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Mystery patch blots Microsoft's fix-free month

Unknown
edited December 2003 in Science & Tech
Microsoft was left looking a little silly after a patch was issued through its Windows Update service only a day after the software maker had declared it would not be issuing any fixes this month.

[blockquote]The patch, for a flaw announced during its monthly fix bulletin in November, updates FrontPage extensions. It plugs a security hole that could allow malicious code to be run on a person's PC.

On Wednesday morning, Microsoft discovered that a glitch in the patching process resulted in a November fix not being applied to some Windows XP computers. The same patch was sent out again via the Windows update service on Tuesday night. The company is still investigating why and how the patch was reissued.

The original flaw occurs in Microsoft's FrontPage extensions and affects Windows 2000, Windows XP and Office XP. The security hole was rated as critical for all systems, except for original Windows XP installations that hadn't been upgraded with FrontPage Extensions 2002.
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[link=http://news.com.com/2100-1002_3-5119098.html?tag=nefd_top]Read more[/link]

Comments

  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    Would people make up their minds?

    First Microsoft is evil for having an "Insecure operating system."
    Then they're evil for not releasing any patches in December.
    Then they're evil for releasing a patch to address issue one.

    WTF.
  • csimoncsimon Acadiana Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    hmmm ..thrax are you trying to say Microsoft is evil? lol:nudge:
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    violent-smiley-026.gif
  • CammanCamman NEW! England Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    Thrax had this to say
    Would people make up their minds?

    First Microsoft is evil for having an "Insecure operating system."
    Then they're evil for not releasing any patches in December.
    Then they're evil for releasing a patch to address issue one.

    WTF.

    As the saying goes, they're damned if they do, damned if they don't
  • TemplarTemplar You first.
    edited December 2003
    I'm content that saying is very true.. :(
  • qparadoxqparadox Vancouver, BC
    edited December 2003
    Its not that people are angry because they released a patch, its that they claimed they couldn't release a patch because they were switching over their tracking system ... and then they magically released a patch. In other words they lied to their customers and then made an ass of themselves. Honestly I couldn't care less whether they release a patch or not, there will always be plenty of exploitable holes.
  • gtghmgtghm New
    edited December 2003
    I wonderd if it was real or not... I didn't down load it and install just becaues they said that they weren't releasing one... Thought it might be a trojan or something acting like a windows DNL...

    "g"
  • Straight_ManStraight_Man Geeky, in my own way Naples, FL Icrontian
    edited December 2003
    Essentially, this patch is a patch that was released as part of a group, but according to the rerelease and background info I have, something in the group kept it from being applied to XP when the group-- possibly the last rollup-- was installed. eWeek and others also say Microsoft is saying that they are investigating WHO in the company released it. Probably the release that said "will be no" should have said that "current plans are for there to be none released for December." Security is like that, a lot of firefighting and quick reactions needed to handle knewly known problems where plans have to change.

    John.
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