Microsoft Releases TCP Patch

By Lashan Clarke

Microsoft has released a patch for the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) vulnerability in Windows XP and Windows Vista. This critical update, called MS08-001, will secure a Windows XP/Vista system so that potential attackers cannot access and take control, possibly changing user rights and installing programs.

Released in early January, this is the first patch update of the year by Microsoft. The patch addressed two particular bugs that will affect three Windows TCP/IP protocols: the internet group management protocol (IGMP) and multicast listener discovery (MLD),which are used to handle IP multicasting; and the internet control message protocol (ICMP), used for network connectivity and routing. The patch also includes seven non-secure, but high-priority updates through the Microsoft Update and Windows Server Update services.