It always starts innocently enough—one day, you’re minding your own business, perhaps checking whether Windows Update has kindly decided to allow you to work, when suddenly you notice a mysterious guest lurking in your C: directory: the “inetpub” folder. As it turns out, this is not the digital equivalent of finding loose change under your couch cushions. It’s more like discovering an unlocked window in a neighborhood with a high burglary rate.
Let’s back up. A few weeks ago, after a notable April update, Windows users everywhere started finding this empty, innocuous-looking ‘inetpub’ folder on their systems. Reactions ranged from confusion (“What on Earth is this?”) to concern (“Is this some leftover from Internet Information Services I never installed?”). Initially, the community (and even puzzled IT admins) suspected it was a slip-up—a bug with no obvious use. Microsoft, however, eventually peered out from behind the curtain and assured us it was quite intentional. “No bug, folks! This is your shield against CVE-2025-21204. Trust us—it’s for your own good!”
Well, if trust in vendor security design was currency, some would say Microsoft just took out a payday loan.
The purpose of the ‘inetpub’ folder, per Microsoft, was to patch a security vulnerability. By placing this folder at the root of the C: drive, they hoped to thwart a specific exploit and save us all from a wave of digital doom. Think of it as a burglar alarm that’s supposed to protect you—except, as we’ll soon discover, it’s stuck in “off” mode.
Here’s how it works: In the Windows universe, there are things called junction points. Picture them as directories that actually point somewhere else, sort of like a “redirect” sign taped over your office bathroom door, leading you to the library down the hall. If you create a junction at C:/inetpub and point it, say, to notepad.exe, you prevent Windows from creating the real inetpub folder.
Want to guess what happens next? Yep, you’ve now managed to block the creation of Microsoft’s all-important security folder. And, more worryingly, you can do this entirely without administrator privileges. No UAC prompts, no flashing “Are you REALLY sure?” dialogs. The update—along with its parade of supposed security fixes—is stopped in its tracks.
For IT professionals, this is the cybersecurity equivalent of putting in a top-of-the-line lock, but leaving the backdoor propped open with a brick. Not only does this provide attackers with a vector to block patches, but it also sets the stage for potential escalation and further mischief.
For system admins, this is the stuff of IT nightmares. Imagine rolling out a security patch to hundreds—or thousands—of endpoints, only to find they’re now failing to update, rolling back endlessly, and exposing the business to previously-fixed vulnerabilities. All because a single junction point redirected Microsoft’s best-laid plans.
And let’s not forget: creating these junctions does not demand admin rights. That opens the door for drive-by malware, wandering employees with too much curiosity (and too little supervision), or even well-meaning but clueless family members. If the “inetpub” fix was supposed to add a layer of security, it instead delivered a brand-new attack surface slathered in low-hanging fruit.
For the vast ecosystem of Windows admins and IT security professionals who have to mop up after these decisions, this radio silence feels particularly exasperating. In an environment where patch reliability is the golden calf, trust plummets with every unaddressed, publicized flaw. At what point does the cumulative frustration outweigh brand loyalty, or confidence in an operating system’s ability to protect the business?
Worse yet, if the error messages spawn confusion and lead users (or even admins) to repeatedly attempt failed updates, you might find yourself with interim patches stuck mid-install, configuration drift, or machines inadvertently regressing to even less secure states. The attack vector is not just a technical exploit, but an operational headache—the kind that ensures IT support teams go through coffee like oxygen.
And while the technique relies on knowledge of junction points—a concept many end-users are blissfully unaware of—it’s not exactly quantum physics. Malware can automate this process in seconds, and any half-competent adversary can toss it in with the rest of their exploit arsenal. As security flaws go, this is an own goal with extra style points.
For those who have spent careers battling Windows patching snafus, this episode reads like a greatest hits album: mysterious folder appears, speculation spreads like wildfire, official explanation arrives, only to be promptly undermined by a creative edge-case nobody at HQ apparently anticipated. It’s a workflow that combines the predictability of a soap opera with the frustrations of herding caffeinated cats.
And let’s give credit where it’s due: kudos to Kevin Beaumont for thinking a couple of moves ahead, and to those who will now have to explain to upper management why a seemingly pointless, empty folder matters. Somewhere in an IT department, a SysAdmin is already writing a “lessons learned” memo that ends with “...and maybe next time, we’ll test patches before deploying them to production. Ha. Ha. Ha.”
Enterprise policies can mitigate some risks, but not all environments have airtight configurations. SMBs and home users, in particular, are exposed by default. And every time a new workaround surfaces—often enabled because of these legacy design quirks—attackers are gifted yet another present from the Ghost of Windows Past.
As we wait for some sign from Microsoft—be it a curt security bulletin, a rushed hotfix, or perhaps a humanitarian note of apology—admins are left with a familiar decision: do they proactively look for junctions and pre-emptively remediate? Or do they cross their fingers and hope the attackers don’t get there first?
Meanwhile, the rest of us have little choice but to admire (and perhaps lightly mock) the sheer weirdness of security theater in action. After years of best practices, zero trust evangelism, and “defense in depth” seminars, the fate of our devices hinges, for now, on whether someone points a folder at Notepad.exe.
For security professionals, stay vigilant. Scan for junction points, verify your update rollouts, and consider implementing endpoint monitoring that can alert on folder tampering in the C: root. And if you haven’t had a refresher on Windows' junction points and NTFS oddities lately, now might be a good time—before your users come running with screenshots of failed updates and feverish speculation about “hackers in the folder.”
Perhaps next time, instead of deploying mysterious new directories as shields against the dark arts, Windows will revisit the drawing board, involve the community early, and deploy patches that close doors rather than leave windows (or folders) wide open. Until then, keep an eye on your C: drive. If you spot something strange, don’t just assume Microsoft meant well.
And whatever you do, don’t point your folders at Notepad.exe. Your security team will thank you, your patches will install, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll enjoy a Windows update cycle unaccompanied by ghostly error messages. Wouldn’t that be something?
Source: pcworld.com Windows 11's crucial new 'inetpub' folder is laughably easy to hack
Meet Inetpub: Microsoft’s Security Blanket… with Holes
Let’s back up. A few weeks ago, after a notable April update, Windows users everywhere started finding this empty, innocuous-looking ‘inetpub’ folder on their systems. Reactions ranged from confusion (“What on Earth is this?”) to concern (“Is this some leftover from Internet Information Services I never installed?”). Initially, the community (and even puzzled IT admins) suspected it was a slip-up—a bug with no obvious use. Microsoft, however, eventually peered out from behind the curtain and assured us it was quite intentional. “No bug, folks! This is your shield against CVE-2025-21204. Trust us—it’s for your own good!”Well, if trust in vendor security design was currency, some would say Microsoft just took out a payday loan.
The purpose of the ‘inetpub’ folder, per Microsoft, was to patch a security vulnerability. By placing this folder at the root of the C: drive, they hoped to thwart a specific exploit and save us all from a wave of digital doom. Think of it as a burglar alarm that’s supposed to protect you—except, as we’ll soon discover, it’s stuck in “off” mode.
Security Folder or Security Theater? The Vulnerability Within the Patch
Enter Kevin Beaumont, security researcher and apparent finder of many things that go bump in the night. Beaumont discovered an entirely new flaw within this “security” feature: the very presence—or, more accurately, forced absence—of inetpub could be weaponized.Here’s how it works: In the Windows universe, there are things called junction points. Picture them as directories that actually point somewhere else, sort of like a “redirect” sign taped over your office bathroom door, leading you to the library down the hall. If you create a junction at C:/inetpub and point it, say, to notepad.exe, you prevent Windows from creating the real inetpub folder.
Want to guess what happens next? Yep, you’ve now managed to block the creation of Microsoft’s all-important security folder. And, more worryingly, you can do this entirely without administrator privileges. No UAC prompts, no flashing “Are you REALLY sure?” dialogs. The update—along with its parade of supposed security fixes—is stopped in its tracks.
For IT professionals, this is the cybersecurity equivalent of putting in a top-of-the-line lock, but leaving the backdoor propped open with a brick. Not only does this provide attackers with a vector to block patches, but it also sets the stage for potential escalation and further mischief.
It’s Not a Bug, It’s a Feature—That Makes Other Features Not Work
When the attack described above is triggered, the update process becomes a looping farce. Error messages pop up like ghosts at a haunted carnival, rollbacks become the norm, and soon your PC is caught in a purgatory of attempted updates and failures. It’s as if Clippy came back as a poltergeist whose only advice is “You seem to be installing updates. Would you like help never finishing?”For system admins, this is the stuff of IT nightmares. Imagine rolling out a security patch to hundreds—or thousands—of endpoints, only to find they’re now failing to update, rolling back endlessly, and exposing the business to previously-fixed vulnerabilities. All because a single junction point redirected Microsoft’s best-laid plans.
And let’s not forget: creating these junctions does not demand admin rights. That opens the door for drive-by malware, wandering employees with too much curiosity (and too little supervision), or even well-meaning but clueless family members. If the “inetpub” fix was supposed to add a layer of security, it instead delivered a brand-new attack surface slathered in low-hanging fruit.
Microsoft’s Response: The Art of the Shrug
Possibly most vexing of all: security researchers have flagged this problem to Microsoft repeatedly. Yet, as of this writing, Redmond’s response has resembled an empty inbox. No acknowledgment, no official workaround, not so much as a “please hold, your complaint is important to us.” One could almost imagine Microsoft’s security team in a game of digital whack-a-mole, watching another mole pop up—and just taking an early lunch instead.For the vast ecosystem of Windows admins and IT security professionals who have to mop up after these decisions, this radio silence feels particularly exasperating. In an environment where patch reliability is the golden calf, trust plummets with every unaddressed, publicized flaw. At what point does the cumulative frustration outweigh brand loyalty, or confidence in an operating system’s ability to protect the business?
Real-World Risks: Not Just Another Folder
This isn’t mere theoretical risk. If attackers can prevent legitimate security updates from installing, all it takes is one unpatched PC for a worm to wriggle in. Ransomware doesn’t care about intentions; it cares about the window of opportunity, and Microsoft’s silly little folder just nudged that window wide open.Worse yet, if the error messages spawn confusion and lead users (or even admins) to repeatedly attempt failed updates, you might find yourself with interim patches stuck mid-install, configuration drift, or machines inadvertently regressing to even less secure states. The attack vector is not just a technical exploit, but an operational headache—the kind that ensures IT support teams go through coffee like oxygen.
And while the technique relies on knowledge of junction points—a concept many end-users are blissfully unaware of—it’s not exactly quantum physics. Malware can automate this process in seconds, and any half-competent adversary can toss it in with the rest of their exploit arsenal. As security flaws go, this is an own goal with extra style points.
Subtle Ironies and Industry Lessons
There’s a particular sense of irony in all this. Microsoft’s attempt at a quick security fix, rather than quietly shoring up defenses, has managed to create a conspicuous weak spot. From a distance, it almost resembles a parody of security process—throwing a band-aid on an arterial bleed, then announcing, “All sorted!” from the safety of the nurse’s station.For those who have spent careers battling Windows patching snafus, this episode reads like a greatest hits album: mysterious folder appears, speculation spreads like wildfire, official explanation arrives, only to be promptly undermined by a creative edge-case nobody at HQ apparently anticipated. It’s a workflow that combines the predictability of a soap opera with the frustrations of herding caffeinated cats.
And let’s give credit where it’s due: kudos to Kevin Beaumont for thinking a couple of moves ahead, and to those who will now have to explain to upper management why a seemingly pointless, empty folder matters. Somewhere in an IT department, a SysAdmin is already writing a “lessons learned” memo that ends with “...and maybe next time, we’ll test patches before deploying them to production. Ha. Ha. Ha.”
Of User Privileges and Trust Erosion
The fact that this hack can be pulled off without elevated privileges is particularly damning. Windows, for all its vaunted security reforms over the past several decades, still too often stumbles over the principle of least privilege. Allowing low-level users—or malicious code running as the current user—to interfere with critical security infrastructure leaves a bad taste in the mouth, even among the most diehard Microsoft supporters.Enterprise policies can mitigate some risks, but not all environments have airtight configurations. SMBs and home users, in particular, are exposed by default. And every time a new workaround surfaces—often enabled because of these legacy design quirks—attackers are gifted yet another present from the Ghost of Windows Past.
The Road Ahead: Hope, and a Heap of Unanswered Questions
So, what now? We wait, apparently. Microsoft engineers are (hopefully) scrambling for a fix, perhaps working on a smarter method to deliver the patch without requiring a critical, writable folder at the root of the system drive. Until then, the Windows community is left in limbo, patching what they can and keeping an eagle eye out for unexpected behavior after updates.As we wait for some sign from Microsoft—be it a curt security bulletin, a rushed hotfix, or perhaps a humanitarian note of apology—admins are left with a familiar decision: do they proactively look for junctions and pre-emptively remediate? Or do they cross their fingers and hope the attackers don’t get there first?
Meanwhile, the rest of us have little choice but to admire (and perhaps lightly mock) the sheer weirdness of security theater in action. After years of best practices, zero trust evangelism, and “defense in depth” seminars, the fate of our devices hinges, for now, on whether someone points a folder at Notepad.exe.
Some Suggestions (and Pleas) to Redmond
To Microsoft, a simple plea: security through obscurity rarely lasts, and security through “magic folders” lasts even less. Please, the next time a patch is needed for a critical vulnerability, consider something more robust than a directory whose presence or absence blocks an update. And while you’re at it, maybe audit your patching process for other “magic” dependencies waiting to bite. As it stands, attackers have been given yet another reason to poke around in the file system for weaknesses—don’t give them an engraved invitation.For security professionals, stay vigilant. Scan for junction points, verify your update rollouts, and consider implementing endpoint monitoring that can alert on folder tampering in the C: root. And if you haven’t had a refresher on Windows' junction points and NTFS oddities lately, now might be a good time—before your users come running with screenshots of failed updates and feverish speculation about “hackers in the folder.”
Conclusion: When Security Fixes Make Things Worse
It has been said that “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” In this case, the road to system compromise is apparently paved with empty folders in the root directory. Microsoft wanted to keep us safe; in the process, they handed us a security blanket full of holes—and then left IT professionals with the job of darning them shut.Perhaps next time, instead of deploying mysterious new directories as shields against the dark arts, Windows will revisit the drawing board, involve the community early, and deploy patches that close doors rather than leave windows (or folders) wide open. Until then, keep an eye on your C: drive. If you spot something strange, don’t just assume Microsoft meant well.
And whatever you do, don’t point your folders at Notepad.exe. Your security team will thank you, your patches will install, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll enjoy a Windows update cycle unaccompanied by ghostly error messages. Wouldn’t that be something?
Source: pcworld.com Windows 11's crucial new 'inetpub' folder is laughably easy to hack
Last edited:
