MS08-049: Vulnerability in Event System could allow remote code execution

Microsoft has released security bulletin MS08-049. To view the complete security bulletin, visit one of the following Microsoft Web sites:

• Home users:
  http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/updates/bulletins/200808.mspx (http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/updates/bulletins/200808.mspx)
  Skip the details: Download the updates for your home computer or laptop from the Microsoft Update Web site now:
  http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/ (http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/)
• IT professionals:
  http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS08-049.msp (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS08-049.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

Prerequisites for Windows Vista

To install this security update on a computer that is running Windows Vista, you must have one of the following updates installed:

File Information

The English (United States) version of this software update has the 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 on your local computer, the dates and times for these files are listed in your local time. These dates and times may also change when you perform certain operations on the files.

For all supported editions of Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4

Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 file information notes

• The files that apply to a specific milestone (RTM, SPn) and service branch (QFE, GDR) are noted in the SP requirement and Service branch columns.
• GDR service branches contain only fixes that are broadly released to address widespread, critical issues. QFE service branches contain hotfixes in addition to broadly released fixes.
• In addition to the files listed in these tables, this software update also installs an associated security catalog file (KBnumber.cat) that is signed with a Microsoft digital signature.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2003

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

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

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows XP

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 file information notes

• The files that apply to a specific product, milestone (RTM, SPn), and service branch (LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table:
  Collapse this tableExpand this table

  Version	Product	Milestone	Service branch
  6.0.6000. 16xxx	Windows Vista	RTM	GDR
  6.0.6000. 20xxx	Windows Vista	RTM	LDR
  6.0.6001. 18xxx	Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 SP1	SP1	GDR
  6.0.6001. 22xxx	Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 SP1	SP1	LDR

• 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 broadly released to address widespread, critical issues. LDR service branches contain hotfixes in addition to broadly 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.

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

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

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

Additional file information for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista

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

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

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