MS08-052: Description of the security update for GDI+ for all editions of Windows XP, of Windows Vista, of Windows Server 2003, and of Windows Server 2008 and for Windows Server 2000 with Internet Explorer 6 SP1

Microsoft has released security bulletin MS08-052. To view the complete security bulletin, visit one of the following Microsoft Web sites:

• Home users:
  http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/updates/bulletins/200809.mspx (http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/updates/bulletins/200809.mspx)
• IT professionals:
  http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms08-052.mspx (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms08-052.mspx)

How to obtain help and support for this security update

For home users, no-charge support is available by calling 1-866-PCSAFETY in the United States and Canada or by contacting your local Microsoft subsidiary. For more information about how to contact your local Microsoft subsidiary for support issues with security updates, visit the Microsoft International Support Web site: North American customers can also obtain instant access to unlimited no-charge e-mail support or to unlimited individual chat support by visiting the following Microsoft Web site: For enterprise customers, support for security updates is available through your usual support contacts.

Known issues with this security update

When you install this security update in Windows XP, you may experience slow performance. . Additionally, the debugger or the runtime verification tool reports "first chance" exception errors. For more information about this issue, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Known issue that may occur when you uninstall this security update on Windows XP and on Windows Server 2003

When you install this security update package, the following new folder is created: This folder is where the updated version of the GdiPlus.dll file is installed. This package uses side-by-side (SxS) binaries. SxS binaries let multiple versions of the same .dll or COM component reside on the same computer. These binaries also let component-dependent applications have access to a specific version of the binaries.

When you uninstall this security update package, neither the folder nor the GdiPlus.dll binary file is removed. However, the policy file for GDI+ is updated to point to the previous installation of GdiPlus.dll. (This condition causes no problems for other GDI+ applications.) The current version of the GdiPlus.dll file that you tried to uninstall is no longer available to any application or to Windows itself. This is because the policy file now points to the earlier version of the GdiPlus.dll file.

Note The package contains only the updated binaries in the QFE branch payload of this package. There is a known issue with SxS binaries in which the Windows packaging technology (Update.exe) does not support multiple branches on the same service pack level for SxS binaries. This package carries only the updated QFE branch version of the GdiPlus.dll file. This update is unlike other security updates that have both the GDR and QFE branch payloads for each service pack level.

File information

The English (United States) version of this security update has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

For Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 with all supported versions of Windows Server 2000

Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 file information notes

• The files that apply to a specific milestone are noted in the "SP requirement" column.
• In addition to the files that are listed in these tables, this update package installs an associated security catalog file (KBnumber.cat) that is signed with a Microsoft digital signature.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows XP

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows XP and of Windows Server 2003

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2003

For all supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2003

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 file information notes

• Service Pack 1 is integrated into Windows Server 2008. Therefore, RTM milestone files apply only to Windows Vista. RTM milestone files have a 6.0.0000.xxxxxx version number.
• GDR service branches contain only fixes that are widely released to address widespread, critical issues. LDR service branches contain hotfixes in addition to widely released fixes.
• The .manifest files and the .mum files that are installed in each environment are listed separately in the "Additional file information for Windows Server 2008 and for Windows Vista" section. These files and their associated .cat (security catalog) files are critical to maintaining the state of the updated component. The .cat files are signed with a Microsoft digital signature. The attributes of these security files are not listed.

The following table identifies the file versions that apply to a specific product, milestone, or service branch.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and of Windows Vista

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and of Windows Vista

For all supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2008

Additional file information for Windows Server 2008 and for Windows Vista

Additional files for all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and of Windows Vista

Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and of Windows Vista

Additional files for all supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2008