Since this story was originally posted, it has been modified to correct the number of security updates Microsoft issued on Tuesday.Microsoft has issued 10 security updates, fixing critical vulnerabilities in its Windows and Office software.Six of the updates are for Windows, including a patch for a nasty bug in the operating system’s graphical user interface, which is being targeted by attackers. Four updates are for Office, and the final update is for the .Net framework, considered to be less severe than the worst of the Windows and Office bugs.The patches were released Tuesday as part of Microsoft’s regular monthly security update cycle. Microsoft’s security bulletins on these patches can be found here. Six of the 10 updates are rated critical, the most serious rating given by Microsoft.The most publicized of these flaws is a bug in an ActiveX control called WebViewFolderIcon, which is used by the Windows’ graphical user interface software. This vulnerability was first disclosed in July, but hackers began exploiting it late last month after exploit code taking advantage of it was added to the Metasploit hacking tool. Microsoft Office has also been the target of a number of extremely limited attacks over the past few months, and on Tuesday Microsoft issued four updates that addressed critical flaws in PowerPoint, Excel and Word, and the Office suite itself. All of these flaws could be exploited by an attacker to run unauthorized software on a victim’s computer, Microsoft said.The sixth critical update fixes two vulnerabilities in the XML parser used by Windows.Tuesday also marked the end of the line for Windows XP Service Pack 1, which will no longer be supported by Microsoft. Microsoft’s advisory on this issue can be found here.Hackers have been keeping Microsoft’s Security Response Center busy this past month. On Sept. 26, the company was forced to issue a rare, “out-of-cycle” security patch after criminals began exploiting a flaw in Internet Explorer’s vector markup language rendering engine.-Robert McMillan, IDG News Service (San Francisco Bureau) Related Links: Microsoft to Fix Windows, Office Security Flaws Gangs Exploit Another Unpatched Windows Bug Critical IE Bug Gets Early Fix from MicrosoftThis article is posted on our Microsoft Informer page. For more news on the Redmond, Wash.-based powerhouse, keep checking in.Check out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content brandpost How an Indian real-estate juggernaut keeps growing by harnessing the power of zero A South Indian real-estate titan is known for the infinite variety and impressive scale of its projects, but one of its most towering achievements amounts to nothing literally. By Michael Kure, SAP Contributor May 31, 2023 5 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Hybrid working: the new workplace normal IT leaders discuss how a more broadly dispersed workforce impacts device deployment, connectivity, and the employee experience, even as more workers return to the office. By Michael Krieger May 31, 2023 5 mins Remote Work opinion Can you spot the hidden theme of CSO’s Future of Cybersecurity summit? By Beth Kormanik May 31, 2023 2 mins Events Cybercrime Artificial Intelligence case study How IT leaders use EV tech to fuel the transport revolution in Kenya Many African nations are starting to invest in electric vehicle (EV) transportation as a means to broaden access and help keep pace with global environmental initiatives. In Kenya, strides are being made despite industry and tech leaders grappling to By Vincent Matinde May 31, 2023 5 mins CIO CTO Emerging Technology Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe