A haunting Patch Tuesday for October: 117 updates (and 5 zero-day flaws).

Microsoft's October Patch Tuesday includes 117 updates and addresses five zero-day vulnerabilities. The updates affect Windows, SQL Server, Microsoft Excel, and Visual Studio, with the Windows updates requiring immediate attention and extensive testing due to their coverage of networking, kernel and core GDI components, and Microsoft Hyper-V. Testing should also focus on printing and internally developed applications for SQL Server. Known issues from previous updates have been resolved, but there are compatibility and security challenges with Windows 11 24H2 that may require application and firmware updates. Microsoft has advised waiting for the next release before serious testing and deployment. Readiness provides an infographic outlining the risks associated with each update. Testing guidance is provided for SQL Server and Windows, with specific recommendations for each product area. Mitigations and workarounds are also offered for identified vulnerabilities. Microsoft released updates for the Chromium browser project, Windows, Microsoft Office, Microsoft SQL Server, and Microsoft development platforms. No updates were published for Adobe Reader, but critical updates for Reader, Acrobat, and a third-party application (CURL) are available. [Extracted from the article]