#Microsoft Swats 29 Security Bugs, #Adobe Closes #Hijack Hole

Microsoft has released patches for 29 security vulnerabilities, while Adobe has released an update for Flash Player. Redmond's latest Patch Tuesday batch is composed of six bulletins, two of which have been rated as critical updates. Three others have been rated important, and the sixth is considered a moderate risk.

The critical bug fixes include:

• Cumulative security update for Internet Explorer (2975687) Addressing 24 memory-corruption vulnerabilities, including remote-code execution flaws, in IE 6 to 11 on supported OS versions. The same holes in Windows Server editions are rated as moderate. Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2, x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 and R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 are not affected, and neither are Server 2012 and 2012 R2. Some of the holes were revealed in this year's Pwn2Own hacking contest. None have otherwise been exploited in the wild.
• Vulnerability in Windows Journal could allow remote-code execution (2975689) Addressing a remote-code execution flaw in the note-taking application, which could be exploited by specially crafted Journal files to hijack the system as the logged-in user. This affects Windows Vista, Server 2008, 7, Server 2008 R2, 8 and 8.1, Server 2012 and Server 2012 R2, and Windows RT and RT 8.1.
The three important bulletins, and one moderate, fix address elevation of privilege and denial of service vulnerabilities.

• Vulnerability in on-screen keyboard could allow elevation of privilege (2975685) – this affects Windows Vista, Server 2008, 7, Server 2008 R2, Windows 8 and 8.1, Server 2012 and Server 2012 R2, and RT and Windows RT 8.1.
• Vulnerability in ancillary function driver (AFD) could allow elevation of privilege (2975684) – this affects the same operating systems as above plus Server 2003.
• Vulnerability in DirectShow could allow elevation of privilege (2975681) – this affects Windows Vista, Server 2008, 7, Server 2008 R2, Windows 8 and 8.1, Server 2012 and Server 2012 R2.
• Vulnerability in Microsoft Service Bus could allow denial of service (2972621) – this affects Service Bus 1.1 on Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1, Server 2012 and Server 2012 R2.
There is also updated firmware for all Microsoft Surface tablets: an upgrade labeled "System Firmware Update – 7/8/2014" should be available via Windows Update, and improves various hardware-related things such as battery management and Miracast wireless display support.
Adobe, meanwhile, has updated Flash Player for Windows, OS X and Linux systems. The company said that the fix will address three CVE-listed bugs, including a remote-code execution flaw on Flash Player for both Internet Explorer and Chrome.
The fix is rated by Adobe as a top deployment priority on Windows, OS X and Linux. Google Chrome users will automatically receive the update upon launching the browser. Adobe is also patching the flaws in its AIR platform, though that fix is rated by the company as a lower priority.