Alexandra Burlacu email: a.burlacu@mobilenapps.com
Microsoft announced it will issue 12 security updates on Tuesday, Feb. 12, to patch a near-record 57 bugs in Internet Explorer (IE), Windows, Office, and Exchange.
The all-time record so far is for a total of 64 vulnerabilities patched in April 2011, but the 57 bugs to be fixed next week draw very close to that record.
Microsoft's security bulletin includes five critical ratings and seven important warnings. Five of the 12 updates will rank as "critical," which is Microsoft's highest rating. The remainder will rank as "important," the next step below "critical."
"A vulnerability whose exploitation could allow code execution without user interaction" is considered critical, according to Microsoft. "These scenarios include self-propagating malware (e.g. network worms), or unavoidable common use scenarios where code execution occurs without warning or prompts. This could mean browsing to a web page or opening email."
"A vulnerability whose explanation could result in compromise of the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of user data, or of the integrity or availability of processing resources," meanwhile, is considered important. "These scenarios include common use scenarios where client is compromised with warnings or prompts regardless of the prompt's provenance, quality, or usability. Sequences of user actions that do not generate prompts or warnings are also covered."
Of those five critical updates, two will address bugs in Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) and Windows Vista. Five of the important updates will affect Windows 7, four will deal with Windows 8, while XP SP3 and Windows RT get three updates each.
Among the updates tagged as critical, IE gets two separate updates that will patch IE 6, IE 7, IE 8, IE 9, and the latest IE 10. Until now, Microsoft has never issued more than one update a month for the same browser.
Microsoft will be hosting a Webcast on Wednesday, Feb. 13, at 2 p.m. EST, to address any questions customers may have regarding the security bulletins. Interested users can register at this link to watch the webcast, which will be available on-demand after Feb. 13.
Until Microsoft posts the patches, using another browser instead of Internet Explorer may be a safer bet.
most read
related stories
more stories from OS / Software
Microsoft has reportedly started talks with HTC to add its Windows OS to the phone maker's Android smartphones and HTC is apparently considering to make a Windows Phone/Android dual-booting smartphone.
ernest hamiltonA bug in Chrome for iOS 7 has caused Google's mobile browser to leak private searches made in 'Incognito' mode.
ernest hamiltonHTC has announced that Sprint has already started to roll out the Android 4.3 update to the HTC One, AT&T and T-Mobile will follow in mid-October, while Verizon will release it by the end of the month.
ernest hamiltonThe new Windows 8.1 has gone up for pre-order on the Microsoft Store, ahead of the official launch on Oct. 18.
ernest hamiltonApple has acknowledged the iOS 7 iMessage issue and promised to provide a fix in an upcoming software update.
ernest hamiltonSamsung Canada and French carrier SFR have confirmed the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean rollout schedule for the Samsung Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2.
ernest hamiltonThe unlocked, international HTC One is getting Android 4.3 Jelly Bean now, but the U.S. and Canadian versions will 'slightly miss' the end-September timeframe.
ernest hamiltonThe Samsung Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 are reportedly slated to get Android 4.3 Jelly Bean in the fourth quarter, by year-end.
ernest hamilton