Microsoft Windows Security Updates April 2021 overview

Apr 13, 2021

Updated • Apr 14, 2021

Microsoft released security and non-security updates, including KB5001330, for supported versions of Microsoft Windows and other company products such as Office on the April 2021 Patch Tuesday.

Our guide provides administrators and home users with information on the released updates. It links to all support pages, lists known issues and direct patch downloads, and lists all security and non-security update releases of the day.

Click here to open the March 2021 Patch Day overview in case you missed it or want to revisit it.

The Microsoft Windows Security Updates: April 2021

Click on the following link to download an Excel spreadsheet with the released security updates: Security-updates-windows-april-2021

Executive Summary

Security updates are available for all supported versions of Windows (client and server).
Microsoft released security updates for other company products including Azure, Microsoft Edge, Exchange Server, Microsoft Office, Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code, and Windows Media Player.
If you manage Exchange Servers, check out this blog post on the April 2021 security updates.
Several updates have known issues, including those for Windows 7 and 8.1, various Windows 10 versions, Windows Server versions, and Microsoft Exchange Server.
Windows 10 version 1909 for Home customers runs out of support after the May 2021 Patch Day.

Operating System Distribution

Windows 7Â Â (extended support only): 50 vulnerabilities: 14 critical and 36 important
- CVE-2021-27095Â -- Windows Media Video Decoder Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28315 -- Windows Media Video Decoder Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28329 -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28330 -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28331 -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28332 -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28333 -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
  CVE-2021-28334Â -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28335 -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28336 -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28337 -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28338 -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28339 -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28343 -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Windows 8.1: 5 5vulnerabilities: 14 critical and 41 important
- same as Windows 7
Â Windows 10 version 1903 and 1909: 77 vulnerabilities: 14 critical and 62 important and 1 moderate
- same as Windows 7
Windows 10 version 2004 and 20H2: 79 vulnerabilities, 14 critical and 64 important and 1 moderate
- same as Windows 7

Windows Server products

Windows Server 2008 R2 (extended support only):Â 47 vulnerabilities: 14 critical and 33 important
- CVE-2021-27095Â -- Windows Media Video Decoder Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28315 -- Windows Media Video Decoder Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28329 -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28330 -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28331 -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28332 -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28333 -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
  CVE-2021-28334Â -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28335 -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28336 -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28337 -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28338 -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28339 -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- CVE-2021-28343 -- Remote Procedure Call Runtime Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Windows Server 2012 R2: 55Â vulnerabilities: 14 critical and 41 important
- same as Windows Sever 2008 R2
Windows Server 2016: 63 vulnerabilities: 14 critical and 49 important.
- same as Windows Sever 2008 R2
Windows Server 2019: 77 vulnerabilities: 14 critical and 62 important and 1 moderate
- same as Windows Sever 2008 R2

Windows Security Updates

Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2

Monthly Rollup: KB5001335
Security-only:KB5001392

Updates and improvements:

Time Zone change for Volgograd, Russia and The Republic of South Sudan.
Removed support for the RemoteFX vGPU feature. Microsoft suggests to use secure vGPU alternatives. (Monthly Rollup only)
Addressed an issue that prevents users from specifying up to 255 columns when using the Jet Text installable indexed sequential access method (IISAM) format. (Monthly Rollup only)
Fixed a Windows Backup Event ID reporting issue. (Monthly Rollup only)
Fixed security issues.

Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2

Monthly Rollup: KB5001382
Security-only: KB5001393

Updates and improvements:

Time Zone change for Volgograd, Russia and The Republic of South Sudan.
Fixed security issues.
Removed support for the RemoteFX vGPU feature. Microsoft suggests to use secure vGPU alternatives. (Monthly Rollup only)
Addressed an issue that prevents users from specifying up to 255 columns when using the Jet Text installable indexed sequential access method (IISAM) format. (Monthly Rollup only)

Windows 10 version 1909

Support Page: KB5001337

Updates and improvements:

Fixed a "potential elevation of privilege vulnerability in the way Azure Active Directory web sign-in allows arbitrary browsing". See Policy CSP Authentication for more information.
Fixed an issue in "which a principal in a trusted MIT realm fails to obtain a Kerberos service ticket from Active Directory domain controllers (DC)".
Removed support for the RemoteFX vGPU feature. Microsoft suggests to use secure vGPU alternatives. (Monthly Rollup only)
Security updates.

Windows 10 version 2004 and 20H2

Support Page: KB5001330

Updates and improvements:

same as Windows 10 version 1909

Other security updates

2021-04 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1507 (KB5001340)

2021-04 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1803 (KB5001339)

2021-04 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1809 (KB5001342)

2021-04 Security Only Quality Update for Windows Server 2008 (KB5001332)

2021-04 Security Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows Server 2008 (KB5001389)

2021-04 Security Only Quality Update for Windows Embedded 8 Standard and Windows Server 2012 (KB5001383)

2021-04 Security Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows Embedded 8 Standard and Windows Server 2012 (KB5001387)

2021-04 Cumulative Update for Windows Server 2016 and Windows 10 Version 1607 (KB5001347)

Known Issues

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2

Updates may be reverted if the machine is not supported for ESU.
Some operations may fail on Cluster Shared Volumes. Workaround available.

Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2

Some operations may fail on Cluster Shared Volumes. Workaround available.

Windows 10 version 1909

System and user certificates may be lost when updating to a newer version of Windows. Workaround available, Microsoft is working on a solution.

Windows 10 version 2004 and 20H2

System and user certificates may be lost when updating to a newer version of Windows. Workaround available, Microsoft is working on a solution.
Issue with the Microsoft Japanese Input Method Editor and Kanji / Furigana characters.
Some devices, created using custom offline media or ISO images, may have Edge Legacy removed but not replaced by the new Edge. Microsoft has a workaround for this.

Security advisories and updates

ADV 990001Â -- Latest Servicing Stack Updates

Non-security related updates

2021-04 Update for Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Embedded 8 Standard, Windows Server 2012, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows Server 2008 (KB4601275)

Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool - v5.88 (KB890830)

Microsoft Office Updates

You find Office update informationÂ here.

How to download and install the April 2021 security updates

Security updates are installed automatically on most Windows devices thanks to the built-in automatic updating functionality. Administrators may run manual checks for updates to download and install updates early, or download updates directly from the Microsoft Update Catalog website or by using first-party or third-party update management tools and services.

Note: we recommend to create backups before the installation of updates, as updates may have issues.

Windows administrators may run the following steps to check for updates manually on Windows devices:

Select Start, type Windows Update and load the Windows Update item that is displayed.
Select check for updates to run a manual check for updates.

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

KB5001335 -- 2021-04 Security Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows 7
KB5001392 -- 2021-04 Security Only Quality Update for Windows 7

Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2

KB5001382 -- 2021-04 Security Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows 8.1
KB5001393 -- 2021-04 Security Only Quality Update for Windows 8.1

Windows 10 (version 1909)

KB5001337Â -- 2021-04 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1909

Windows 10 (version 2004)

KB5001330Â -- 2021-04 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 2004

Windows 10 (version 20H2)

KB5001330 -- 2021-04 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 VersionÂ 20H2

Additional resources

Summary

Article Name

Microsoft Windows Security Updates April 2021 overview

Description

An overview of the security and non-security updates that Microsoft released on the April 2021 Patch Tuesday.

Author

Martin Brinkmann

Publisher

Ghacks Technology News

Logo

Comments

Yuliya said on April 13, 2021 at 9:11 pm


Windows 10, version 1809, Windows Server, version 1809, and Windows Server 2019

April 13, 2021â€”KB5001342 (OS Build 17763.1879)
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/april-13-2021-kb5001342-os-build-17763-1879-52e9180d-0cd3-4ab9-8a35-514c07ea9e08
https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB5001342

KB5001404: Servicing stack update for Windows 10, version 1809: April 13, 2021
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb5001404-servicing-stack-update-for-windows-10-version-1809-april-13-2021-4b510de8-a2a1-4736-b36d-031e740f208a
https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB5001404
1. ZeN said on April 14, 2021 at 11:07 am
  
  
  Thanks for the LTSB links.
Jay said on April 13, 2021 at 10:14 pm


When I attempt to download this month’s .ZIP for update details, it downloads a ZIP with no files contained. I’ve tried multiple avenues of resolution, no luck. Just wanted to check. Thanks for all your work, Martin!
Paul(us) said on April 14, 2021 at 12:16 am


Thanks, Martin, For helping me to update like always this time to windows 10 pro 20H2 build 19042.928.
chesscanoe said on April 14, 2021 at 5:10 am


To update from 20H2 2009 (build 19042.906) to 928, I had to manually invoke WU two times.
Zelanium said on April 14, 2021 at 7:34 am


“Removed support for the RemoteFX vGPU feature” – Hope everyone spotted that they continue to cripple their products.
1. TelV said on April 14, 2021 at 11:53 am
  
  
  @ Zelanium,
  
  It’s apparently an architectural security vulnerability: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/kb4570006-update-to-disable-and-remove-the-remotefx-vgpu-component-in-windows-bbdf1531-7188-2bf4-0de6-641de79f09d2
TelV said on April 14, 2021 at 11:49 am


Windows 8.1 Servicing Stack update this month. Also for Windows Server 2012 R2 https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB5001403
JustSomeGuy said on April 14, 2021 at 12:52 pm


New Edge appears after this update
Carlos said on April 14, 2021 at 3:33 pm


Warning kb5001392 does not brought improvement and fixes like hybrid cloud network and windows kernel, only the full kb5001335. Mistake intentionally in microsoft web page?
1. Phil said on April 27, 2021 at 11:24 am
  
  
  Hi,
  We have Win 7 extended support and since those 2 updates (+41 Office 2010 updates), our desktops are very slow. Did someone knows why ?
Fish said on April 14, 2021 at 3:43 pm


Thanks so much for all that you do, Martin!

I’m here every morning, first thing when I wake up.
Anonymous said on April 14, 2021 at 8:14 pm


Zip is empty?
1. Martin Brinkmann said on April 14, 2021 at 8:31 pm
  
  
  Fixed, sorry for that!
Sheetal said on April 15, 2021 at 3:51 am


After installing the April updates on 1809 it hasn’t replaced the Edge Legacy. New Edge is still missing.
Anonymous said on April 16, 2021 at 5:36 pm


I run 1909, and have a 2 day delay on installing updates.

I only had one update kb5001337, Windows Update said it was download, and ready to install.

It’s kb page https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/april-13-2021-kb5001337-os-build-18363-1500-e7336837-2aaa-4f73-995c-ab2ba5013727
notes the following

Before installing this update
Prerequisite:
You must install the April 13, 2021 servicing stack update (SSU) (KB5001406) or later before
installing the latest cumulative update (LCU).

I donâ€™t have this update KB5001406

kb5001337 was already downloaded, so I canâ€™t install KB5001406 first.

I rebooted and checked for updates. No updates were found.

Why isn’t KB5001406 being downloaded?

I did a Google search on KB5001406, and only got 34 results.

I guess I could
1) uninstall kb5001337,
2) install KB5001406 from the Windows Update Catalog, and then
3) install kb5001337,

but I will need to do more research before going down that road.
Anonymous said on April 16, 2021 at 5:48 pm


I run 1909, and have a 2 day delay on installing updates.

I only had one update kb5001337, Windows Update said it was download, and ready to install.

It’s kb page https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/april-13-2021-kb5001337-os-build-18363-1500-e7336837-2aaa-4f73-995c-ab2ba5013727
notes the following

Before installing this update
Prerequisite:
You must install the April 13, 2021 servicing stack update (SSU) (KB5001406) or later before
installing the latest cumulative update (LCU).

I donâ€™t have this update KB5001406

kb5001337 was already downloaded, so I canâ€™t install KB5001406 first.

I rebooted and checked for updates. No updates were found.

Why isn’t KB5001406 being downloaded?

I did a Google search on KB5001406, and only got 34 results.

(Don’t do the following, see edited update)
I guess I could
1) uninstall kb5001337,
2) install KB5001406 from the Windows Update Catalog, and then
3) install kb5001337,

but I will need to do more research before going down that road.

******** Edited Update *********

I ran Belarc Advisor (a great utility) and it shows that KB5001406 is installed.

I went into the legacy Control Panel, and ran Programs and Features.
In Programs and Features, I selected “View installed updates” on the left panel,
and it showed that KB5001406 was installed!

So the Windows !0 Settings program is defective. Windows 10 Settings, Update and Security, View update history does not show all the updates installed.
Anonymous said on April 16, 2021 at 8:43 pm


The latest Windows Update installed the new Microsoft Edge browser, which launches after you reboot.

I don’t want to use Edge, but it was pinned to the status bar.

I unpinned Edge from the status bar, but it left a blank place holder between my pinned apps and non-pinned apps.

I hope the blank space goes away after a reboot.
Cody said on April 21, 2021 at 12:41 am


I just updated all 3 operating systems i had no problems. Didn’t get any slow downs in performance. No telemetry added either. By the way i only use security updates only. I never use monthly rollups. Also after the updates are installed. I always clean the WinSxS folder by using the command prompt. The 3 operating systems i have are Windows 7 ultimate, Windows 8.1 Industry Enterprise and Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC

Microsoft Windows Security Updates April 2021 overview