Critical patch coming for Windows Media Player

Microsoft said it will send out seven security bulletins on Tuesday as part of its regular monthly patching cycle.

Four of the alerts are for problems with the Windows operating system, and another covers both Windows and Microsoft Office. The last two relate to Office and Windows Media Player respectively.

At least two of the alerts received Microsoft's highest risk rating of "critical," according to an advanced notification posted Thursday on Microsoft's Web site. The notice is designed to give companies a chance to prepare for coming updates.

One critical correction is for the Media Player, and another is among the four patches for Windows, the company said.

Microsoft rates as "critical" any security threat that could allow a malicious Internet worm to spread without any action required on the part of the user.

The company also said it plans to upgrade the company's Malicious Software Removal Tool, designed to stop a host of malicious code, including viruses and worms.

Last month, Microsoft patched two holes that could have allowed an attacker to gain complete control over vulnerable PCs or servers running the Microsoft software.