Field Notice: FN72552 - Identity Services Engine - Connections to Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager Might Fail After the March 14, 2023, Microsoft Security Patch Is Installed - Software Upgrade Recommended

Notice

THIS FIELD NOTICE IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS AND DOES NOT IMPLY ANY KIND OF GUARANTEE OR WARRANTY, INCLUDING THE WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY. YOUR USE OF THE INFORMATION ON THE FIELD NOTICE OR MATERIALS LINKED FROM THE FIELD NOTICE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. CISCO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR UPDATE THIS FIELD NOTICE AT ANY TIME.

Products Affected

Defect Information

Problem Description

For all wired, wireless, and VPN deployment scenarios, the Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) for Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution deployments might no longer be able to connect and obtain compliance information from the Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM) after the March 14, 2023 Microsoft security patch is installed.

Background

Cisco ISE uses a Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) query to obtain endpoint registration and compliance status from the MECM server. This query requires authentication with the MECM server. Microsoft uses Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) for communication between software components of networked devices.

As part of security hardening, the Microsoft security patch update released on March 14, 2023 will deprecate the low level authentication that is required by Cisco ISE. For MDM solution deployments only, this causes the connection to the MECM server to fail and compliance information will not be obtained. The security hardening changes are enabled by default and there is no ability to disable the security hardening changes after installation of the Microsoft security patch.

ISE posture functionality with the Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client is not affected by the issue described in this field notice.

Additional information for the March 14, 2023 Microsoft security patch update can be found in Manage changes for Windows DCOM Server Security Feature Bypass.

Note: MECM was previously known as System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM).

Problem Symptom

After the March 14, 2023 Microsoft security patch is installed, the Cisco ISE MDM solution will not be able to retrieve endpoint attributes and compliance information.

The integration status for on-prem MECM is shown as "Enabled" (ISE > Administration > Network Resources > External MDM). Alarms that state "External MDM Server Connection Failure" are shown in ISE.

Using "Test Connection" in the ISE MDM server settings results in an error that states "Connection to server failed with: MDM Server API error" and a message that indicates "Access is denied" and "Configure the Windows Machine for DCOM Access" is displayed.

Note: This error message might appear for other conditions not related to the issue described in this field notice.

Workaround/Solution

Solution

To address this issue, Cisco strongly recommends upgrading to one of the following Cisco ISE releases:

• For 3.0, a fixed release is planned. For an immediate solution, contact Cisco TAC for a Hot Patch. 
• 3.1 Patch 7 or later
• 3.2 Patch 2 or later

Note: For Cisco ISE 2.x releases, there will not be a fixed release or Hot Patch. Upgrade to Release 3.0 with Hot Patch or one of the appropriate 3.1 or 3.2 releases.

Workaround

Cisco recommends to temporarily disable the March 14, 2023, Microsoft Windows Server update in order to maintain functionality of the Cisco ISE MECM integration for the MDM solution.

The Microsoft security update can be identified by this title.

“[MSRC] Cumulative Security for Windows xxxxxxx – KB####### - 2023.03 B”

Note: Microsoft Windows version and KB number will vary for each Microsoft OS version.

If the March 14, 2023, update is already installed on the Microsoft Windows Server, Cisco recommends to temporarily revert the update by uninstalling the March 14, 2023 update. Follow the Microsoft published procedure to revert the update.

If the Cisco ISE MECM integration for the MDM solution does not function after the Microsoft update is uninstalled, refer to the "Registry setting to enable or disable the hardening changes" section of the Microsoft article Manage changes for Windows DCOM Server Security Feature Bypass to disable the hardening changes. The registry setting must be set to 0x00000000 for the Cisco ISE MECM integration to function correctly.

Revision History

For More Information

If you require further assistance, or if you have any further questions regarding this field notice, please contact the Cisco Systems Technical Assistance Center (TAC) by one of the following methods:

• Open a service request on Cisco.com
• By email or telephone

Receive Email Notification For New Field Notices

My Notifications—Set up a profile to receive email updates about reliability, safety, network security, and end-of-sale issues for the Cisco products you specify.