Microsoft released seven security updates with patches for 11 security vulnerabilities on Tuesday but did not include a fix for a pair of flaws exposed last week in Microsoft Word.

The updates mostly dealt with vulnerabilities in the Windows operating system.
The software maker had planned only six updates, but added a seventh to fix two flaws in Windows Media Player.

However, no update was issued on the Word security flaws, which reportedly could be exploited by malicious software to hijack computers.

Microsoft said it was investigating the reports and issued an advisory last Tuesday.

The Windows Media flaws potentially allowed someone to rig a media file or stream and trick users to opening it, Microsoft said. Four Internet Explorer flaws potentially allowed someone to exploit holes in the Web browser to create a malicious Web site.

Microsoft releases updates of its software on the second Tuesday of each month, in what is called "Patch Tuesday."