The Windows security updates for March 2025 are now available
Microsoft released security updates and other updates for its Windows operating system on Tuesday. The security updates fix critical issues in every Microsoft operating system.
Our overview of the security updates provides home users and system administrators with useful links and information to deal with the released updates.
It highlights major issues in each operating system, provides links to support pages and downloads, and much more.
Microsoft Windows Security Updates: March 2025
You may download the following Excel spreadsheet to get a list of released updates. Click on the following link to download the archive to the local device: Security Updates Windows March 2025
Executive Summary
- Beware: The Windows 10 update may install the new Outlook app for Windows automatically.
- Microsoft released a total of 57 security updates for various Microsoft products and 10 security update for non-Microsoft issues (e.g. Chromium).
- 7 of the fixed issues are 0-days. Read more about this at Bleeping Computer.
- Windows clients with issues:
- Windows 10 version 1809, 21H2, 22H2
- Windows 11 version 22H2, 23H2, and 24H2
- Windows Server clients with issues:
- Windows Server 2008
- Windows Server 2019
- Windows Server 2022
- Windows 11, version 22H2, Home and Pro, have reached end of support. Microsoft will force upgrade devices to newer Windows versions.
Product overview
Each supported version of Windows and their critical vulnerabilities are listed below.
- Windows 10 version 22H2: 30 vulnerabilities, 2 critical, 28 important
- Remote Desktop Client Remote Code Execution Vulnerability -- CVE-2025-26645
- Windows Remote Desktop Services Remote Code Execution Vulnerability -- CVE-2025-24035
- Windows 11 version 22H2 and 23H2: 33 vulnerabilities, 3 critical, 30 important
- same as Windows 10
- Plus Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2) Kernel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability -- CVE-2025-24084
- Windows 11 version 24H2: 33 vulnerabilities, 3 critical, 30 important
- Same as Windows 11 version 23H2.
Windows Server products
- Windows Server 2008 R2 (extended support only): 21 vulnerabilities: 3 critical, 18 important
- Windows Remote Desktop Services Remote Code Execution Vulnerability -- CVE-2025-24035
- Remote Desktop Client Remote Code Execution Vulnerability -- CVE-2025-26645
- Windows Domain Name Service Remote Code Execution Vulnerability -- CVE-2025-24064
- Windows Server 2012 R2 (extended support only): unknown
- Windows Server 2016: 33 vulnerabilities: 4 critical, 29 important
- same as Server 2008 R2
- Plus Windows Remote Desktop Services Remote Code Execution Vulnerability -- CVE-2025-24045
- Windows Server 2019: 32 vulnerabilities: 4 critical, 28 important
- same as Server 2016
- Windows Server 2022: 34 vulnerabilities: 5 critical, 29 important
- same as Server 2016
- Plus Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2) Kernel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability -- CVE-2025-24084
- Windows Server 2025: 35 vulnerabilities: 5 critical, 30 important
- same as Server 2022
Windows Security Updates
Windows 10 version 22H2
- Support Page: KB5053606
Updates and improvements:
- Security updates
- Includes Narrator fixes.
- Adds support for DST changes in Paraguay.
Windows 11 version 22H2 / 23H2
- Support Page: KB5053602
Updates and improvements:
- Security updates.
- New features continue to roll out gradually. Highlights are:
- Share files directly from the taskbar.
- Windows Spotlight information about images easier to find.
- New Narrator scan mode features.
- Start backup in File Explorer can now be turned off.
Windows 11 version 24H2
- Support page: KB5053598
Updates and improvements:
- Security updates.
- Gradual rollout of new features. Highlights are (apart from the features of Windows 11 23H2):
- HTML Help Viewer gets text scaling support.
- Fixed apps not recognizing a scanner.
- Multiple apps may use a camera stream simultaneously.
Windows Security updates
- 2025-03 Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer (KB5053593)
- 2025-03 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1507 (KB5053618)
- 2025-03 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 22H2 and Windows 10 Version 21H2 (KB5053606)
Server
- 2025-03 Security Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems (KB5053620)
- 2025-03 Security Only Quality Update for Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems (KB5053627)
- 2025-03 Security Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows Server 2008 (KB5053888)
- 2025-03 Security Only Quality Update for Windows Server 2008 (KB5053995)
- 2025-03 Security Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows Server 2012 (KB5053886)
- 2025-03 Security Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows Server 2012 R2 (KB5053887)
- 2025-03 Cumulative Update for Windows Server 2016 and Windows 10 Version 1607 (KB5053594)
- 2025-03 Cumulative Update for Windows Server 2019 and Windows 10 Version 1809 (KB5053596)
- 2025-03 Cumulative Update for Microsoft server operating system, version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5053603)
- 2025-03 Cumulative security Hotpatch for Azure Stack HCI, version 21H2 and Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition for x64-based Systems (KB5053638)
Servicing Stack Updates
- 2025-03 Servicing Stack Update for Windows 10 Version 1507 (KB5054008)
- 2025-03 Servicing Stack Update for Windows Server 2016 and Windows 10 Version 1607 (KB5054006)
Non-Security updates
None listed.
Known Issues
Windows 10 version 22H2
- (NEW) Issue with certain types of USB printers that printed automatically.
- Workaround: Microsoft resolved the issue with a Known Issue Rollback. System administrators need to make Group Policy changes to apply this. Link here
- (OLD) Windows Event Viewer may display an error related to SgrmBroker.exe on devices with the January 14, 2025 update or later installed. It is logged as Event 7023 and the text should say "The System Guard Runtime Monitor Broker service terminated with the following error:".
- Workaround: Microsoft says that this error has no impact on performance or functionality. The service has not been used "for a very long time" according to Microsoft.
- (OLD) Devices with Citrix components installed may not be able to install the January 2025 security updates.
- Citrix has released a workaround that needs to be applied before installing the January 2025 security updates. Link here
- (FIXED) OpenSSH may fail to start, which prevents SSH connections.
- Workaround: Microsoft suggests updating permissions to temporarily address the issue. Instructions found here.
Windows 11 version 22H2 and 23H2
- (NEW) Issue with certain types of USB printers that printed automatically.
- Workaround: Microsoft resolved the issue with a Known Issue Rollback. System administrators need to make Group Policy changes to apply this. Link here
- (OLD) Devices with Citrix components installed may not be able to install the January 2025 security updates.
- Citrix has released a workaround that needs to be applied before installing the January 2025 security updates. Link here
- (FIXED) OpenSSH may fail to start, which prevents SSH connections.
- Workaround: Microsoft suggests updating permissions to temporarily address the issue. Instructions found here.
Windows 11 version 24H2
- (OLD) Devices with Citrix components installed may not be able to install the January 2025 security updates.
- Citrix has released a workaround that needs to be applied before installing the January 2025 security updates. Link here
- (OLD) Players on ARM devices may not be able to play Roblox via the Microsoft Store.
- Workaround: download and play the title directly from the developer website.
- (Fixed) OpenSSH may fail to start, which prevents SSH connections.
- Workaround: Microsoft suggests updating permissions to temporarily address the issue. Instructions found here.
Security advisories and updates
- ADV 990001 -- Latest Servicing Stack Updates
Microsoft Office Updates
You find Office update information here.
How to download and install the March 2025 security updates
Security updates get downloaded and installed automatically on most non-managed Windows devices. Admins may speed up the process in the following way.
- Open the Start menu, type Windows Update, and select the result.
- Activate the "check for updates" button. This runs a manual check for updates.
- Activate the "download & install all" button, if the update is not downloaded automatically.
Another option is to download the updates manually to install them this way.
Direct update downloads
Below are resource pages with direct download links, if you prefer to download the updates to install them manually.
Windows 10 version 22H2
- KB5053606 -- 2025-03 Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 22H2
Windows 11 version 22H2
-
KB5053602 -- 2025-03 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 version 22H2
- KB5053602 -- 2025-03 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 version 23H2
Windows 11 version 24H2
- KB5053598 -- 2025-03 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 version 24H2
Additional resources
- March 2025 Security Updates release notes
- List of software updates for Microsoft products
- List of the latest Windows Updates and Services Packs
- Security Updates Guide
- Microsoft Update Catalog site
- Our in-depth Windows update guide
- How to install optional updates on Windows 10
- Windows 11 24H2 Update History
- Windows 11 23H2 Update History
- Windows 10 Update History
Summary
Article Name
The Windows security updates for March 2025 are now available
DescriptionMicrosoft has released security updates for Windows. Our overview provides you with information about the releases and actionable advice.
Author
Martin Brinkmann
Publisher
Ghacks Technology News
Logo
You clever guy! And valiant enough!
I still accept all the updates as they are released, but I am always crossing my fingers that they don’t break something in the process of fixing some exploits.
I always remember this picture:
https://i.ibb.co/MkTkyJyM/image.png
Linux vs Windows vs Mac Updates
Linux: Cool, more free stuff!
Windows: Not again!
Mac: Ooh, only $99!
I used to be excited about Windows updates, but that was back when a home computer was a novelty for me XP was the OS of choice and then Vista and 7 were exciting to me. I only used Vista around 2009 when it had matured enough and I never had problems with it on a new PC and then quickly migrated to 7 which was amazing.
It was with 7 where I would religiously check for updates on a daily basis and be excited when the tiniest update would start downloading. But now updating Windows is actually something I would not even consider, had I continued to use Windows. I remember in March 2024, before I decided to move to Linux Mint, I had set up Windows 10, completely stripped down from any garbage, Windows 7 style start menu, no apps, only Settings and Calculator were there, I think I even deleted files for Windows Update, Windows Security (Defender) and Edge so they never bother me again and it did feel light and fast, but at that point I already hated Windows with a passion.
And now, almost a year later, I’m still running Linux Mint, learned a lot about it and I have no plans on going back. I doubt Windows will be good again. 11 started alright, but they bloated it with invasive malware like Copilot, Edge was already behaving like malware since Windows 10 and now I read news that 11 has sneaked in ads in every possible place. I don’t think from this point on 11 will be good, I think MS just want October 2025 to come ASAP so they can put 10 behind them and focus on bloating and ruining 11 even further and then 12 will be another disappointment. They are already a monopoly so they don’t give jack squat what their users feel, they won’t abandon Windows, they will just complain, tire themselves out and STFU and keep using it and then buy/pirate the next version and the cycle continues.
But I hope over time MS screws up Windows so bad that Linux actually gains above 5% market share and moves to 10%, that will be grand.
@Allwynd, updating is not the problem in Windows but the quality of its development Team. Garbage updating garbage equal to maximum garbage as possible. And trust me, I understand very much about garbage, I was an Windows Vista user.