Security
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Below you will find a comprehensive list of the Microsoft updates that were release on May 12, 2009.
Microsoft Security
To learn more about the
current threats on the Internet, visit the Microsoft Malware
Protection Center:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal
May 2009 edition of Patch Tuesday.
The biggest item since April is that the Vista and Windows 2008 Service Pack 2 was released to manufacturing. Don’t look for it in your automatic updates yet, it’s not there. In fact, at the time of this writing, it’s not available to the general public yet either (MSDN and TechNet subscribers can access it, though).
I just finished installing SP2 on a PC, and I am trying to install it on another. I found you need to uninstall most of your language packs first. And many Vista machines seem to require those language packs be uninstalled one at a time… and each one takes around 20 minutes. No idea what’s wrong with those language packs. Hopefully, Microsoft will correct this problem.
As another Microsoft Windows Vista SP2 heads up, it seems to have reset my default sound devices to the most recently installed items, so my soundcard was no longer putting out sound in favor of my phone headset.
Security patches
MS09-017/KB967340 – Critical (PowerPoint 2000) / Important (PowerPoint XP, Office 2003, Office 2007, Office 2004 and 2008 for Mac, Open XML File Converter for Mac, PowerPoint View 2003, PowerPoint Viewer 2007, Office Compatibility Pack 2007, Works 8.5, Works 9.0): There are a number of security bugs in PowerPoint (some privately disclosed, some publically disclosed) which allow a specially modified PowerPoint file to take over your computer. This patch resolves the problems. It is critical for PowerPoint 2000 users, and only important for all other users.
The patch changes the way PowerPoint handles memory when opening files, and blocks the opening of PowerPoint 4.0 files. You should apply this patch immediately, since it is sure that attackers will be trying to exploit it with PowerPoint files supposedly containing images of serene scenes with words of wisdom and a calming soundtrack, advising you to appreciate the small things in life.
Other updates
There are no major non-security updates this month.
“The Usual Suspects”: Updates to the Malicious Software Removal Tool, ActiveX Kill bits (released on April 28th), and Junk Email filters.
Changed, but not significantly:
Updates since the last Patch Tuesday
There have been a number of minor items since the last Patch Tuesday:
- KB969497 — Updated compatibility view list for IE8.
- KB944036 — IE8 for XP with Language Interface Pack.
- KB947821 — System Update Readiness Tool.
- KB953338 — Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 SP2.
- KB955430 — This update is required for additional updates to Vista and 2008 to work, and it is a pre-requisite from here on out.
- KB961503 — Fixes an issue with double byte character strings on XP, which affects Windows Live Messenger 14.
Changed, but not significantly:
- IE8 for Vista and 2008 (added new language packs)
- MS09-012/KB952004 – Security Update for Windows 2000 (minor changes to the Norwegian version)
- KB110806 – .NET Framework 2.0 SP1
- KB929300 – .NET Framework 3.0 SP1 (changed priority from “Recommended” to “Important” for Japanese version)
- KB936330 – Vista SP1 (service pack blocker tool is now expired).
In addition, the following items have all been marked as available for Vista SP2 and 2008 SP2: