Microsoft cold-shoulders Server 2003 and XP users hit with Microsoft Update error 0x80248015

Microsoft has yet to provide a solution for customers who can't connect to Microsoft Update to install last week's out-of-band patch KB 3011780

 
By Woody Leonhard  Nov 25, 2014
 
The causes of the problem remain cloudy, but the symptoms are quite clear. Starting on Nov. 18, some Server 2003, Windows Home Server 2003, and Windows XP SP3 machines suddenly refused to connect to Microsoft Update. As best I can tell, Microsoft has not responded to the problem, not documented a workaround, and is basically doing nothing visible to fix it.
 
(Keep in mind that, although Windows XP is no longer supported, Security Essentials updates for XP still go through Microsoft Update, and all old patches for XP are still available -- when Microsoft Update is working, anyway.)
The main TechNet thread on the subject says the error looks like this:

The website has encountered a problem and cannot display the page you are trying to view. The options provided below might help you solve the problem.
Error number: 0x80248015

There are also lengthy discussions on the SANS Internet Storm Center site and on the MSFN site.
 
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