Microsoft Issues Patches for Eight Security Flaws

Microsoft Corp. warned of eight “critical” security flaws in its Windows operating system and Office software that could allow attackers to take control of a computer.

Microsoft issued patches to fix the problems as part of its monthly security bulletin. It was the biggest such update since February 2005.

The company defines a flaw as critical when the vulnerability could allow a damaging Internet worm to replicate without the user doing anything to the machine.