Windows and Office have very critical Patch Tuesday

By Stan Beer
Wednesday, 14 June 2006 06:15

Business IT - Security

Microsoft has identified no less than eight critical flaws in its Windows and Office software products and, in all, 12 flaws across its range of software which require patches to be downloaded this week.

The eight critical flaws, carrying the maximum severity rating, were identified as part of Microsoft's ongoing monthly Patch Tuesday security program and have the potential of enabling attackers to compromise a remote computer without the user needing to do anything to open the door.

Two of the critical flaws affect the widely used Microsoft Office programs, Word and PowerPoint, while a further two affect the also widely used Windows Media Player and Internet Explorer web browser.

In addition to the eight critical flaws, three flaws were given the second highest severity rating of important, two of them affecting Windows, with another affecting the Microsoft Exchange email software.

Microsoft's security update this month is the biggest patching exercise the company has undertaken in more than a year. A security spokesman for the company told iTWire last month that the upcoming release of Microsoft's new operating system Windows Vista, which has targeted improved security as one of its main features, will make monthly Patch Tuesday updates unnecessary.