Microsoft has fixed a total of 18 security
vulnerabilities in its Windows and Office software by distributing
seven patches.
Five of the patches were deemed as “critical” by the company,
which usually means the vulnerabilities can be exploited by remote
hackers to take over systems without any user interaction.
One of the critical fixes mends a flaw in a Windows component
that can be used to spread a worm across systems. Other fixes plug
flaws in the Office productivity suite that are already being
exploited in the wild.
Four of the patches tackled five Windows-related issues,
including a security vulnerability in the “mailshot” Windows
component.
The mailshot flaw can be used by remote attackers to launch a
worm across corporate systems and the internet, potentially slowing
down or stopping network traffic.
The other three Microsoft patches tackle flaws in the Office
productivity suite. One of these addresses eight flaws in the Excel
spreadsheet, some of which have already been well publicised.
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