CU update install failing with error 1603

Mikayel Mikayelyan 56 Reputation points
2021-03-10T10:58:00.777+00:00

Hello all, I am not sure if posting question in right place, but hope someone can help me with this as I didn't found any answer on web.
I am trying to update Exchange 2013 CU9 to CU 23. All prerequisites' are done and fine with that. But When I try to install I am getting this error in the step when coping files are started at 24% it gives this error:
Installing product E:\Exchange 2013-CU23\exchange server.msi failed. Fatal error during installation. Error code is 1603. Last error reported by the MSI package is 'The installer has insufficient privileges to access this directory: C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\FrontEnd\HttpProxy\owa\auth\15.0.1497. The installation cannot continue. Log on as administrator or contact your system administrator.'

I am using Admin account with all the required access rights. Also I have checked that path shown above and find out there is no 15.0.1497 folder inside auth folder. There is folder 15.0.1104. Also after this all services are disabled and can't run even the CU9 that was working normal. So we are restoring vm from last backup.
Please if you can help me how to update 2013 CU9 to latest version we are planning to migrate to 2016 so need at least CU10.

Thanks in advance.

Exchange Server Management
Exchange Server Management
Exchange Server: A family of Microsoft client/server messaging and collaboration software.Management: The act or process of organizing, handling, directing or controlling something.
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  1. Alexander S 1 Reputation point
    2021-03-17T21:36:47.693+00:00

    I had the same issue on a compromised Exchange server 2016. The update to CU20 gave error message:

    'The Installer has insufficient privileges to modify this file: C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\FrontEnd\HttpProxy\owa\auth\Current\scripts\premium\aria-web-telemetry.js.'.

    After changing the permissions on these folders the update ran fine.

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  2. DocBrown 21 Reputation points
    2021-03-19T13:44:21.903+00:00

    Well the compromise has gone further. Both Exchange 2013's are down as of about 3AM EDT on 3/19/2021, even after the patches have been applied and one even went through an upgrade from CU22 to Cu23. Still evaluating what has been done, but it's not pretty.

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  3. DocBrown 21 Reputation points
    2021-03-19T16:22:53.36+00:00

    Looks like the lastest fun was to install scripts to automatically reset the DNS server to a public server, breaking exchange.

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  4. Joshua 6 Reputation points
    2021-03-20T06:56:45.793+00:00

    I have the same issue

    Installing product I:\exchangeserver.msi failed. Fatal error during installation. Error code is 1603. Last error reported by the MSI package is 'The installer has insufficient privileges to access this directory: C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\FrontEnd\HttpProxy\owa\auth\15.1.2242. The installation cannot continue. Log on as administrator or contact your system administrator.'.

    Installing product I:\exchangeserver.msi failed. Fatal error during installation. Error code is 1603. Last error reported by the MSI package is 'The Installer has insufficient privileges to modify this file: C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\FrontEnd\HttpProxy\ecp\auth\TimeoutLogout.aspx.'.

    I tried to modify the permission and added the right permission but still issue persist.

    Error:
    Installing product ExchangeServer2016-x64-CU20\exchangeserver.msi failed. Fatal error during installation. Error code is 1603.