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Microsoft Confirms Windows Update Breaks Third-Party Backup Restores

Microsoft attributes the failures to a blocked driver tied to CVE-2023-43896, urging software updates over removing the patch.

Overview

  • Microsoft said the April Windows update can disrupt some third‑party backup tools by stopping a driver those tools use for recovery tasks.
  • The change targets psmounterex.sys, which Windows now treats as unsafe after a kernel flaw was identified as CVE-2023-43896.
  • Many users can still create full images, but attempts to mount or restore those backups fail with errors on Windows 11, Windows 10, and Windows Server.
  • Vendors reported issues in products such as Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud, Macrium Reflect, NinjaOne Backup, and UrBackup Server.
  • Microsoft advises keeping the security update installed and moving to backup software with newer, secured drivers, while some reports note uninstalling the update restores function but reopens the vulnerability.