Cliff Hobbs at myITforum.com

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Out-of-Band Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for December 2008
Issued: December 17, 2008
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This bulletin summary lists an out-of-band security bulletin released on December 17, 2008.

The full version of the Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for December 2008 can be found at
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms08-dec.mspx.
 
With the release of the out-of-band bulletin on December 17, 2008, this bulletin summary replaces the bulletin advance notification
originally issued on December 16, 2008. 

The revised bulletin summary Web page includes the out-of-band security bulletin as well as the security bulletins already released
on December 9, 2008.

For more information about the bulletin advance notification service, see http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/advance.mspx

Microsoft will host two webcasts to address customer questions on this out-of-band security bulletin: on December 17, 2008, at 1:00 PM
Pacific Time (US & Canada) and December 18, 2008, at 11:00 AM Pacific Time. Register for these out-of-band Security Bulletin
Webcasts at 
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/summary.mspx.

Microsoft provides the Exploitability Index to help customers prioritize monthly security updates in relation to the likelihood of
functioning exploit code. Please see the full version of this security bulletin summary on the Web.
 
Microsoft also provides information to help customers prioritize monthly security updates with any non-security, high-priority
updates that are being released on the same day as the monthly security updates. Please see the section, Other Information.


Critical Security Bulletins
=================

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-078

 - Affected Software: 
   - Internet Explorer 5.01 Service Pack 4 when installed on 
     Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
   - Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 when installed on 
     Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
   - Internet Explorer 6 for 
     Windows XP Service Pack 2 and 
     Windows XP Service Pack 3
   - Internet Explorer 6 for 
     Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and 
     Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2
   - Internet Explorer 6 for 
     Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 and
     Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2
   - Internet Explorer 6 for 
     Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition and
     Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2
   - Internet Explorer 6 for 
     Windows Server 2003 with SP1 for Itanium-based Systems and
     Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems
   - Internet Explorer 7 for 
     Windows XP Service Pack 2 and 
     Windows XP Service Pack 3
   - Internet Explorer 7 for 
     Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and
     Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2
   - Internet Explorer 7 for 
     Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 and
     Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2
   - Internet Explorer 7 for 
     Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition and
     Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2
   - Internet Explorer 7 for 
     Windows Server 2003 with SP1 for Itanium-based Systems and
     Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems
   - Internet Explorer 7 in 
     Windows Vista and 
     Windows Vista Service Pack 1
   - Internet Explorer 7 in 
     Windows Vista x64 Edition and 
     Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 1
   - Internet Explorer 7 in 
     Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems
   - Internet Explorer 7 in 
     Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems
   - Internet Explorer 7 in 
     Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems

   - Note for Windows Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2
     The vulnerability addressed by MS08-078 was reported after the release of Windows Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2. Customers
     running Windows Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 are encouraged to download and apply the update to their systems. Please refer
     to the bulletin for more information.

   - Impact: Remote Code Execution
   - Version Number: 1.0


Other Information
=============

Non-Security, High-Priority Updates on MU, WU, and WSUS:
==========================================
Please see:
* http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894199: Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 894199, Description of Software Update Services and
 Windows Server Update Services changes in content for 2008.
 Includes all Windows content.
* http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/wsus/bb466214.aspx: New, Revised, and Released Updates for Microsoft Products Other Than
 Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP)
===============================
To improve security protections for customers, Microsoft provides vulnerability information to major security software providers in
advance of each monthly security update release. Security software providers can then use this vulnerability information to provide
updated protections to customers via their security software or devices, such as antivirus, network-based intrusion detection
systems, or host-based intrusion prevention systems. To determine whether active protections are available from security software
providers, please visit the active protections Web sites provided by program partners, listed at
http://www.microsoft.com/security/msrc/mapp/partners.mspx.

To receive automatic notifications whenever Microsoft Security Bulletins are issued, subscribe to Microsoft Technical Security 
Notifications on
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/notify.mspx