Microsoft Fixes Critical Windows Flaw

As part of its monthly Patch Tuesday security bulletin, Microsoft has released one fix covering two critical vulnerabilities in Windows. The flaw affects the operating system's graphics rendering engine, and could lead to a remote attacker taking control of a system through the use of malformed WMF and EMF images.

Windows 2000, XP and Windows Server 2003 -- including 64-bit versions -- are at risk. Microsoft recommends that users download the patch immediately. "Any program that renders WMF or EMF images on the affected systems could be vulnerable to this attack," the company said in an advisory. Microsoft has also updated its Malicious Software Removal Tool Tuesday.