Microsoft is making available the update KB4589212 for computers running Windows 10 20H2 and version 2004 with a microcode patch for Intel processors.
The update KB4589212 is meant to patch a recently discovered security vulnerability (CVE-2020-8695) known as “Platypus attack,” which could allow attackers to gain access to sensitive information exploiting the Running Average Power Limit (RAPL) interface vulnerability available on Intel processors. However, the microcode update also fixes vulnerabilities described as Vector Register Sampling active (CVE-2020-8696) and Fast store forward predictor (CVE-2020-8698).
Microsoft is making available this update as an standalone package for Intel’s 9th Gen Coffee Lake, 8th Gen Whiskey Lake and Sandy Bridge, Atom Valley View, Pentium and Celeron Valley View and Baytail, 7th Gen Kaby Lake, 6th Gen Skylake, Ivy Bridge, and many other processors.
In addition, the company is adding the update for these processors: Avoton, Sandy Bridge E, EN, EP, EP4S, Sandy Bridge E, EP, and Valley View / Baytrail. If your computer has one of these processors, then the microcode to fix hardware related issues will download and install automatically from Windows Update. But you can always download and install this microcode patch from the Microsoft Update Catalog website.
The update is available for older versions of the operating system (such as version 1909, 1903, and 1809), for more information and download links, you can follow these links:
Mauro Huculak is a Windows expert and the Editor-in-Chief who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He is also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 12 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows, software, and related technologies, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.