SystemSettings.exe crash after install KB5031354

Hello all,

We use the GPO-setting "settings visibility page" to show only those settings that are necessary for our users. After the installation of KB5031354 all was messed up and the defined settings were not displayed anymore.

After further investigation I found that the problem is related to a crash of the "systemsettings.exe". I believe that this app crash can be reproduced on any Windows 11 Enterprise/Pro where KB5031354 is installed. The steps below were executed on a clean fresh install of Windows 11 Enterprise 22H2 (English) with all the latest updates installed, including KB5031354.

1. Create the following registry key. This is the equivalent of the GPO "Settings visibilty page". [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
   "SettingsPageVisibility"="ShowOnly:yourinfo"
   
   

2. Open the Settings app
   A blank window will be briefly displayed. 2 new events are created in the Application event log :

   
   Error - Application Error - Eventid 1000 - Application Crashing Events
   Faulting application name: SystemSettings.exe, version: 10.0.22621.2428, time stamp: 0x3a143f4b
   Faulting module name: Windows.UI.Xaml.dll, version: 10.0.22621.2361, time stamp: 0x5d88d3dd

   Exception code: 0xc000027b

   Fault offset: 0x0000000000872280

   Faulting process id: 0x0x1118

   Faulting application start time: 0x0x1DA02705595E075

   Faulting application path: C:\Windows\ImmersiveControlPanel\SystemSettings.exe

   Faulting module path: C:\Windows\System32\Windows.UI.Xaml.dll

   Report Id: 3226300a-7628-454c-9694-75ac4735f188

   Faulting package full name: windows.immersivecontrolpanel_10.0.6.1000_neutral_neutral_cw5n1h2txyewy

   Faulting package-relative application ID: microsoft.windows.immersivecontrolpanel
   
   Information - Windows error reporting - eventid 1001
   Fault bucket 1263439590791464883, type 5

   Event Name: MoAppCrash

   Response: Not available

   Cab Id: 0

   Problem signature:

   P1: windows.immersivecontrolpanel_10.0.6.1000_neutral_neutral_cw5n1h2txyewy

   P2: praid:microsoft.windows.immersivecontrolpanel

   P3: 10.0.22621.2428

   P4: 3a143f4b

   P5: combase.dll

   P6: 10.0.22621.2215

   P7: 05b9e9b5

   P8: 8000000b

   P9: 00000000000901cb

   P10:

   Attached files:

   \\?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER.98037898-2ae9-4911-a29a-7cd50ea64ae6.tmp.dmp

   \\?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER.7106987b-61a9-4713-8487-b57fdf7576c1.tmp.WERInternalMetadata.xml

   \\?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER.8eca01d3-aa6b-40b3-9627-fcabaa2cebd3.tmp.csv

   \\?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER.03b2ccf3-63f1-47cd-b75a-85cb28372fbf.tmp.txt

   \\?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\Temp\WER.9aa2daaa-cce4-4b9f-b2de-a38410a0dbe2.tmp.xml

   These files may be available here:

   \\?\C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\WER\ReportArchive\AppCrash_windows.immersiv_f37a9be9bd0bd3b3db1ba0c18d5b7ef6f73ad1_06ae74d7_4a1faeb3-83ef-456d-a34a-6ee3bb41a823

   Analysis symbol:

   Rechecking for solution: 0

   Report Id: 3226300a-7628-454c-9694-75ac4735f188

   Report Status: 268435456

   Hashed bucket: 5a818803056a40647188a39d244a47b3

   Cab Guid: 0

When KB5031354 is uninstalled there is no crash anymore of "systemsettings.exe" and the Settings app can be used again. The setting "yourinfo" will be the only setting that is displayed (cfr registry setting).

I contacted M365 support (2310121420000904) and they told me to submit the issue through the feedback hub with my personal microsoft account (?!?). There has been no response, no questions, no feedback and no status updates. After a post in the microsoft community I was redirected to this tech community ( https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_11-wintop_update/gpo-setting-settings-visibility-page-not-applying/7b363dda-1364-4611-adce-6ae68451a801?messageId=cd5478e0-c157-43da-a52c-59675456ff94 ).

Hopefully more response/support here 😉

Grts,

Tom