Microsoft released six patches to close 15 different vulnerabilities on Tuesday during its regularly scheduled monthly update.

The patches closed six flaws in the software giant's Internet Explorer browser and another four that affected Outlook Express and Windows Mail. Of the fifteen vulnerabilities, three were rated Critical for Microsoft's latest operating system, Windows Vista, and five were rated Critical for Windows XP Service Pack 2 -- though users of that operating system and Internet Explorer 6 will have to watch out for 2 additional critical flaws.

The latest patched brought the total number of vulnerabilities fixed by the software giant to at least 79 for the year. Last month, Microsoft fixed nearly a score of flaws, including seven issues in Microsoft Office and six in Internet Explorer.

Microsoft's June security bulletins are the first to use a new format that attempts to make it easier for the company's customers to get the information they need about the patches.