Microsoft rolls out gigantic security update

Posted by Mark Raby

Microsoft's regularly scheduled security update is getting a bit more than its typical once-over this morning, as it patches 34 different problems, tying the record for the most vulnerabilities ever tackled in one of the company's standard updates.

Of course, the vast majority of the updates are classified as low risk, meaning they weren't necessarily a big threat but still deemed as a stability problem for Microsoft applications.

Fourt of the patches, though, are deemed extremely critical and relate to errors in Windows coding that could be exploitable for a hacker to take over an infected user's computer. These vulnerabilities specifically relate to:

- Microsoft's MPEG Layer-3 audio codecs was not protected against specific code that could be exploited through streaming Internet content

- Windows Media Player was vulnerable to playing back malicious media files that would render the user's computer useless

- Microsoft Office had an issue with not being able to protect against a potential attack through a specially formatted e-mail

- Microsoft's online services .Net Framework and Silverlight each had the same vulnerability that could have allowed remote code execution from a hacker

The software giant says that none of the critical vulnerabilities have led to a significant problem across its user base. Of the remaining 34 vulnerabilities, more than half were given a "1" on Microsoft's 1 - 3 scale of importance, however a whopping nine of them were set at "2" which is still nothing to scoff at.

Full details on the record-tying security patch are available on Microsoft's website. The update will be rolling out automatically to users who have Automatic Updates configured on their PC.