Microsoft fixes Remote Desktop issues caused by Windows Server update

This update describes an issue with Windows Server causing Remote Desktop (RD) connections to be disrupted due to a known bug triggered by July 2023 updates, particularly when using the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) over HTTP protocol in RD Gateway. The problem resulted in the RD Gateway service crashing every 30 minutes, affecting multiple versions of Windows Server.

Key points include:

• Affected versions: Windows Server 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012, and 2012 R2.

• Error behavior: The TSGateway service throws an exception (0xc0000005) and logs Event 1000, disrupting RD connections and causing users to lose logon sessions.

• Temporary workarounds: Microsoft provided two methods—either block connections over \pipe\RpcProxy\3388 or modify the RDGClientTransport registry key, ensuring registry backups are created before making changes.

• Historical context: Microsoft had previously fixed similar issues related to RD and VPN connections with RRAS in 2022.

This issue is addressed in the October 2024 Patch Tuesday update, which also fixes 118 vulnerabilities, including five zero-day exploits. Organizations relying on RD Gateway should prioritize applying these updates to prevent further disruptions.