Ethical Hacking News
Microsoft has released an urgent update to address a restart loop issue affecting some Windows Server devices after its April 2026 security patch. The fix aims to prevent forced server restarts and maintain availability for critical services.
Microsoft released an out-of-band update to address a restart loop issue in Windows Server devices after installing the April 2026 security patch. Domain controllers using Privileged Access Management (PAM) might experience LSASS crashes during startup, causing repeated restarts and authentication issues. The issue specifically targeted Windows Server 2016 through 2025, but only Windows Servers were affected. A separate issue with the April update required devices to enter their BitLocker recovery key on first restart after installation. Micrsoft's out-of-band updates highlight concerns about quality control and suggest a need for more thorough testing before deploying updates. Organizations should prioritize proactive maintenance strategies to mitigate risks of unexpected disruptions caused by software issues or security vulnerabilities.
Microsoft has released an out-of-band update to address a restart loop issue that affected some Windows Server devices after its April 2026 security patch. The fix aims to spare administrators the headache of forced server restarts following the installation of the April update.
According to Microsoft, domain controllers (DCs) in environments with multiple domains and using Privileged Access Management (PAM) might experience LSASS crashes during startup after installing the April 2026 Windows security update (KB5082063). This issue caused affected DCs to restart repeatedly, preventing authentication and directory services from functioning, and potentially rendering the domain unavailable.
The problem specifically targeted Windows Server 2016 through 2025. Microsoft took a proactive approach by issuing an out-of-band update to address this issue. Additionally, hotpatches were made available to mitigate failed installations that might have caused similar problems.
It is worth noting that only Windows Servers were affected by the restart issue; however, there was another known problem with the April update where "some devices with an unrecommended BitLocker Group Policy configuration might be required to enter their BitLocker recovery key on the first restart after installing this update." This issue was expected to affect primarily enterprise devices.
Microsoft has become accustomed to issuing out-of-band updates in response to various issues, including a March update that caused problems with app sign-in using Microsoft accounts. The latest development highlights concerns regarding the quality control of Microsoft's updates, leading some users to wonder if "out-of-band" is starting to sound like "out of control." Despite these challenges, Microsoft has continued to push out fixes and workarounds for affected customers.
In a broader context, this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of thoroughly testing updates before deploying them directly to production environments. The potential consequences of such oversights can be significant, including downtime and data loss for users relying on critical services that rely on Windows Server devices.
Furthermore, the recent trend of Microsoft issuing out-of-band updates underscores the need for organizations to prioritize proactive maintenance strategies when managing their IT infrastructure. By staying vigilant and up-to-date with the latest patches and fixes, businesses can mitigate the risk of unexpected disruptions caused by software issues or security vulnerabilities.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Microsoft-Releases-Windows-Server-Update-to-Fix-April-2026-Patch-Affecting-Windows-Server-Devices-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2026/04/20/microsoft_releases_a_windows_server_update_fix/
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-releases-emergency-updates-to-fix-windows-server-issues/
https://www.theregister.com/2026/04/20/microsoft_releases_a_windows_server_update_fix/
Published: Mon Apr 20 10:29:33 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
