Patches out for IE holes, Sony-related issue

Microsoft on provided a fix for a "critical" security flaw in Windows. The software maker released the patch in security bulletin MS05-054, as part of its monthly patching cycle. The update also plugs three other security holes in Internet Explorer, the Web browser component of Windows. One of the other flaws is also deemed critical, but Microsoft said it is not aware of any malicious code that takes advantage of it.

"An attacker who successfully exploited the most severe of these vulnerabilities could take complete control of an affected system," Microsoft warned in its security bulletin, referring to the two critical IE flaws. The vulnerabilities exist in all currently supported versions of the browser on all editions of Windows.