News

Microsoft to Post WMF Vulnerability Patch Ahead of Schedule

Microsoft is releasing an out-of-cycle patch Thursday for the Windows Meta File (WMF) vulnerability that attackers were already exploiting when the flaw was made public in the last week of December. Earlier this week, Microsoft had said it would not release a patch until its regular Patch Tuesday event next week.

"The development and testing teams have put forth a considerable effort to address this issue and respond to the strong customer sentiment that the release should be made available as soon as possible," a Microsoft spokesperson said in an e-mail.

Microsoft planned to post the security update, MS06-001, around 2 p.m. PST. The patch will be automatically distributed to computers with Automatic Updates enabled and to customers using Windows Server Update Services.

Microsoft also plans a special Webcast to answer questions about the vulnerability on Friday. A sign-up page for the Webcast is available at www.microsoft.com/technet/security.

About the Author

Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.

Featured

  • Report: Cost, Sustainability Drive DaaS Adoption Beyond Remote Work

    Gartner's 2025 Magic Quadrant for Desktop as a Service reveals that while secure remote access remains a key driver of DaaS adoption, a growing number of deployments now focus on broader efficiency goals.

  • Windows 365 Reserve, Microsoft's Cloud PC Rental Service, Hits Preview

    Microsoft has launched a limited public preview of its new "Windows 365 Reserve" service, which lets organizations rent cloud PC instances in the event their Windows devices are stolen, lost or damaged.

  • Hands-On AI Skills Now Outshine Certs in Salary Stakes

    For AI-related roles, employers are prioritizing verifiable, hands-on abilities over framed certificates -- and they're paying a premium for it.

  • Roadblocks in Enterprise AI: Data and Skills Shortfalls Could Cost Millions

    Businesses risk losing up to $87 million a year if they fail to catch up with AI innovation, according to the Couchbase FY 2026 CIO AI Survey released this month.

Most   Popular