[ISN] Microsoft Patch Rollout Addresses A Dozen Flaws, Nine of Them 'Critical'

[InfoSec News]

http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=JS3VPVI4GV45WQSNDBCSKHSCJUMEKJVN?articleID=49901123

By Gregg Keizer
TechWeb News 
Oct. 12, 2004 

In the biggest monthly patch roll-out of the year, Microsoft on
Tuesday posted information about a dozen flaws in Windows, Exchange,
and Office, and said that users needed to "install the update
immediately" for the nine tagged as "Critical."

In the 12 security bulletins posted on its Web site, Microsoft
outlined critical bugs in almost every supported edition of Windows,
in Excel, and in Exchange.

Only three of the dozen are not rated as "Critical," Microsoft's
highest alert level in its four-step ranking. That trio was labeled as
"Important," the second-highest warning used when Microsoft urges
users to "install the update at the earliest opportunity."

The previous 2004 record for the largest number of security bulletins
released in a month was July, when the Redmond, Wash.-based developer
posted eight.

Patches for the bugs can be downloaded via the Windows Update service
or through Automatic Update, Windows' in-the-background patching
system.