If you are upgrading to Windows 10, there are few vulnerabilities to look out for. Jordan MacAvoy, Vice President of Marketing at Reciprocity Labs highlights some of the critical Windows 10 cybersecurity vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit.
Recently, Microsoft announced that it’s offering Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 users a free upgrade to Windows 10. As exciting as this sounds, cybercriminals are also licking their lips in anticipation because Windows 10 has a fair share of critical security flaws. As more users upgrade to Windows 10, hackers will exploit the inherent flaws in the software to perpetrate their attacks.
Although the general population is getting more tech-savvy, cybercriminals are also getting better at their craft. Common security protocols such as multi-factor authentication and strong passwords can no longer protect your Windows 10 network adequately. After upgrading to Windows 10, it’s best to ensure that your OS is patched with the requisite software updates to thwart cyberattacks.Â
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Here are some of the Windows 10 cybersecurity vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit:
1. Microsoft Edge Vulnerabilities
Internet Explorer, which preceded Microsoft Edge, didn’t have a high rating in terms of security. As things stand, Microsoft Edge isn’t faring any better. The browser has multiple remote code execution vulnerability as well as security feature bypass exploits. Savvy attackers can easily leverage these weaknesses to intrude on your computer system. For instance, it’s easy for attackers to gain users’ system rights without their knowledge.
2. Windows 10 Contact Sharing Vulnerabilities
Windows 10 shares users’ Wi-Fi credentials with their Skype, Facebook, and Outlook contacts by default. Presumably, this is done to make hotspot and Wi-Fi sharing more convenient. It also makes it easier for your contacts to hop onto your network without authorization when in proximity. Although this isn’t a cyber-security vulnerability per se, malicious individuals can easily get hold of your credentials and use it to compromise your data.
In a world where more people are opting for hybrid cloud securityOpens a new window to protect their IT infrastructure, data, and application, the default sharing of credentials by Windows 10 can lead to significant compromises. Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to prevent the default sharing of your Wi-Fi and hotspot credentials. These include:
- Changing the name/SSID of your Wi-Fi network to have the terms “_nomap_optout,†before upgrading to Windows 10
- After upgrading to Windows 10, adjust your privacy settings by disabling Wi-Fi Sense sharing
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3. Microsoft Graphics Vulnerabilities
Graphic component vulnerabilities characterize Windows 10. These are related to various memory management and font flaws. These can ultimately lead to remote execution by hackers, more so if users visit an untrusted site with embedded fonts. Fortunately, Microsoft provides detailed patching informationOpens a new window that can be used to remediate this vulnerability.
4. Windows 10 Mount Manager Vulnerabilities
These are inherent vulnerabilities that Windows 10 users will encounter at some point. The vulnerabilities involve the potential escalation of privilege by slotting USB devices into the target system. This way, attackers can easily write a malicious binary to disk before executing the code. Microsoft avails an update for patching this vulnerability, and therefore, you shouldn’t forget to make the update.
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5. Redirect to SMB Vulnerability
All Windows versions have this security flaw, including Windows 10. The Redirect to SMB vulnerability mainly encompasses a core Windows API library and how the Operating System connects to SMB. As a result, Windows 10 users get redirected to malicious servers. They can easily have their encrypted login credentials stolen. An effective way of mitigating this cybersecurity threat is by blocking TCP ports 445 and 139 to disable SMB.
6. Windows Journal and Mount Manager Vulnerabilities
After upgrading to Windows 10, and you open specially-crafted Journal files, the Microsoft Windows Journal vulnerability can allow attackers to undertake remote execution and access your data. Microsoft has also availed a patch for this vulnerability on the Windows Journal security bulletin pageOpens a new window .
7. Windows Font Driver Vulnerability
Windows Adobe Type Manager inappropriately handles custom-made OpenType fonts. This can lead to a remote code execution flaw. Attackers can exploit this to gain control of your computer system and introduce malicious programs, view/delete/change your data, or create phishing accounts. With Windows 10, Microsoft has attempted to auto-patch this flaw. Even so, users still have to manually download and install the patch to seal off all vulnerabilities.
8. Win32k Elevation of Privilege Flaw
This vulnerability is inherent in the GUI component of the Windows 10 OS, which is the scrollbar element. It allows attackers to access your Windows device and gain complete control of it through privilege escalation. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to intrude critical Windows networks. In a business setup, for instance, they can perpetrate attacks on financial systems to steal money and crucial data. After introducing Windows 10, Microsoft also made a patch available to users to fix this flaw.
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Final ThoughtsÂ
So many vulnerabilities are inherent in Windows 10 and other Microsoft operating systems. After identifying these vulnerabilities, you should make the necessary security patches across your entire environment. This way, your Windows 10 network will be free of all security flaws and vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit.
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