While upgrading an Exchange 2013 server to the latest cumulative update, I ran into the following error while setup was configuring prerequisites.
Service 'WMSVC' failed to reach status 'Running' on this server.

When attempting to start the service manually via the Services MMC, it refused to start, resulting in the following error.
Windows could not start the Web Management Service on Local Computer. For more information, review the System Event Log. If this is a non-Microsoft service, contact the service vendor, and refer to service-specific error code -217483640.

When reviewing the System Event Log an equally cryptic error was displayed.
The Web Management Service service terminated with the following service-specific error: Unspecified error
