Microsoft released Patch Tuesday December, the last issue of the year, which contains a lot of news security and other bug fixes, performance and stability updates.

This type of patch covers all Microsoft software, although the most important are those for operating systems. Updates are cumulative and aim to improve software security, fixing vulnerabilities of varying degrees of danger, up to critical ones discovered in previous months, some with exploits active.

Therefore, it is recommended to update the systems as soon as possible. Updates are now available through Windows Update, update management systems such as WSUS, and as direct downloads from the Microsoft Update Catalog. For consumers, the easiest way to install it on Windows 10 and Windows 11 is to go to Start > Settings > Windows Update. If you don’t see them, click “Check for Updates”.

Security update summary

Microsoft publishes a monthly Excel spreadsheet that lists security (and other) updates released in monthly patches. Just click on the link to download. What main summary we can stand out:

• Windows 10 version 21H1 reached end of support today. There will be no future updates for this version.
• After the December 2022 patches, there will be only one more update for Windows 7 and 8/8.1.
• Microsoft has qualified Windows 10 version 22H2 for widespread deployment.
• Microsoft has published a special security warning ADV220005 where it highlights Microsoft-signed drivers that have been abused.
• The following Windows client versions have known issues: Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 versions 20H2, 21H1, 21H2 and 22H2, Windows 11 versions 21H2 and 22H2.
• The following versions of Windows Server have known issues: Windows Server 2008, 2008 R2, 2012, 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016, 2019, and 2022

According to operating systems

Microsoft has released patches for all systems, including the Extended Support version of Windows 7. As you probably know, these will be the penultimate patches for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. It is recommended to upgrade to Windows 10 or Windows 11. Follow our guide and upgrade completely for free. Regarding updates for client versions, it is worth noting:

• Windows 7 (extended support only) : 15 vulnerabilities: 3 critical and 11 important, 1 moderate
  • PowerShell Remote Code Execution Vulnerability: CVE-2022-41076
  • Windows Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability — CVE-2022-44676
  • Windows Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability — CVE-2022-44670
• Windows 8.1 : 20 vulnerabilities: 3 critical and 16 important, 1 medium
  • same as windows 7
• Windows 10 version 21H1, 21H2 and 22H2: 26 vulnerabilities, 3 critical and 22 important, 1 moderate
  • same as windows 7
• Windows 11 and Windows 11 version 22H2 : 25 vulnerabilities, 3 critical and 21 important, 1 medium
  • same as windows 7

downloading

Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2

• Monthly Summary: KB5021291
• Security only: KB5021288

Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2

• Monthly summary: KB5021294
• Security only: KB5021296

Windows 10 version 21H1m 21H2 and 22H2

• Support page: KB5021233

Windows 11

• Support page: KB5021255