Microsoft, the technology company, releases an emergency patch against the Windows shortcut link (.LNK) vulnerability.

The editions that was provided the fix against the "Window shell" vulnerability include Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008 R2. Christopher Budd, Microsoft's senior security response communications manager says that companies should deploy the update "as soon as possible, to help protect their computers from criminal attacks seeking to exploit the .LNK vulnerability."

The company also released details of a new vector for related attacks. Microsoft says that "an attacker could embed an exploit in a document that supports embedded shortcuts or a hosted browser control (such as but not limited to Microsoft Office documents)."

Microsoft issued the patch early. Its next release of security patches was scheduled in eight days.