14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft released MS11-053, a security update for a vulnerability in the Windows Bluetooth Stack which impacts Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) and RTMs, along with supported versions of Windows Vista, but not Windows XP. MS11-053 is one of the security bulletins offered by the Redmond company to customers this month as a part of the software giant’s normal patch cycle.
On Patch Tuesday, along with MS11-053, Microsoft also released an additional three security bulletins: MS11-054 and MS11-056 for Windows and MS11-055 for Office, according to Angela Gunn, senior response communications manager, Microsoft Trustworthy Computing.
“MS11-053 (Bluetooth Stack). This security bulletin resolves one privately reported vulnerability in the Windows Bluetooth Stack. This bulletin is rated Critical for Windows Vista and Windows 7 platforms. All prior versions of Windows are unaffected," Gunn said.
“Despite its high deployment priority, we have assigned MS11-053 an Exploitability Index rating of 2. We encourage all customers to apply this bulletin first, before deploying the rest of our July updates as soon as possible. Of note, consumers with Automatic Update enabled on their computers will not need to take any action; the tool ensures that the updates are applied and the systems protected.”
Although it released only four security bulletins this month, the software giant managed to patch no less than 22 vulnerabilities.
MS11-053 and MS11-055 are the lightest patch packages offered on July 12, 2011, each plugging just a single security hole.
In contract, MS11-054 and MS11-056 are designed to patch no less than 20 security vulnerabilities together. Despite this, Microsoft rated both MS11-054 and MS11-056 just Important.
Windows 7 SP1 users will need to apply all three security bulletins released in July 2011. Only customers running Visio 2003 are impacted by MS11-055. As already noted, MS11-053 must deployed as a priority, but customers should make sure to install all patches as soon as possible.
