Microsoft says 92% of Exchange servers have been patched or mitigated

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Microsoft logo (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • 92% of vulnerable Exchange servers have been patched or mitigated.
  • That marks a 43% improvement over last week.
  • Patching a server does not protect them if they have already been compromised.

Microsoft states that 92% of vulnerable Exchange servers have been patched or mitigated. That figure shows an improvement of 43% over last week, according to Microsoft. The company states that there is strong momentum for on-premises Exchange server updates.

It's important to note that patching or mitigating a vulnerability does not protect servers that have already been compromised. IT admins need to check to see if their systems have been exploited.

Microsoft has taken several steps to address the widespread attack on its Exchange server software. The company released an emergency fix for the vulnerability and released a one-click mitigation tool. Microsoft also updated Microsoft Defender to address one vulnerability.

Threat actors jumped on the opportunity to go after unpatched Microsoft Exchange servers. Check Point Research saw exploitation attempts on organizations double every 2-3 hours over a 24-hour period earlier this month.

Researchers at F-Secure said that servers are being hacked faster than they can count. In a report from March 19, Antii Laaktikainen, senior security consultant at F-Secure said, "Tens of thousands of servers have been hacked around the world. They're being hacked faster than we can count. Globally, this is a disaster in the making" (via ZDNet.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He's covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean's journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.