Microsoft plans to release a new series of security patches on February 8, 2011, addressing security issues including three rates as "Critical."

The "Critical" issues could allow remote code execution and affect Internet Explorer 6,7,and 8 runing on Windows XP Sp3, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2008 SP2 and Windows 7 operating systems.

Microsoft has also rated nine more issues as "Important" and plans to release security patches for them.

For more information, read Microsoft's security bulletin notification.