06 October 2006, 14:45

Microsoft Patch Tuesday: Eleven updates for Windows, Office and .NET

On next Patch Tuesday, Microsoft Windows users will be offered eleven updates for download that close several critical holes. No indication has been given as to exactly how many holes will be closed. In general, each update closes several flaws at once. Six of the patches are for Windows, four for Office and one for the .NET framework. Whether a patch for the two holes in Internet Explorer will also be included in the release is not indicated in the advance notification.

Both holes are already being actively exploited to infect website visitors with malware and spyware. A further hole in Word 2000, that allows code to be planted, has now been gaping for four weeks. The same is true for a vulnerability in PowerPoint. As with every Patch Tuesday, Microsoft will also be updating the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool.