Microsoft releases fixes for ‘critical’ security flaws

Microsoft Corp.’s monthly Webcast for IT professionals, a discussion led Wednesday by Microsoft ISSMP security program manager Christopher Budd, includes responses to questions about several serious security risks.
The Redmond-based company’s latest montly update, released July 11, includes patches for seven newly discovered security flaws, five of which received Microsoft’s highest-risk rating of critical, and two the second-highest rating of important.
Four of the problems are in its Windows operating system, and three in its Office software suite, Microsoft said. The Office problems are critical for the Office 2000 release, the company said; users of later versions of the business software package are less at risk.
If not corrected, the weaknesses could allow an attacker to take control of a user’s computer.
Technical details of the flaws are available on the Microsoft Web site (Microsoft.com), as are the updates to repair the problems.