After Microsoft and Adobe released their largest ever slew of patches last week, Oracle users will be bracing themselves for something similar, as the business software giant prepares a whopping 38 security vulnerability fixes this week.

The firm's quarterly Critical Patch Update, set for 20 October, will contain fixes for problems across " hundreds of products", according to a pre-release announcement.

The product which gets the most attention, as usual, is the Oracle Database, which has 16 new fixes, including six for vulnerabilities which could be remotely exploited without the need for authentication.

The update will also feature eight fixes for the Oracle Applications Suite, including five which could be remotely exploited without the need for username and password.

The PeopleSoft and JD Edwards suites get four security fixes, while the update contains six fixes for the BEA Products Suite, the Oracle JRockit product receiving the maximum Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) base score of 10.0.

"This Critical Patch Update contains 38 security vulnerability fixes across hundreds of Oracle products. Some of the vulnerabilities addressed affect multiple products," read an Oracle statement.

"Due to the threat posed by a successful attack, Oracle strongly recommends that customers apply Critical Patch Update fixes as soon as possible. Vulnerabilities fixed are scored using the standard CVSS 2.0 scoring."

The security update has been delayed for a week owing to the Oracle OpenWorld conference last week.