Microsoft released Windows updates for the actively exploited Follina vulnerability, CVE-2022-30190, on June 14, 2022. If you manage a Windows PC or server, install the latest applicable cumulative security update—not just the original 2022 fix—and verify that it installed. The registry workaround Microsoft published before patches were available is an interim measure, not a substitute for updating.
What is the Follina vulnerability?
Follina is the common name for CVE-2022-30190, a remote-code-execution vulnerability in the Windows Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool (MSDT). Microsoft described the flaw as arising when an application such as Word calls MSDT through its URL protocol. Successful exploitation can let an attacker run code with the privileges of the calling application, potentially allowing them to install programs or view, change, or delete data within that user’s permissions. Microsoft’s CVE-2022-30190 guidance explains the vulnerability and response.
The risk was not merely theoretical: on May 31, 2022, CISA reported Microsoft’s notice of active exploitation in the wild. CISA later added the vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, which identifies it as used in ransomware campaigns. CISA’s May 31, 2022 alert and the CISA KEV entry provide those details.
Did Windows Update patch Follina, and which KB fixes it?
Yes. Microsoft issued updates addressing CVE-2022-30190 on June 14, 2022. The specific KB depends on the Windows product and version. For example, Microsoft’s deployment information lists KB5014699 for Windows 10 versions 20H2, 21H1, and 21H2, as well as Windows Server 20H2; it lists KB5014692 for Windows Server 2019. These are historical examples, not a recommendation to install only those packages. See Microsoft’s vulnerability guidance and its KB5014699 page.
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Microsoft’s July 12, 2022 guidance also noted a defense-in-depth variant fixed in July cumulative updates and recommended installing those updates promptly. A supported Windows installation should now receive the latest applicable cumulative security update through its normal servicing channel. Use the KB and build information for the device’s exact Windows version to confirm coverage; an old KB number alone does not establish that a system is current.
Where administrators can get the update
Depending on the product, Microsoft lists Windows Update, Windows Update for Business, Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), and the Microsoft Update Catalog as deployment channels. Consult Microsoft’s deployment information for the affected product, then verify the installed cumulative-update build using the organization’s usual update-management process.
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Should you disable MSDT?
Not as a replacement for patching. Before updates were available, Microsoft recommended temporarily disabling the ms-msdt URL protocol. That workaround blocks troubleshooters launched through links; troubleshooters remain available through Get Help and Windows Settings. For current supported Windows systems, install the applicable security updates rather than treating protocol removal as the permanent fix.
Microsoft’s historical registry workaround
If you still need the workaround for an unpatched system, follow Microsoft’s procedure carefully and make a backup first. Registry changes can affect Windows behavior, so administrators should test and manage them through their normal change-control process.
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- Open Registry Editor and export
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTms-msdtto create a backup. - Delete the
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTms-msdtkey to disable the protocol. - After the device is patched, restore the key only if needed by importing the saved backup with Microsoft’s documented registry-import procedure.
Use Microsoft’s CVE guidance for the exact restore command and procedure; do not improvise a replacement key.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose and verify a remediation
| Approach | Protection and scope | Operational impact | Verification or recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Install the applicable Windows security update | Vendor remediation for the affected Windows product; use the applicable current cumulative update. | Deploy through the device’s normal servicing channel, such as Windows Update or WSUS, as applicable. | Confirm the installed update/build is appropriate for the exact Windows version. Microsoft’s guidance recommends July 2022 cumulative updates for defense in depth in addition to the June fixes. |
Disable the ms-msdt URL protocol |
Interim mitigation that blocks MSDT troubleshooters launched as links; it is not a substitute for the vendor update. | Linked troubleshooters are unavailable, though Get Help and Windows Settings still provide access to troubleshooters. | Export the registry key before removal. Restore it only using Microsoft’s documented import procedure after patching, if needed. |
For a managed fleet, identify each device’s Windows edition and version, deploy through the appropriate servicing channel, and check update compliance rather than assuming a single KB applies everywhere. CISA’s KEV record added CVE-2022-30190 on June 14, 2022, and recorded July 5, 2022 as its remediation due date; those dates document the historical response timeline, not a present-day update deadline.
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