The bug was first reported by BleepingComputer and what makes the bug quite nasty is that the code within it can simply be hidden away in a variety of file types; this includes ZIP archives, batch files, and even Windows shortcuts, to name a few. Before you rejoice, we should inform you that there is, like most things in life, a catch. While already available, the fix is only available via the Windows 10 Insider Build (21322), which in turn is only available within Microsoft’s Dev channel. Downloading the latest Insider Build automatically blocks the OS from trying to access the problematic path and instead, users are greeted with a “The directory name is invalid” message.

— Jonas L (@jonasLyk) January 9, 2021 On that note, Microsoft did not specify when it plans on rolling out the critical update, but considering how these things usually go, the company could either put it in as a part of next month’s patch update, or simply push it back until the next major feature update for its OS. (Source: BleepingComputer via Hot Hardware) Axl Tan contributed to this article.