Windows update causes VPN failures, Microsoft acknowledges security bug

While updating operating systems is critical as cyber threats continue to rise, for some users, the latest Microsoft patch has brought frustration. 

The tech giant has confirmed that a recent Windows update triggered VPN connectivity issues, particularly affecting enterprise environments.

The problem surfaced after several Windows 11 security updates, with reports pointing to disruptions following the October KB5067036 release and the December Patch update KB5072033. 

While the updates were designed to close security gaps, they inadvertently broke certain networking functions tied to third-party VPN applications.

According to Microsoft, the issue is linked to “mirrored networking mode” within the Windows Subsystem for Linux. 

When enabled, it can prevent some VPNs from accessing corporate resources, causing failures in VPN-dependent services. 

The company has also stressed that consumer users running Windows Home or Pro editions are unlikely to be affected, narrowing the impact mainly to enterprise and developer setups.

That said, the incident highlights a recurring challenge for Microsoft: balancing rapid security fixes with system stability. 

Microsoft also noted that it is investigating the bug and working on mitigations. 

However, for now, affected enterprises may need temporary workarounds or configuration changes until a permanent fix is rolled out, reinforcing the importance of thorough update testing in production environments.