Windows 10 ESU Rollup KB5068781 and OOB Enrollment Fix: Kernel Zero‑Day Patched

Microsoft has pushed the first major Extended Security Updates (ESU) rollup for Windows 10—KB5068781—alongside an urgent out‑of‑band repair for a blocking enrollment bug (KB5071959), and the November Patch Tuesday bundle closes dozens of security holes (including a kernel zero‑day) that make immediate action essential for users still running Windows 10.

Background / Overview​

Windows 10 reached its mainstream end of support in mid‑October, and Microsoft’s consumer ESU program provides a one‑year, security‑only bridge for eligible devices running Windows 10, version 22H2. The first ESU cumulative—published on November 11—advances affected machines to OS Builds 19045.6575 (22H2) and 19044.6575 (21H2) and corrects two operational issues tied to the ESU experience while delivering November’s monthly security fixes. At the same time Microsoft issued an out‑of‑band package (KB5071959, OS Build 19045.6466) for consumer devices that were unable to complete ESU enrollment, restoring the in‑OS “Enroll now” flow for qualifying PCs.
This release cycle mixes operational reliability work (fixing enrollment and an incorrect “end of support” message) with security updates that address multiple critical and important vulnerabilities across the Windows stack. Administrators and end users should treat the combination of an enrollment blocker and a patched kernel zero‑day as a high‑priority operational event—not a routine monthly update.

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What Microsoft shipped: the essentials​

KB5068781 (Windows 10 ESU cumulative)​

• Targets eligible Windows 10 devices enrolled in the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program.
• Advances Windows 10 to OS Builds 19045.6575 (22H2) and 19044.6575 (21H2).
• Fixes a display bug that caused the Settings → Windows Update page to incorrectly show “Your version of Windows has reached the end of support” on some properly enrolled or LTSC devices.
• Includes November Patch Tuesday security content for ESU‑eligible Windows 10 installations.

KB5071959 (Out‑of‑band enrollment fix)​

• Delivered to consumer devices that could not complete ESU enrollment.
• Advances affected 22H2 systems to OS Build 19045.6466 and includes the October cumulative so blocked devices do not miss prior security fixes.
• Bundled with or sequenced alongside a servicing stack update (KB5071982) to reduce installation failures related to outdated servicing components.
• After installing KB5071959 and rebooting, affected users should be able to run the built‑in ESU enrollment wizard again and receive future ESU rollups.

Security context: Patch Tuesday and the kernel zero‑day​

• The November security rollup addresses multiple vulnerabilities across Windows and related Microsoft products.
• Among the most serious is a Windows Kernel elevation‑of‑privilege flaw (CVE‑2025‑62215) described as a race‑condition/double‑free that can allow a local attacker to corrupt kernel memory and gain SYSTEM privileges.
• Reporting on the exact count of patched CVEs varies between vendors and aggregators; the public KB and security bulletins should be consulted for authoritative, per‑CVE details. Several industry trackers flagged a single actively exploited zero‑day in the Windows kernel and multiple high‑severity flaws that merit prioritized remediation.

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Why this matters: immediate risks and operational impact​

The enrollment wizard bug was not cosmetic. For eligible consumer devices, the in‑OS ESU enrollment path is the gating mechanism that ties a device to a consumer ESU entitlement. If the wizard fails, an otherwise eligible PC cannot receive the monthly ESU cumulative updates—leaving it exposed to newly disclosed or actively exploited vulnerabilities arriving with Patch Tuesday.
The kernel zero‑day elevates the urgency. While a local privilege escalation requires prior access, successful exploitation converts a foothold into full system control—enabling attackers to steal credentials, deploy ransomware, or move laterally. Combined, a blocked enrollment flow and a patched kernel zero‑day make this update cycle operationally critical for:

• Home users who postponed an upgrade and require ESU protection.
• Administrators tasked with protecting workstations that cannot immediately move to Windows 11.
• Any environment where a local foothold—such as a malicious document or a compromised service—could be escalated.

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What to do now — prioritized checklist​

• Verify eligibility and system build:
• Open Winver or Settings → System → About and confirm you’re on Windows 10, version 22H2 (consumer ESU requires 22H2).
• Check Windows Update:
• Go to Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates.
• If KB5071959 appears, install it, reboot, then re‑run the Enroll now wizard to complete ESU signup.
• Install KB5068781 (ESU cumulative):
• Once enrolled, allow the ESU cumulative to download and install; reboot if prompted.
• If updates do not appear automatically, obtain the applicable packages via the Microsoft Update Catalog and install the servicing stack first when required.
• Back up before major changes:
• Create a system image or full backup prior to mass deployment or manual .msu installs.
• Prioritize high‑risk assets:
• Patch internet‑facing hosts, document‑handling workstations, and admin jump boxes first. Treat systems that parse untrusted files (image/PDF/document viewers) as high priority because of RCE and parsing vulnerabilities in the bundle.
• For admins: pilot, monitor, and phase:
• Validate the update on a representative pilot ring (covering legacy apps, security agents, imaging workflows).
• Monitor for compatibility issues for 72 hours after rollout and maintain a rollback plan.

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How to enroll in Windows 10 consumer ESU (concise steps)​

• Ensure the device runs Windows 10, version 22H2 and is up to date with prerequisite updates (install any required servicing stack updates first).
• Sign in to the device with a Microsoft account (MSA) if you prefer the free or paid consumer enrollment routes that bind to an MSA.
• Open Settings → Windows Update → click Enroll now (when visible), then follow the prompts:
• Free path: enable Windows Backup / Settings sync to OneDrive while signed in with an MSA.
• Rewards redemption: spend 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points to claim ESU entitlement.
• Paid: purchase the one‑time consumer ESU license (approx. $30 USD; local taxes/currency may apply) where available.
• After successful enrollment, the device is eligible to receive monthly ESU security updates through the designated ESU window.

Note: If the Enroll now button never appears or the wizard repeatedly fails, install the targeted out‑of‑band update (KB5071959) and reboot before trying again.

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Troubleshooting common enrollment and update failures​

• If the enrollment wizard returns “Something went wrong” or “Enrollment temporarily unavailable”:
• Install KB5071959 (if offered) and reboot, then re‑run the wizard.
• Confirm the Microsoft Account used is active and has administrative privileges on the PC.
• Verify core services are enabled: Microsoft Account Sign‑in Assistant (wlidsvc), Credential Manager (VaultSvc), and Windows License Manager.
• Check for residual work/school account artifacts or Azure AD ties; domain‑joined or managed devices use enterprise ESU channels instead.
• If Windows Update fails with install errors:
• Confirm the Servicing Stack Update (SSU) was applied; MSUs that combine SSU+LCU are intended to replay SSU first.
• Use the Microsoft Update Catalog to download the MSU and install manually: SSU first (if separate), then the LCU.
• For stubborn failures, collect Windows Update logs and use industry‑standard troubleshooting steps before attempting registry edits or unsupported workarounds.
• If enrollment remains blocked after the OOB update:
• Try manual install from the Update Catalog, recheck services, and validate account context.
• As a last resort, consider a repair install after backing up data.

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Enterprise guidance and deployment notes​

• ESU for organizations follows separate commercial channels and pricing; commercial ESU is typically purchased via volume licensing and allows multi‑year coverage. For businesses, expect per‑device fees that increase year‑over‑year (example pricing patterns were published during rollout announcements; verify current entitlement pricing through commercial channels).
• Treat KB5071959 (consumer OOB) as a targeted fix for consumer devices. Domain‑joined and enterprise‑managed devices have distinct activation and provisioning methods.
• Always deploy combined SSU+LCU packages in pilot rings first. A dated servicing stack is a common root cause of chained failures when applying later cumulative updates; installing the SSU is a critical prerequisite in many scenarios.
• Prioritize patching for systems that handle untrusted documents, user file uploads, or expose services to untrusted networks—these are the typical vectors used in conjunction with privilege escalation and RCE bugs.
• Validate EDR/AV and management agents on pilot systems: some security agents or legacy installers can interact badly with new elevation models or servicing changes. Confirm vendor guidance on compatibility.

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Privacy, practical tradeoffs and the ESU enrollment options​

Microsoft’s consumer ESU offers three enrollment routes—free via Windows Backup / OneDrive settings sync, Microsoft Rewards redemption, or a paid license. Each path has operational and privacy tradeoffs:

• The free OneDrive/Windows Backup path requires an MSA and syncing some device settings to the cloud—acceptable for many consumers, but a concern for privacy‑conscious users who avoid cloud accounts.
• The Rewards path presupposes an active Microsoft Rewards balance or ability to accumulate points (which typically requires using Microsoft’s search and services).
• The paid route removes those requirements at a modest cost for most consumers, but businesses face materially higher per‑device fees for commercial ESU.

ESU is explicitly a short‑term bridge—security‑only updates through the ESU window—and not a long‑term substitute for migrating to a supported OS. Use ESU time intentionally to plan upgrades, hardware refreshes, or alternative platform strategies.

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Strengths in Microsoft’s response — and remaining weaknesses​

Strengths:

• Microsoft shipped a targeted out‑of‑band fix (KB5071959) quickly to restore the enrollment path, demonstrating a pragmatic, security‑first response when an operational bug threatened patch delivery.
• Combining servicing stack updates with cumulative updates reduces installation failure risk and simplifies the deployment chain for many administrators.
• The ESU consumer model provides varied enrollment routes—free, rewards, or paid—to give households and small users flexibility.

Weaknesses and risks:

• The requirement for a Microsoft Account (for most consumer paths) and the option that free enrollment uses cloud sync pose privacy or policy issues for some users.
• Variability in third‑party reporting on CVE counts demonstrates the difficulty of consistent tracking across Microsoft’s multiple product lines and republished Chromium issues; defenders must consult authoritative security guides for per‑CVE verification.
• ESU is a time‑boxed mitigation; using it as a long‑term strategy increases cumulative risk exposure as the supported ecosystem shifts to new platform baselines and newer mitigations.

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Practical commands and quick checks (for power users and admins)​

• Check current build: press Win+R → type winver → Enter.
• Force Windows Update check: Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates.
• Kill stuck Task Manager instances (temporary workaround if observed): open elevated Command Prompt and run:
• taskkill /im taskmgr.exe /f
• Install a downloaded .msu manually:
• wusa.exe <path‑to‑msu> /quiet /norestart
• Remove an LCU if required (advanced): use DISM /Online /Get‑Packages to find the package name, then DISM /Online /Remove‑Package /PackageName:<name> (SSU components are not removable after install).

Always back up before attempting manual installs or package removals.

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Conclusion​

KB5068781 represents the first monthly ESU cumulative for Windows 10 and arrives at a pivotal moment: eligible consumer devices need this security bridge while they migrate off an out‑of‑mainstream OS. Microsoft’s simultaneous delivery of an out‑of‑band enrollment fix (KB5071959) and the November security bundle (which includes a kernel zero‑day patch) underscores two truths—patch delivery pipelines must be reliable, and patching remains the most effective immediate defense against active exploitation.
For home users on Windows 10 who require continued protection, the path is clear: verify eligibility, install the OOB fix if offered, complete ESU enrollment, and apply the ESU cumulative. For administrators, the right approach is fast but disciplined: pilot, prioritize internet‑exposed systems, validate compatibility with security agents and legacy tools, and treat ESU as strictly temporary breathing room to execute a migration plan.
This update cycle is a practical reminder that software lifecycles impose real security choices. ESU is not a permanent substitute for an upgrade, but when used correctly it buys the time needed to move systems securely to supported platforms.

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Source: ZDNET First major Windows 10 ESU update is here - with 66 fixes (some critical)