ADFS to stop working. Those patches have been withdrawn pending . Microsoft is reportedly "looking into the problem".
Finally, security update KB 2843639 requires update KB 2790338 to be installed first, according to Microsoft.
The slew of patches were primarily intended to fix known security flaws across Microsoft's software stack. Some 23 vulnerabilities in Windows, the Internet Explorer web browser and Exchange were supposed to be tackled.