One critical correction is for the Media Player, and another one is amongst the four patches for Windows to be availbale next week. Microsoft rates as critical any security threat that could allow a malicious Internet worm to spread without any action required on the part of the user.

Microsoft said it will send out seven security bulletins on February 14 as part of its regular monthly patching cycle, according to an advanced notification posted Thursday on Microsoft's Web site at Microsoft.

Four of the alerts will resolve problems with the Windows operating system, and another covers both Windows and Microsoft Office. The last two relate to Office and Windows Media Player respectively.

The company also said it plans to upgrade the company's Malicious Software Removal Tool, designed to stop a host of malicious code, including viruses and worms.

Last month, Microsoft patched two holes that could have allowed an attacker to gain complete control over a vulnerable PC or server that was running the Microsoft software.