Microsoft Skips Patch Tuesday for March

Published: March 14, 2007

by Alex Woodie

Microsoft elected not to release any security patches yesterday as part of its regular schedule of releasing patches on the second Tuesday of every month. However, it wasn't for lack of security problems with Microsoft's products.

There are currently five zero-day vulnerabilities affecting Word, Windows, and PowerPoint, according to eEye Digital Security, which maintains a Web site dedicated to tracking zero-day exploits.

There were several theories espoused as to why Microsoft decided not to issue security patches this month, despite the need for them. Some people conjectured that Microsoft is trying to give weary IT managers a break following last month's bumper crop of 12 patches covering 20 security vulnerabilities. Others theorized that Microsoft concentrated its patch-making efforts on the change to Daylight Savings Time.

In any event, it was the first time in 18 months that Microsoft did not issue any monthly patches.

That didn't mean there weren't any updates issued yesterday, however. Windows users with Automatic Updates turned on did get a notice to download the monthly update for the Malicious Software Removal Tool. And the software giant also issued two high-priority, non-security updates through Windows Update (WU) and Software Update Services (SUS) and four high priority non-security updates through Microsoft Update (MU) and Windows Server Update Services (WSUS).

The next scheduled Patch Tuesday is April 10.

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