As part of Microsoft's monthly Patch Tuesday, the devices and services giant will be rolling out fourteen patches for various vulnerabilities. Four of those patches are for Windows 8 and three are for Windows RT. These security patches are part of September 2013's Patch Tuesday, which rolls out today.
Windows 8 will see one critical update affecting Internet Explorer 10 and three important updates dealing with Remote Code Execution and Elevation of Privileges. Windows RT, on the other hand, will see the same critical update addressing Internet Explorer 10, along with two important updates.
The rest of the security patches affect Office 2007 and Office 2010, while Office 2013 is unaffected. Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP both receive updates as well, along with Windows 7 and Windows Vista.
Microsoft will be rolling out these security fixes later today, so keep an eye on Windows Update! Microsoft is also expected to roll out a firmware update for the Surface RT and/or Surface Pro later today. If you feel that you need assistance with these devices, please send us an email.
The following is a detailed breakdown of each patch:
| Bulletin ID | Maximum Severity Rating and Vulnerability Impact | Restart Requirement | Affected Software |
| Bulletin 1 | Critical Remote Code Execution |
May require restart | Microsoft Office, Microsoft Server Software |
| Bulletin 2 | Critical Remote Code Execution |
May require restart | Microsoft Office |
| Bulletin 3 | Critical Remote Code Execution |
Requires restart | Microsoft Windows, Internet Explorer |
| Bulletin 4 | Critical Remote Code Execution |
May require restart | Microsoft Windows |
| Bulletin 5 | Important Remote Code Execution |
May require restart | Microsoft Windows |
| Bulletin 6 | Important Remote Code Execution |
May require restart | Microsoft Office |
| Bulletin 7 | Important Remote Code Execution |
May require restart | Microsoft Office |
| Bulletin 8 | Important Remote Code Execution |
May require restart | Microsoft Office |
| Bulletin 9 | Important Elevation of Privilege |
May require restart | Microsoft Office |
| Bulletin 10 | Important Elevation of Privilege |
Requires restart | Microsoft Windows |
| Bulletin 11 | Important Elevation of Privilege |
Requires restart | Microsoft Windows |
| Bulletin 12 | Important Information Disclosure |
May require restart | Microsoft Office |
| Bulletin 13 | Important Denial of Service |
May require restart | Microsoft Windows, Microsoft .NET Framework |
| Bulletin 14 | Important Denial of Service |
May require restart |
Microsoft Windows |
Impact by Operating System
Windows XP
| Bulletin Identifier | Bulletin 3 | Bulletin 4 | Bulletin 5 | Bulletin 10 | Bulletin 11 | Bulletin 13 | Bulletin 14 |
| Aggregate Severity Rating | Critical | Critical | Important | Important | None | Important | None |
| Windows XP Service Pack 3 | Internet Explorer 6 (Critical) Internet Explorer 7 Internet Explorer 8 |
Windows XP Service Pack 3 (Critical) |
Windows XP Service Pack 3 (Important) |
Windows XP Service Pack 3 (Important) |
Not applicable | Windows XP Service Pack 3 (Important) |
Not applicable |
| Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2 | Internet Explorer 6 (Critical) Internet Explorer 7 Internet Explorer 8 |
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2 (Critical) |
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2 (Important) |
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2 (Important) |
Not applicable | Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2 (Important) |
Not applicable |
| Windows Server 2003 | |||||||
| Bulletin Identifier | Bulletin 3 | Bulletin 4 | Bulletin 5 | Bulletin 10 | Bulletin 11 | Bulletin 13 | Bulletin 14 |
| Aggregate Severity Rating | Moderate | Critical | Important | Important | None | Important | None |
| Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 | Internet Explorer 6 (Moderate) Internet Explorer 7 Internet Explorer 8 |
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (Critical) |
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (Important) |
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (Important) |
Not applicable | Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (Important) |
Not applicable |
| Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2 | Internet Explorer 6 (Moderate) Internet Explorer 7 Internet Explorer 8 |
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2 (Critical) |
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2 (Important) |
Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2 (Important) |
Not applicable | Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2 (Important) |
Not applicable |
| Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems | Internet Explorer 6 (Moderate) Internet Explorer 7 |
Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems (Critical) |
Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems (Important) |
Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems (Important) |
Not applicable | Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems (Important) |
Not applicable |
| Windows Vista | |||||||
| Bulletin Identifier | Bulletin 3 | Bulletin 4 | Bulletin 5 | Bulletin 10 | Bulletin 11 | Bulletin 13 | Bulletin 14 |
| Aggregate Severity Rating | Critical | None | None | Important | None | Important | Important |
| Windows Vista Service Pack 2 | Internet Explorer 7 (Critical) Internet Explorer 8 Internet Explorer 9 |
Not applicable | Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (No severity rating) |
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (Important) |
Not applicable | Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (Important) |
Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (Important) |
| Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2 | Internet Explorer 7 (Critical) Internet Explorer 8 Internet Explorer 9 |
Not applicable | Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2 (No severity rating) |
Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2 (Important) |
Not applicable | Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2 (Important) |
Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2 (Important) |
| Windows Server 2008 | |||||||
| Bulletin Identifier | Bulletin 3 | Bulletin 4 | Bulletin 5 | Bulletin 10 | Bulletin 11 | Bulletin 13 | Bulletin 14 |
| Aggregate Severity Rating | Moderate | None | None | Important | None | Important | Important |
| Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 | Internet Explorer 7 (Moderate) Internet Explorer 8 Internet Explorer 9 |
Not applicable | Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (No severity rating) |
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Important) |
Not applicable | Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Important) |
Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Important) |
| Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 | Internet Explorer 7 (Moderate) Internet Explorer 8 Internet Explorer 9 |
Not applicable | Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (No severity rating) |
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Important) |
Not applicable | Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Important) |
Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Important) |
| Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2 | Internet Explorer 7 (Moderate) |
Not applicable | Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2 (No severity rating) |
Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Important) |
Not applicable | Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Important) |
Not applicable |
| Windows 7 | |||||||
| Bulletin Identifier | Bulletin 3 | Bulletin 4 | Bulletin 5 | Bulletin 10 | Bulletin 11 | Bulletin 13 | Bulletin 14 |
| Aggregate Severity Rating | Critical | None | None | Important | Important | Important | Important |
| Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 | Internet Explorer 8 (Critical) Internet Explorer 9 Internet Explorer 10 |
Not applicable | Not applicable | Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 (Important) |
Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 (Important) |
Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 (Important) |
Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1 (Important) |
| Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 | Internet Explorer 8 (Critical) Internet Explorer 9 Internet Explorer 10 |
Not applicable | Not applicable | Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Important) |
Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Important) |
Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Important) |
Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Important) |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 | |||||||
| Bulletin Identifier | Bulletin 3 | Bulletin 4 | Bulletin 5 | Bulletin 10 | Bulletin 11 | Bulletin 13 | Bulletin 14 |
| Aggregate Severity Rating | Moderate | None | None | Important | Important | Important | Important |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 | Internet Explorer 8 (Moderate) Internet Explorer 9 Internet Explorer 10 |
Not applicable | Not applicable | Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Important) |
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Important) |
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Important) |
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Important) |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 1 | Internet Explorer 8 (Moderate) |
Not applicable | Not applicable | Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Important) |
Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Important) |
Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Important) |
Not applicable |
| Windows 8 | |||||||
| Bulletin Identifier | Bulletin 3 | Bulletin 4 | Bulletin 5 | Bulletin 10 | Bulletin 11 | Bulletin 13 | Bulletin 14 |
| Aggregate Severity Rating | Critical | None | None | Important | None | Important | Important |
| Windows 8 for 32-bit Systems | Internet Explorer 10 (Critical) |
Not applicable | Not applicable | Windows 8 for 32-bit Systems (Important) |
Not applicable | Windows 8 for 32-bit Systems (Important) |
Windows 8 for 32-bit Systems (Important) |
| Windows 8 for 64-bit Systems | Internet Explorer 10 (Critical) |
Not applicable | Not applicable | Windows 8 for 64-bit Systems (Important) |
Not applicable | Windows 8 for 64-bit Systems (Important) |
Windows 8 for 64-bit Systems (Important) |
| Windows Server 2012 | |||||||
| Bulletin Identifier | Bulletin 3 | Bulletin 4 | Bulletin 5 | Bulletin 10 | Bulletin 11 | Bulletin 13 | Bulletin 14 |
| Aggregate Severity Rating | Moderate | None | None | Important | None | Important | Important |
| Windows Server 2012 | Internet Explorer 10 (Moderate) |
Not applicable | Not applicable | Windows Server 2012 (Important) |
Not applicable | Windows Server 2012 (Important) |
Windows Server 2012 (Important) |
| Windows RT | |||||||
| Bulletin Identifier | Bulletin 3 | Bulletin 4 | Bulletin 5 | Bulletin 10 | Bulletin 11 | Bulletin 13 | Bulletin 14 |
| Aggregate Severity Rating | Critical | None | None | Important | None | Important | None |
| Windows RT | Internet Explorer 10 (Critical) |
Not applicable | Not applicable | Windows RT (Important) |
Not applicable | Windows RT (Important) |
Not applicable |
| Server Core installation option | |||||||
| Bulletin Identifier | Bulletin 3 | Bulletin 4 | Bulletin 5 | Bulletin 10 | Bulletin 11 | Bulletin 13 | Bulletin 14 |
| Aggregate Severity Rating | None | None | None | Important | Important | Important | Important |
| Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) (Important) |
Not applicable | Not applicable | Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) (Important) |
| Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) (Important) |
Not applicable | Not applicable | Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2 (Server Core installation) (Important) |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) (Important) |
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) | Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) (Important) |
Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1 (Server Core installation) (Important) |
| Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) (Important) |
Not applicable | Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) (Important) |
Windows Server 2012 (Server Core installation) (Important) |
Bottom line is, if your computer or server is running a Microsoft product, please leave your computer on tonight and restart it in the morning.
If you are using Apple or Linux, no worries, you don't have to do anything