ITWire

The five critical bulletins to be released by Microsoft on Tuesday (US time) concern ten vulnerabilities that affect Windows, Internet Explorer, Exchange, SQL Server, and certain server software and developer tools.

The other four bulletins are rated important.

Not surprisingly, Windows XP has the highest number of critical issues (three. plus two important).

In contrast, Windows 7 has one critical issue (actually affecting Internet Explorer), two important and one moderate, while Windows Server 2008 R2 has one important, two moderate and one low.

Three bulletins concern Microsoft Office and related software (Office 2003, 2007, 2010; Office Web Components; and Visio Viewer 2010).

Two critical bulletins variously affect SQL Server (2000, 2005, 2008), Commerce Server (2007, 2009), Host Integration Server 2004, Exchange Server (2007, 2010), Visual FoxPro (8.0, 9.0) and Visual Basic (6.0 Runtime).

The customary update to the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool will also be released.

August is one of the months where Adobe's quarterly security update cycle coincides with Microsoft's monthly cadence.

The company has announced it will be releasing critical updates for Reader and Acrobat.

The updates for Acrobat X and Acrobat X have been given a priority rating of 2 which means Adobe recommends installation "soon (for instance, within 30 days)."

But the updates for the 9.x versions (still supported for those who cannot or choose not to upgrade to X) are rated '1': "Adobe recommends administrators install the update as soon as possible. (for instance, within 72 hours)."