Microsoft is preparing to release seven patches spanning four applications on Tuesday 8 May. 

The patches are part of Microsoft's monthly cycle, in which all security updates are issued in a single release on the second Tuesday of each month.

Windows and Office will receive the most attention from the update. Microsoft's operating system will see two patches, and Office three patches.

Microsoft rated at least one of the patches for Windows and one for Office as 'critical'.

The remaining two patches address vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange and the Capicom security component in Windows. Both patches are rated 'critical'.

It has been a relatively quiet month for Microsoft since the last security update.

Reports began to surface two weeks ago of attacks targeting a new flaw in the DNS component of Windows Server, but there have been no reports of major attacks targeting unpatched vulnerabilities.  

Microsoft will also release an update to its Malicious Software Removal Tool.