Many gdiplus.dll files, but only one needs fixing

By Susan Bradley My Patch Watch column on Mar. 12 advised readers that the file gdipluss.dll may need to be repatched if XP Service Pack 3 was installed between May and September 2008. You may find several copies of the gdiplus.dll file in the WinSXS system folder on your Windows XP SP3 PCs, but only one copy of this file has to be the latest version: 5.1.3102.5581.

MS08-052 (954593)
Microsoft’s gdiplus.dll patch might reappear

Windows service packs are designed to ensure that your PC has the latest versions of all system files. If one of the service pack’s files is older than the one already on your PC, the service pack is supposed to leave the more recent file in place.

Unfortunately, XP Service Pack 3 may replace the most recent version of the gdiplus.dll file with an older release that allows certain image files to be used by bad guys to execute code on your system remotely.

If you waited until last September or later to apply XP Service Pack 3 — initially released in May 2008 — your system might be offered the update described in Microsoft security bulletin MS08-052, Knowledge Base article 954593.

Follow these steps to verify that your XP SP3 systems have the correct version of gdiplus.dll:

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