Canny Windows users who've spotted a mysterious folder on hard drives after applying last week's security patches for the operating system can rest assured – it's perfectly benign. In fact, it's recommended you leave the directory there. The folder, typically C:\inetpub, is empty and related to Microsoft's Internet Information Services (IIS). It will be created when you install the security patches whether or not you're using that optional web server. The purpose of the folder is to mitigate an exploitable elevation-of-privileges flaw within Windows Process Activation, classified as CVE-2025-21204. That CVE, which can give malware on a system or a rogue user system-level file-management privileges, was fixed in the April Patch Tuesday batch from the Windows maker; installing the fix on Windows 11 and 10 will create the directory as additional protection, we're told. "After installing the updates listed in the security updates table for your operating system, a new %systemdrive%\inetpub folder will be created on your device," advised Microsoft. "This folder should not be deleted regardless of whether Internet Information Services (IIS) is active on the target device. This behavior is part of changes that increase protection and does not require any action from IT admins and end users." The inetpub folder isn't a new concept – administrators running IIS will have seen it for years. It's used to store the web server's script files, site content, and other bits and pieces. In the...
Don't delete inetpub folder. It's a Windows security fix
The Register
·Iain Thomson
·Published Apr 14, 2025
·Updated
Affected Software
4 affected components
Microsoft Windows 10
Microsoft Windows 11
Microsoft Windows 11
Microsoft Windows 10
Frequently Asked Questions
1
What is the main topic of this article?
The article discusses a benign inetpub folder created by recent Windows security updates and advises users not to delete it.
2
What security implications are discussed in the article?
The article reassures users that the new inetpub folder is part of a security enhancement and has no negative implications.
3
Which versions of Windows are affected by this issue?
The affected software includes Microsoft Windows 10 and Microsoft Windows 11.
4
Should users delete the inetpub directory from their system?
No, users are advised to leave the inetpub directory intact as it is considered safe.
5
What should users do if they encounter the inetpub folder after a Windows update?
Users should not worry and can safely leave the inetpub folder as it is part of the security fix.