Microsoft is reporting five new flaws in its software, including one of "critical" severity that affects nearly all programs in its Office suite of software.

The critical vulnerability could allow an attacker to read files on a victim's computer or run programs. To be successful a person would have to open a tainted email attachment.

The flaw appears in nearly all programs included in Microsoft Office 97, 2000 and XP (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access).

It also affects Visio 2000, 2002 and Project 2000 and 2002.

The other four vulnerabilities affect Microsoft Office, Access, Word and Windows, and include flaws of lower severity.

Microsoft has disclosed 38 security flaws so far this year.

For More Information:

microsoft.com