Microsoft 365 Flags Image Emails as Malware

Microsoft 365 users report emails with images being wrongly flagged as malware and quarantined, identified as Issue ID: EX873252. This issue has raised significant concerns among businesses and individual users relying on Exchange Online for daily communication.

All about the Incident

The issue, classified as a service degradation, impacts Exchange Online, a core part of Microsoft 365. Legitimate emails with images are being wrongly flagged as threats, disrupting communication and causing concern for businesses relying on email for client and internal interactions.

Microsoft has acknowledged the issue and is working on a fix, but the timeline for restoring normal service remains unclear, leaving users uncertain.

User Concerns and Impact

The incorrect flagging of emails has caused significant inconvenience, with many users frustrated by the inability to access critical communications and attachments. Businesses are particularly impacted, as this issue disrupts operations and client relationships. The incident underscores the challenge of balancing cybersecurity with user accessibility.

Microsoft has acknowledged the service degradation and is actively working on a solution. They recommend that affected users regularly check their quarantine folders and manually release incorrectly flagged emails. While the exact timeline for a fix is unclear, Microsoft is prioritizing the resolution and has deployed teams to investigate the root cause, aiming to prevent future incidents.

Users are encouraged to stay informed through official Microsoft channels for updates and guidance as the situation evolves.