Microsoft ships first Windows Vista security patches

“Microsoft Corp. has shipped the first critical security update for Windows Vista, the next version of its flagship operating system,” Ryan Naraine reports for eWeek. “Over the weekend, the company released patches for beta testers running the Windows Vista December CTP (Community Technology Preview) and Windows Vista Beta 1, and warned that the new operating system was vulnerable to a remote code execution flaw in the Graphics Rendering Engine.”

“A Microsoft spokesperson told eWEEK that the Vista patches address the same vulnerability that led to the WMF (Windows Metafile) malware attacks earlier this month,” Naraine reports. “Microsoft’s out-of-cycle security update for the WMF vulnerability makes no mention of Windows Vista being vulnerable, but with the release of this weekend’s patches it is clear that the poorly designed “SetAbortProc,” the function that allows printing jobs to be cancelled, was ported over to Vista.”

Full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews reader “sailfish” for the link.]

MacDailyNews Take: Windows Vista (codenames: PigLipstick, Win XP SP3). Tries to look like a Mac, but still runs like Windows.

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45 Comments

  1. Have you seen the new Windows ads? Promoting themselves as being safe and secure……I saw it during the 24 season start. It was funny.

    MDN Magic Word: “running” as in “Windows is running out of time”

  2. wow.. thats fast! imagine a patch when the product is not even launch yet.
    well thats the microsoft we all know ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />
    good luck to all windows users out there..

  3. Well, that didn’t take long, did it? So much for Vista’s “improved security” if the first thing it gets hit by is the same thing that’s been creaming all previous versions of Windows…

  4. this just in guys: The world’s first security hole has been discovered in Mac OS X. It affects every version, including the upcoming 10.5 release, codenamed “Leopard”. The exploit was discovered after hackers found that a System 6 driver for Apple’s 800K floppy drive still loads itself into system memory at startup. The driver, while completely useless in a modern Mac, is still loaded “just in case”, according to Apple CEO Steve Jobs.

    “You never know when someone’s going to want to run MacWrite or MacPaint, so you have to keep support for old standards alive,” Jobs said.

    the above scenario is no less asinine than what microsoft seems to be hellbent on – that is, keeping 15+ year old code in their modern OSes. it’s a good thing apple knows better.

  5. @ eric
    Who are the baddies that Jack Bauer has to save the world from in the new season of 24?
    We are are just coming towards the end of catching Habib Marwan in our current series of 24 in New Zealand.

    Regarding Mcirosoft- Only Microsoft could have security issues in an operating system that is not officially out yet although something tells me that is is to do with the recently discovered webpage flaw that has been written into the system since Windows 3.0

  6. At least with Vista Microsoft aren’t burying their heads in the sand and pretending there’s no issues like they did with XP.

    If this patch cuts down on the amount of potential worms slowing down my Internet connection, then it’s a good thing, and you lot moan and laugh about it. Nice.

  7. Same old, same old. The only word that accurately defines the Microsoft OS is consistent.

    Rather than develop an original and innovative OS, Microsoft perpetuates the same old cr@p it has been foisting on users since day 1.

    Go, Steelers.

  8. There you have it…

    Mac & PC Guy, Reality Check, Sputnik et al… enjoy your upcoming experience with a more of the same from the one and only, inimitable and infamous Windows operating system.

    >>STOP PRESS<<
    Revision announced for ‘WINDOWS’ in The Concise English Dictionary:

    Formally: ‘a computer operating system with a graphical user interface’

    Revision: ‘a slang word used to define unsafe computing requiring continuous patching to operate’.

  9. Security holes and viruses in Vista?

    Is anyone surprised? Seriously, there’s a huge, entrenched IT services industry whose livelihood DEPENDS on Windows flaws!

    What kind of image does Microsoft the monopolist want to project if, by creating a solid and secure operating system, it is taking away the livelihood of hundred off thousands and by extension, bread from the mouths of babes. Think of the PR backlash and the drop in stock prices!

    Security flaws in Microsoft products are truly an act of mercy which touch people, families and children the world over!

    THANK YOU, Microsoft, for saving the world as we know it!

  10. Eric wrote –

    “Have you seen the new Windows ads? Promoting themselves as being safe and secure……I saw it during the 24 season start. It was funny.”

    What I saw during the 2 hour premiere was the new inel/Msc commercial Steve showed during his keynote address. It actually ran twice.

    Another cool thing was that it showed Jack accessing information of an iMac – even showed the Mac symbol and everything.

  11. Winmacguy:
    It appears the Russians are the new bad guys on “24.” It looks like another tough day for Jack Bauer. He “only” killed 3 guys in the first hour, but the bad guys took over an airport terminal so it looks like he’ll have a chance to do more.

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