Microsoft Windows Security Updates December 2020 overview

Martin Brinkmann
Dec 8, 2020
Updated • Dec 8, 2020
Companies, Microsoft, Windows, Windows Updates
|
20

Today is the last Microsoft Patch Day of the year 2020. Microsoft released security updates and non-security updates for all supported client and server versions of the company's Windows operating system, and updates for other company products such as Microsoft Office, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, or the .NET Framework.

Our Patch Day overview provides you with detailed information on released patches, security issues, and related information. You can download an Excel spreadsheet of the released security updates, check out the operating system distribution, find links to all support pages, and the list of known issues here in this guide.

Check out the November 2020 Security Updates overview here in case you missed it.

Microsoft Windows Security Updates December 2020

Download the following Excel spreadsheet that contains the released security updates to your system. Note that Microsoft's new platform is quite slow and that it may be possible that updates are missing. Let us know in the comments if you notice anything missing: Security Updates 2020 12 Microsoft Windows

Executive Summary

Operating System Distribution

  • Windows 7  (extended support only): 9 vulnerabilities: 0 critical and 9 important
  • Windows 8.1: 5 vulnerabilities: 0 rated critical and 5 rated important
  • Windows 10 version 1809: 19 vulnerabilities: 1 critical and 18 important
  • Windows 10 version 1903 and 1909: 18 vulnerabilities: 1 critical and 17 important
  • Windows 10 version 2004 and 20H2: 19 vulnerabilities, 1 critical, 18 important

Windows Server products

  • Windows Server 2008 R2 (extended support only): 9 vulnerabilities: 0 critical and 9 important
  • Windows Server 2012 R2: 6 vulnerabilities: 0 critical and 6 important.
  • Windows Server 2016: 16 vulnerabilities: 1 critical and 15 important.
  • Windows Server 2019: 20  vulnerabilities: 1 critical and 19 are important

Other Microsoft Products

  • Internet Explorer 11: 0 vulnerabilities:
  • Microsoft Edge (classic): 1 vulnerabilities: 1 critical
    • CVE 2020 17131 -- Chakra Scripting Engine Memory Corruption Vulnerability
  • Microsoft Edge (Chromium)
    • see here (latest security patches from the Chromium project)

Windows Security Updates

Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2

Updates and improvements:

  • Fixed a security vulnerability by preventing programs that runs as System from printing to FILE ports.
  • Security updates

Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2

Updates and improvements:

  • Fixed an issue that prevented PDF24 Creator version 9.1.1 from opening .txt files. (Monthly Rollup only)
  • Fixed a security vulnerability by preventing programs that runs as System from printing to FILE ports.
  • Security updates

Windows 10 version 1809

Updates and improvements:

  • Fixed a security vulnerability by preventing programs that runs as System from printing to FILE ports.
  • Security updates

Windows 10 version 1903 and 1909

Updates and improvements:

  • Fixed a security vulnerability by preventing programs that runs as System from printing to FILE ports.
  • Security updates

Windows 10 version 2004 and 20H2

Updates and improvements:

  • Fixed a security vulnerability by preventing programs that runs as System from printing to FILE ports.
  • Security updates

Other security updates

KB4592468 -- 2020-12 Security Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows Embedded 8 Standard and Windows Server 2012 (KB4592468)

KB4592497 -- 2020-12 Security Only Quality Update for Windows Embedded 8 Standard and Windows Server 2012 (KB4592497)

KB4592498 -- 2020-12 Security Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows Server 2008 (KB4592498)

KB4592504 -- 2020-12 Security Only Quality Update for Windows Server 2008 (KB4592504)

KB4592464 -- 2020-12 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1507 (KB4592464)

KB4593226 -- 2020-12 Cumulative Update for Windows Server 2016 and Windows 10 Version 1607 (KB4593226)

KB4592473 -- 2020-12 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1703 (KB4592473)

KB4592446 -- 2020-12 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1803 (KB4592446)

Servicing Stack Updates:

2020-12 Servicing Stack Update for Windows Embedded Standard 7, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 R2 (KB4592510)

2020-12 Servicing Stack Update for Windows Server, version 20H2, Windows 10 Version 20H2, Windows Server, version 2004, and Windows 10 Version 2004 (KB4593175)

Known Issues

Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2

  • Updates will fail to install with the error "“Failure to configure Windows updates. Reverting Changes. Do not turn off your computer" if ESU is not supported or activated.
  • Certain operations may fail on cluster shared volumes. Workarounds available.

Windows 8.1 and Server 2012 R2

  • Certain operations may fail on cluster shared volumes. Workarounds available.

Windows 10 version 1809

  • Devices with "some" Asian language packs may throw the error "0x800f0982 - PSFX_E_MATCHING_COMPONENT_NOT_FOUND.". Microsoft suggests to either try and uninstall the language packs and make sure that a recent version of Windows 10 is installed, or to reset the PC.

Windows 10 version 1903 and 1909

  • System and user certificates may be lost when updating a device from Windows 10 version 1809 or later, to a later version of Windows 10. Does not affect Windows Update devices or Windows Update for business devices. Workaround available.

Windows 10 version 2004 and 20H2

  • System and user certificates may be lost when updating a device from Windows 10 version 1809 or later, to a later version of Windows 10. Does not affect Windows Update devices or Windows Update for business devices. Workaround available.
  • The correct Furigana characters may not be displayed when using the Microsoft Japanese Input Method Editor. Microsoft is working on a resolution.

Security advisories and updates

ADV 200013 -- Microsoft Guidance for Addressing Spoofing Vulnerability in DNS Resolver

ADV 990001 -- Latest Servicing Stack Updates

Non-security related updates

Microsoft Office Updates

You find Office update information here.

How to download and install the December 2020 security updates

windows updates december 2020

Updates are already available via Windows Updates and other update management systems. Default Windows installations are configured to find and install updates automatically, but it is also possible to download updates manually to install them.

Tip: it is essential that you create a backup of the system before you install Windows updates as things may go wrong and backups help you restore the previous status quo.

You can check manually for updates in the following way:

  1. Open the Start Menu of the Windows operating system, type Windows Update and select the result.
  2. Select check for updates in the application that opens. Updates may be installed automatically when they are found or offered by Windows; this depends on the operating system and version that is used, and update settings.

Direct update downloads

Below are resource pages with direct download links, if you prefer to download the updates to install them manually.

Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2

  • KB4592471 -- 2020-12 Security Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows 7
  • KB4592503 -- 2020-12 Security Only Quality Update for Windows 7

Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2

  • KB4592484 -- 2020-12 Security Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows 8.1
  • KB4592495 -- 2020-12 Security Only Quality Update for Windows 8.1

Windows 10 (version 1809)

  • KB4592440 -- 2020-12 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1809

Windows 10 (version 1903)

  • KB4592449 -- 2020-12 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1903

Windows 10 (version 1909)

  • KB4592449 -- 2020-12 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1909

Windows 10 (version 2004)

  • KB4592438 -- 2020-12 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 2004

Windows 10 (version 20H2)

  • KB4592438 -- 2020-12 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version  20H2

Additional resources

Summary
Microsoft Windows Security Updates December 2020 overview
Article Name
Microsoft Windows Security Updates December 2020 overview
Description
Microsoft released security updates and non-security updates for all supported versions of the company's Windows operating system, client and server, as well as other company products such as Microsoft Office on the December 2020 Patch Day.
Author
Publisher
Ghacks Technology News
Logo
Advertisement

Tutorials & Tips


Previous Post: «
Next Post: «

Comments

  1. Yasir said on January 8, 2021 at 1:47 am
    Reply

    Hello Support, please update me ASAP.

    Hello support on my two domain controllers and two other Windows 2012 R2.

    These both KB not able to install, its failing to install. it downloads then install, when i restart the VM windows 2012 R2, it gets to 75% then says reverting changes.

    Please, help ASAP, i tried everything from fixing and attempting to manual install.
    I tried everything for last two weeks nothing worked.

    The remote host is missing one of the following rollup KBs :
    – 4592495
    – 4592484

    C:\Windows\system32\gdiplus.dll has not been patched.
    Remote version : 6.3.9600.19867
    Should be : 6.3.9600.19880

  2. Yasir said on January 6, 2021 at 5:52 pm
    Reply

    Hello Support, please update me ASAP.

    Hello support on my two domain controllers and two other Windows 2012 R2.

    These both KB not able to install, its failing to install. it downloads then install, when i restart the VM windows 2012 R2, it gets to 75% then says reverting changes.

    Please, help ASAP, i tried everything from fixing and attempting to manual install.
    I tried everything for last two weeks nothing worked.

    The remote host is missing one of the following rollup KBs :
    – 4592495
    – 4592484

    C:\Windows\system32\gdiplus.dll has not been patched.
    Remote version : 6.3.9600.19867
    Should be : 6.3.9600.19880

  3. Yasir said on December 28, 2020 at 4:10 pm
    Reply

    Hello support on my two domain controllers and two other Windows 2012 R2.

    These both KB not able to install, its failing to install. it downloads then install, when i restart the VM windows 2012 R2, it gets to 75% then says reverting changes.

    Please, help ASAP, i tried everything from fixing and attempting to manual install.
    I tried everything for last two weeks nothing worked.

    The remote host is missing one of the following rollup KBs :
    – 4592495
    – 4592484

    C:\Windows\system32\gdiplus.dll has not been patched.
    Remote version : 6.3.9600.19867
    Should be : 6.3.9600.19880

  4. Val Conway said on December 18, 2020 at 11:41 pm
    Reply

    Again a security update causes problems. Most of my url’s don’t work now. None work from my gmail account and many from my Chrome Browser Bookmarks. I’ve tried to find work arounds to no avail. This is one of the few links that works.

  5. hgc said on December 13, 2020 at 11:51 am
    Reply

    1 weird thing i noticed. not sure if it’s an update to the calendar app or if it’s the monthly update… but all the events have disappeared from calendar (i use local account only)… but they do (or at least 1 did.. i don’t have many events) pop up on the notification area.

    don’t remember seeing this before..

  6. Yuliya said on December 11, 2020 at 12:18 pm
    Reply

    Updated LTSC 1809 on two machines. One weird new behaviour I have noticed since last moth, and this month is no differemt, is that now I always get one (1) notification about my Windows Firewall being disabled after a reboot. This used to not be the case, as the “Windows Security notification” application is not running in background. Turning off the Windows Defender Firewall service “mpssvc” also did not fix this issue – unless Microsoft considers this to be the indended behaviour.

    Notifications are disabled alltogether on my machine, so this bypasses (almost) anything user-facing. I did not dig deep wnough into Group Policy, yet.

  7. kanade said on December 10, 2020 at 11:37 pm
    Reply

    For some reason, my desktop was forced to install 2004 whereas, my laptop continued with installing security updates for 1909.

    Is there a way to revert back to 1909? Or is 2004 usable at the current state?

  8. RobG said on December 10, 2020 at 12:30 pm
    Reply

    Thanks Martin for the useful info.

  9. cake said on December 10, 2020 at 12:22 am
    Reply

    > My Windows 10 system hasn’t gotten borked by an update yet

    What a strange thing to be concerned about with something as important as an OS

    > Any new unwanted or trickery features enabled?

    Would you audit it for us? Oh, wait, we can’t. We don’t have access to the source code, nor can we make reproducible builds! HA, HA!

  10. Corky said on December 9, 2020 at 11:37 am
    Reply

    I see they’ve taken to reinstalling Edge (Chromium) for those of us who’ve uninstalled it, with the “DoNotUpdateToEdgeWithChromium” registry setting no longer working does anyone know of how to block it from installing now?

    Something in the administrative templates for Edge maybe?

  11. dfs said on December 9, 2020 at 10:26 am
    Reply

    interestingly… the windows experience thing popped up upon restarting to finish the update.. 2 options… continue.. or remind me in 3 days.

  12. Anonymous said on December 9, 2020 at 2:11 am
    Reply

    Any new unwanted or trickery features enabled?

    1. microfix said on December 9, 2020 at 10:53 am
      Reply

      that’s entirely dependant on what OS you are using
      8.1 is fine, as is 7 with ESU, however, can’t speak for 10

  13. Paul(us) said on December 8, 2020 at 10:55 pm
    Reply

    Thanks Martin, for guiding me thru this mounts update.
    I updated main system to Windows 10 version 20H2 build 19042.685.

  14. Peterc said on December 8, 2020 at 10:32 pm
    Reply

    Hey, everyone! It’s pre-update-system-drive-cloning-and-imaging Tuesday!

    Full Disclosure: My Windows 10 system hasn’t gotten borked by an update yet, and the built-in rollback feature on my dad’s Windows 10 computer worked flawlessly when a version upgrade borked *his* Windows 10 system, but I’ve seen enough irrecoverable borkings in Windows 7 and read about enough of them in Windows 8/8.1 and 10 to stay on my guard. I used to clone before applying Patch Tuesday updates, on old laptops where swapping out drives took only around five minutes. Now I image.

    I use a local account rather than a “Microsoft account” because of privacy concerns, but I have a question for Microsoft-account users who back up their settings online and who’ve had to reinstall Windows 10 from scratch: How completely were your pre-borkage system and app settings restored after the reinstall? How many hours or days did you have to put in to return your system to more or less the same state it was in before it got borked?

  15. ilev said on December 8, 2020 at 8:37 pm
    Reply

    Kerberos authentication of ticket renewals on domain controllers has been fix with Dec. CU.

  16. Emily said on December 8, 2020 at 8:20 pm
    Reply

    No excel spreadsheet this month?

    1. Yasir said on December 24, 2020 at 6:45 am
      Reply

      Hello support on my two domain controllers and two other Windows 2012 R2.

      These both KB not able to install, its failing to install. it downloads then install, when i restart the VM windows 2012 R2, it gets to 75% then says reverting changes.

      Please, help ASAP, i tried everything from fixing and attempting to manual install.
      I tried everything for last two weeks nothing worked.

      The remote host is missing one of the following rollup KBs :
      – 4592495
      – 4592484

      C:\Windows\system32\gdiplus.dll has not been patched.
      Remote version : 6.3.9600.19867
      Should be : 6.3.9600.19880

    2. Martin Brinkmann said on December 8, 2020 at 9:01 pm
      Reply

      Microsoft’s new platform is very slow. Not sure if the Excel spreadsheet is complete but it took longer than usual.

      1. Tanoli said on December 11, 2020 at 6:13 am
        Reply

        Hello support, the latest windows 2012 security updates failed on couple my servers VM, please assist ASAP and if anyone else this issue please tell how to resolve

Leave a Reply

Check the box to consent to your data being stored in line with the guidelines set out in our privacy policy

We love comments and welcome thoughtful and civilized discussion. Rudeness and personal attacks will not be tolerated. Please stay on-topic.
Please note that your comment may not appear immediately after you post it.