Microsoft's latest Windows 11 Patch Tuesday causes Malwarebytes to block Google Chrome [Update]

Yesterday was the second Tuesday of the month and as expected, Microsoft released Patch Tuesday updates on Windows 10 (KB5027215, among others), and Windows 11 (KB5027231). Although undocumented by Microsoft in the known issues section, the latter seems to be causing issues in accessing and launching Google's Chrome web browser for users with Malwarebytes anti-virus.

A user with the name codesmitery posted the following complaint on the Malwarebytes forum:

Updating to June 2023 Update (KB5027231) prevents Google Chrome from displaying after loading. Chrome will be listed in the task manager but you cannot get it to display.

The only thing you can do is quite [sic] Malwarebytes.

If you are wondering whether Windows 10 is affected as well, it seems to not be the case as a user Porthos points out that their Windows 10 system is not experiencing the same bug:

That is ok. Staff responded with a workaround. I have Windows 10 and have no current issues with Chrome. Seems to be an 11 issue.

A Malwarebytes staff with the username Arthi confirmed that they are looking at the issue and provided a couple of workarounds. One of those involves setting Chrome as the default browser while the other option is to disable protection for Chrome in Malwarebytes:

Thanks for posting. Like you mentioned this issue is being reported to us since today's windows update, we are looking into it.

As a workaround, there are a couple of options that have internally worked for us

1. Try setting Chrome as a default browser
   OR
2. Turn off Chrome as a protected application in the Malwarebytes product. you can find this in Settings->Security tab

Other users have found that disabling "exploit protection" also works in case the above official workarounds don't work.

Another Malwarebytes employee with the username Erix has stated that the firm is working on an update that will address the issue. They write:

Ladies and gentlemen,

We are currently working on an update that will address this problem.

Thank you so much.

-Erix

We will keep you posted about the issue when there is any new development.

Thanks for the tip!

Update: Malwarebytes staff, username msherwood, has published more details regarding the issue, adding that Nebula and OneView are also blocking Chrome from launching:

Issue

On June 13, 2023, Microsoft’s KB5027231 update installed on Windows 11 caused a conflict between Google Chrome and exploit protection, resulting in browser crashes.

Devices

• Windows 11

• Nebula

• OneView

Cause

The cause is being investigated.

Workaround

As a workaround, we recommend disabling Google Chrome as a protected application in your Malwarebytes security settings.

1. On your device, open Malwarebytes.
2. On the top right, click the Settings wheel.
3. Click the Security tab.
4. Under Exploit Protection, click Manage protected applications.
5. Toggle off Google Chrome (and plug-ins).
6. Click Done.

Once this issue is resolved, go back and enable Google Chrome as a protected application in your Malwarebytes security settings.

Update 2: Malwarebytes has provided an update. As promised, the firm has managed to resolve the issue with the latest update which is now available as beta:

Want to share an update on where we're at with this issue and what you can do right now to resolve the issue.

Malwarebytes 4

We've got a fix ready via a beta build as well as we're working on something a bit more automated and we'll share that tomorrow.

To get the beta build, please do this:

1. Open Malwarebytes -> look for the Settings gear in the top right -> General -> scroll down and enable beta updates
2. Then, go to About -> Check for updates and follow the updating prompts
3. To verify you're on the correct beta build, go back to Settings -> About and look for these:

• Malwarebytes version: 4.5.31.270
• Component version: 1.0.2047 or higher

If you don't want to install the Beta build, you can use the workarounds provided above.