Microsoft has made available an out-of-band security update for its Internet Explorer web browser.
The patch, now available through Microsoft Windows Update, addresses a critical vulnerability first identified in security bulletin 981374 earlier this month. According to Microsoft's bulletin, the vulnerability - through which attackers could use the Peer Objects component (iepeers.dll) to remotely execute code - affects older versions of the Internet Explorer browser, including versions 6 and 7.
Microsoft's decision to accelerate the release of the patch is believed to be in response to an increase in the number of attackers attempting to exploit the flaw.
In addition to addressing the critical flaw identified in security bulletin 981374, the cumulative update also includes patches for a long list of vulnerabilities identified across all versions of Internet Explorer - including the latest release, Internet Explorer 8.
The update should already be available via Windows Update, and Microsoft is urging users to install the patch as soon as possible.
