Microsoft to release critical Windows security patch on October 23

It's not Patch Tuesday today, but Microsoft is pushing out a Windows security patch, marked as "Critical," on Thursday October 23.

Microsoft has been attempting to bundle up all of its security fixes and patches so they can be delivered once monthly. Occasionally, however, the Redmondians release an "out-of-band" patch when a bug is severe enough to warrant one. (IDG News Service says the Softies released their last out-of-band patch back in April 2007.)

Microsoft is planning to release the Windows patch at 10 a.m. PT. The company has slated a Webcast to cover specifics about the patch for 1 p.m. PT, according to a posting on the Microsoft Security Response Center blog.

Microsoft hasn't offered many details about the patch, other than to say it should be applied immediately  to Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 systems. The flaw being patch is less of an issue for Vista and Windows Server 2008 users, according to the company.

Update: Here's more on the zero-day critical Windows vulnerability that was patched yesterday. Even the private, pre-beta builds of Windows 7 were hit and needed patching.