KB3176934 breaks Windows 10 Powershell

KB3176934 breaks Windows 10 Powershell

by | Aug 26, 2016 | Errors, Patch Management, Patch Releases, Risk, Security

Windows 10 has been a reliable operating system for many users, but recently, some patches released by Microsoft have caused various issues. One of the latest problems is caused by KB3176934, which appears to break Windows 10 PowerShell. In particular, it affects the Desired State Configuration (DSC) functionality in PowerShell, rendering it useless.

What is KB3176934?

KB3176934 is a security update released by Microsoft in August. The patch was meant to fix some security issues with the operating system, but instead, it caused a problem with PowerShell. The issue is related to a missing .MOF file in the build package, causing the update to break DSC.

The Consequences of the Issue

The missing .MOF file leads to all DSC operations resulting in an “Invalid Property” error. This means that if you are using DSC on any Windows client, or from any Windows client, you should uninstall the update. The PowerShell function will be completely unusable until the KB3176934 update is removed.

what is happening

Other Issues Caused by Recent Patches

This isn’t the only issue caused by the August releases of patches by Microsoft. Two other known issues were caused by security patches, namely Microsoft patches KB3177725 and KB3176493 causing printing issues, and Microsoft Patch KB3179575 causing authentication issues with Windows 2012 servers. Fortunately, a fix for the printing issue problem (KB3187022) has been released. Still, there has been no correspondence regarding the authentication issues, making it unclear whether a fix is coming soon.

How to Fix the PowerShell Issue

If you have experienced this issue on your Windows 10 machine, don’t worry. There is a solution, and it’s relatively easy to implement. The only way to fix this problem is to uninstall KB3176934 from the affected machine. Once you have removed the update, DSC functionality should be restored to PowerShell

Conclusion

If you use PowerShell for DSC, KB3176934 is a patch you need to avoid. While it’s essential to keep your operating system up to date, this update is not worth the trouble. The missing .MOF file breaks DSC functionality, leading to an “Invalid Property” error, rendering it useless. It’s crucial to stay aware of the latest updates from Microsoft and to remove any problematic ones as soon as possible.

 
Microsoft Patch KB3179575 causing authentication issues with Windows 2012 servers

Microsoft Patch KB3179575 causing authentication issues with Windows 2012 servers

by | Aug 23, 2016 | Errors, Fixes, How To, Patch Releases

Microsoft Patch KB3179575 causing authentication issues with Windows 2012 servers

Seems yet another Microsoft security patch is causing issues this month. KB3179575 which was in the August Patch Tuesday deployment is to fix issues with the Windows 2012 (not R2) operating system.

Oh No Not Again

Taken directly from the Microsoft site, this update includes quality improvements but no new operating system features are being introduced.

The key changes include:

  • Addressed issue that required users to wait up to 30 seconds after booting-up, before the device was available and ready for use.
  • Addressed issue that prevents the automatic deletion of old Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) backup files—Extensible Storage Engine (ESE) transaction logs.
  • Addressed issue that caused Cluster service on remaining nodes to stop unexpectedly when a failover cluster node experiences a power outage.
  • Addressed issue that causes a NFS service to stop responding on a two-node Windows cluster deployment, affecting clients to not be able reach an NFS share.
  • Addressed issue after installing KB3146706 that causes Office 2010 to stop responding when Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) is enabled.

At this stage it seems to be only affecting logons (authentication) to Windows 2012 Domain Controllers, again at this stage the only fix is to uninstall this update, or if you deployed this security update using Microsoft’s SCCM and SnaPatch, you can roll this update deployment back. There is no known fix at this stage.

You may also be interested in some other Microsoft patches KB3177725 & KB3176493 which are known to cause printing issues. These two security patches were also released this month as well as KB3176934 breaks Windows 10 Powershell.

Microsoft patches KB3177725 & KB3176493 causing printing issues

Microsoft patches KB3177725 & KB3176493 causing printing issues

by | Aug 18, 2016 | Deployment, Errors, Fixes, Security

Microsoft August Patch Tuesday Release Causes Printing Issues: How to Fix it

Are you experiencing printing problems on your Windows PC after installing the latest security updates from Microsoft? If yes, then you are not alone. Two recent patches released by Microsoft, KB3177725 and KB3176493, seem to be causing printing issues on multiple Windows versions. In this article, we will discuss the details of this issue and how to fix it.

What are KB3177725 and KB3176493?

KB3177725 and KB3176493 are two security updates released by Microsoft in its August Patch Tuesday Release. These updates were designed to patch security vulnerabilities that could allow remote code execution on Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and server editions of their software, including Windows server 2008, 2008 R2, 2012, and 2012 R2.

STOP SIGN

What is the issue caused by these updates?

The issue caused by these updates is the inability to print more than one page at a time. Some users have reported that it corrupts all print jobs with an error. Initially, Microsoft claimed that the problem was due to incompatibility issues between Windows and Printer Drivers. However, the company later acknowledged that the issue was caused by these two updates.

Update

What is the fix for this issue?

UPDATE:  Previously we mentioned the only work around is to uninstall either or both KB3177725 and KB3176493.

Well Microsoft have come through and have released another patch that will fix the issues caused by these two security updates. KB3187022 – Print functionality is broken after any of the MS16-098 security updates are installed

Patch is available to download from the Microsoft site https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3187022

There has been other issues this month, caused by the August Security Patches. Microsoft Patch KB3179575 causing authentication issues with Windows 2012 servers and KB3176934 breaks Windows 10 Powershell

If you are a SnaPatch customer, you are in luck. SnaPatch allows you to quickly and easily roll back your virtual machines to the prior security update deployment snapshot, thereby avoiding further issues. To learn more about what SnaPatch offers and how it can help you avoid similar issues, click the link provided.

In conclusion, if you are experiencing printing issues on your Windows PC after installing the latest security updates from Microsoft, then you are not alone. The patches causing these problems are KB3177725 and KB3176493. However, Microsoft has released a fix for this issue in the form of KB3187022. We recommend that you download and install this patch to resolve the issue.

SnaPatch Home Screen

MICROSOFT’S August 2016 PATCH RELEASES

MICROSOFT’S August 2016 PATCH RELEASES

by | Aug 11, 2016 | Fixes, Patch Management, Patch Releases, SCCM, Security

MICROSOFT’S August 2016 PATCH RELEASES

The following nine Patch Tuesday updates / patches have been released by Microsoft for the August 2016 Update deployment.

Are you ready to start deploying and remove the patching risk using SnaPatch Patch Management Software?

MS16-095 – Critical

Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (3177356)
This security update resolves vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer. The most severe of the vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution if a user views a specially crafted webpage using Internet Explorer. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerabilities could gain the same user rights as the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.

MS16-096 – Critical

Cumulative Security Update for Microsoft Edge (3177358)
This security update resolves vulnerabilities in Microsoft Edge. The most severe of the vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution if a user views a specially crafted webpage using Microsoft Edge. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerabilities could gain the same user rights as the current user. Customers whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users with administrative user rights.

MS16-097 – Critical

Security Update for Microsoft Graphics Component (3177393)
This security update resolves vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, Skype for Business, and Microsoft Lync. The vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution if a user either visits a specially crafted website or opens a specially crafted document. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.

MS16-098– Critical

Security Update for Windows Kernel-Mode Drivers (3178466)
This security update resolves vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows. The vulnerabilities could allow elevation of privilege if an attacker logs on to an affected system and runs a specially crafted application that could exploit the vulnerabilities and take control of an affected system.

MS16-099 – Critical

Security Update for Microsoft Office (3177451)
This security update resolves vulnerabilities in Microsoft Office. The most severe of the vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution if a user opens a specially crafted Microsoft Office file. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerabilities could run arbitrary code in the context of the current user. Customers whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than those who operate with administrative user rights.

MS16-100 – Important

Security Update for Secure Boot (3179577)
This security update resolves a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows. The vulnerability could allow security feature bypass if an attacker installs an affected boot manager and bypasses Windows security features.

MS16-101 – Important

Security Update for Windows Authentication Methods (3178465)
This security update resolves multiple vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows. The more severe of the vulnerabilities could allow elevation of privilege if an attacker runs a specially crafted application on a domain-joined system.

MS16-102 – Critical

Security Update for Microsoft Windows PDF Library (3182248)
This security update resolves a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if a user views specially crafted PDF content online or opens a specially crafted PDF document. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.

MS16-103– Important

Security Update for ActiveSyncProvider (3182332)
This security update resolves a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows. The vulnerability could allow information disclosure when Universal Outlook fails to establish a secure connection.

How to snapshot multiple VMs

How to snapshot multiple VMs

by | Aug 9, 2016 | How To, Microsoft HyperV, Snapshot / Checkpoint, VMWare

How to snapshot multiple VM servers with SnapShot Master​

SnapShot Master is a software that helps to create or delete snapshots of multiple VMs in unison. It is a useful tool for VMware’s Vsphere and Microsoft’s HyperV users. With this software, taking snapshots of multiple VMs is a relatively easy task. In this article, we will guide you through the process of snapshotting multiple VM servers using SnapShot Master.

Installing SnapShot Master Before you can use SnapShot Master, you need to install it in your environment. If you haven’t done so, you can download the software and request a 30-day trial key. Once you have installed and are running SnapShot Master in your environment, you can proceed to snapshot multiple VMs.

Synchronous or Asynchronous Snapshotting SnapShot Master can perform snapshotting synchronously or asynchronously. This means that it can keep systems that need to be in sync, have snapshots taken at the same time, or one after the other. To learn more about the functions of SnapShot Master, click this link.

Syncing with Your Virtual Environment Open your SnapShot Master console and let it synchronize with your VMware or HyperV environment. Depending on your virtual environment, this may take some time.

The need arises at times for the creation or deletion of snapshots of multiple VMs in unison. Creating snapshots of multiple VMs (virtual servers) for VMware’s Vsphere or even for Microsoft’s HyperV with SnapShot Master is a relatively easy task. Hopefully you have installed and are running SnapShot Master in your environment, if not, you can download and request a 30 Day trial key and try it out for yourself.


snapshot master SnapShot Master can do this synchronously or asynchronously. This can keep systems that need to be in sync, have snapshots taken at the same time, or one after the other. To learn more about the functions of SnapShot Master, click this link.

VM Console Screen

Open you SnapShot Master console and let it synchronise with your Vmware or HyperV environment. Depending on your virtual environment, this may take some time.

SnapShot Master Home Screen

Virtual Machines Populated.

Now that the console has populated, Tick the checkboxes of the corresponding virtual machines that you wish a snapshot to be performed for.


Select Mutliple VMs

Virtual Machine Selection

Once you have selected the multiple VMs for a snapshot, right click on any VM and scroll down the drop down menu to Selected VMs then across to Take Snapshot.


Schedule VM Snapshot Selection

VM Snapshot Name

Once you have selected the multiple VMs for a snapshot, right click on any VM and scroll down the drop down menu to Selected VMs then across to Take Snapshot.


Schedule HyperV Checkpoint Name

Execute or Schedule VM Snapshot Job

You are now prompted to either Execute Now or Schedule Job. If you choose to execute now, the job will start to immediately snapshot multiple VMs. To schedule the snapshot for a later time, choose Schedule Job.


Schedule VMware Snapshot Execution

Schedule Snapshot Time

We now need to create a schedule for when you wish the snapshots to be performed. Click on New in the scheduling window and set the Date and Time then close the Windows.


Schedule Vmware snapshot ScheduleTask

Scheduled Snapshot Notifications

So thats all there is to it. You have chosen the virtual machines that require a snapshot, set your snapshot schedule and SnapShot Master will complete all this. If you have setup email notifications, you will receive emails detailing success and any failures.


SnapShot Master Email Notification

Taking a snaphot multiple VMs has never been easier than with SnapShot Master. To learn what else SnapShot Master can do, other than snapshot multiple VMs, click this link.

Download a trial of SnapShot Master today.

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SnapShot Master FAQs

Disaster Recovery

SnapShot Master can be used to create snapshots of multiple VMs at once, ensuring that all the VMs are captured at the same point in time. This makes it easy to restore the VMs in case of a disaster.

Testing and Development

SnapShot Master can be used to create a snapshot of a VM before making any changes. This allows developers and testers to revert back to the original state if anything goes wrong during testing.

Reporting and Auditing

SnapShot Master can be used to create snapshots of VMs on a regular basis for reporting and auditing purposes. This ensures that you always have a historical record of the VMs.

Performance Tuning

SnapShot Master can be used to create snapshots before making any performance tuning changes. This allows you to compare the performance of the VM before and after the changes.

Patch Management

SnapShot Master can be used to create snapshots before applying patches to the VMs. This ensures that you have a backup of the VM before applying any changes.

Overall, SnapShot Master is a versatile tool that can be used for a variety of use cases, providing a simple and efficient way to create and manage snapshots of multiple VMs.