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Microsoft Defender for Endpoint leaves some Linux boxes defenseless after update
Microsoft has identified two distinct bugs in Defender for Endpoint on Linux affecting versions 101.26042.0000 through 101.26042.0009. The primary issue can disable the security service following system restarts or fresh installations across all supported Linux platforms. A second problem prevents these versions from installing on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 and 9 systems configured with FIPS compliance standards.
The problems carry significant operational implications because automatic update mechanisms may have already deployed the affected versions to cloud-managed systems, potentially leaving devices without active endpoint protection after reboots until remediation occurs. Microsoft directed users to upgrade to version 101.26042.0011 for the first issue and 101.26052.0011 or later for the FIPS installation problem. The incidents underscore broader concerns about update reliability when security-critical components are affected.
In short
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Linux versions 101.26042.0000-9 disable the security service after system reboot or reinstall
- Same versions fail to install on FIPS-enabled Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 and 9
- Affected versions may already be distributed via automatic updates, leaving some systems unprotected until patched
Explained simply
Defender for Endpoint is Microsoft's security software used by many organizations to protect computers from viruses, malware and other threats. Linux is a free operating system commonly used on company servers and in data centres.
Recent versions of the software released for Linux contained two separate bugs affecting protection. One bug disables security after a computer restarts or when freshly installed, whilst the other prevents the software from installing on Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems with strict security compliance enabled. Because organizations typically deploy software updates automatically across numerous computers, these affected versions have likely already been distributed to many systems worldwide.
This situation means computers running the affected versions would lack active protection despite administrators believing them to be secure. The bugs prevent the software from performing its intended function of defending systems against malicious attacks and code.
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