Microsoft plans to release eight security bulletins on April 14, including five rated as critical, as part of its regularly scheduled monthly updates.
In its advanced notice issued Thursday, Microsoft said the critical patches affect Windows, Excel and Internet Explorer and fix remote code execution vulnerabilities. The software giant will also release two bulletins rated as important for Windows and ISA Server, and one bulletin rated as moderate for Windows.
As it does every month, Microsoft said it would also update its Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool.
In March, Microsoft issued three security bulletins, including one rated as critical that patched vulnerabilities in the Windows kernel that could be remotely exploited by an attacker to gain control of a computer.
Earlier this week, Microsoft issued an advisory addressing a newly discovered zero-day flaw in Microsoft PowerPoint. The company did not say if it will be patching the vulnerability next week.