Microsoft is rolling out microcode updates for Intel machines across Windows 10 versions. According to the company, the updates are patches to mitigate against four threats facing Intel machines. Specifically, Microsoft points to a quartet of Microarchitectural Data Sampling (MDS) vulnerabilities.
Intel microcode updates will reach all Windows 10 versions Microsoft currently supports. Versions out of support no longer receive security updates. That means users still on older Windows 10 versions will need to update to a supported build, such as version 2004.
Microsoft says some users will receive the updates automatically through Windows Update. However, some Intel users will need to head to the Update Catalog and manually patch their machine.
If you're unfamiliar with microcode patches, they are fixes that shore up vulnerabilities found in hardware. More than just a software patch, these fixes must also handle firmware level mitigation. Microsoft says the latest microcode releases focus on numerous Intel chips across a wide variety of laptops and desktops.
Details
You can check out Microsoft's relevant KB posts for each supported Windows 10 version below. Each article will highlight information about which processors are receiving the update:
Version | KB Article |
Windows 10 (version 1507) | KB4494454 |
Windows 10 version 1607 | KB4494175 |
Windows 10 version 1703 | KB4494453 |
Windows 10 version 1709 | KB4494452 |
Windows 10 version 1803 | KB4494451 |
Windows 10 version 1809 | KB4494174 |
Windows 10 version 1903 and version 1909 | KB4497165 |
Windows 10 version 2004 | KB4558130 |
As you may expect, Windows Server versions, 2016 and 2019, that correspond to Windows 10 builds are also receiving the patches. It's worth checking Microsoft's Update Catalog for all information regarding this round of Intel microcode updates.