Microsoft releases new Windows 10 updates with security fix for Internet Explorer

Microsoft today released a new set of cumulative updates for Windows 10 PCs running the May 2019 Update and earlier. Coming two weeks after this month's "Patch Tuesday" updates, the latest releases focus on fixing a single security issue with Internet Explorer.

The fix for Internet Explorer is the only thing included in these updates. Specifically, as noted in Microsoft's release notes, the updates focus on correcting a remote code execution vulnerability in all versions of Windows 10 save version 1511. Here's a description of the issue, from Microsoft's Security Update Guide:

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the scripting engine handles objects in memory in Internet Explorer. The vulnerability could corrupt memory in such a way that an attacker could execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. 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 who successfully exploited the vulnerability 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.

In a web-based attack scenario, an attacker could host a specially crafted website that is designed to exploit the vulnerability through Internet Explorer and then convince a user to view the website, for example, by sending an email.

The security update addresses the vulnerability by modifying how the scripting engine handles objects in memory.

These updates are optional, but they should be included as part of Microsoft's next round of "Patch Tuesday" cumulative updates in October.