Critical Patch Updates

Oracle regularly releases critical patch updates. These patches are created to resolve a bug or glitch in the system, or to increase the security and effectiveness of the system. It's important to take note of these updates because it can have an impact on how the applications and databases will react to different vulnerabilities.

If you fail to apply new Oracle patches, your system could be left vulnerable to attacks or threats. The new critical patch update contains new security fixes across product families such as Oracle Database, Oracle Application Server, and Oracle DB UM Connector for Oracle Identity Manager, among others.

Why you should apply the critical patch update now

Critical Patch Updates include all fixes for a product from the previous Critical Patch Updates.

Patching has always been one of the many joys (or dreads) of Oracle DBAs. Ever since the initial days of Oracle, patches have been published by Oracle Support, downloaded by DBAs (very early on, via posted floppy disks or CDs), and then applied to the target database - whether to fix minor database bugs; apply security fixes; or upgrade the database from one patch version to the other.

Patch Set Updates

Patch updates are available for; Oracle Database, Oracle Fusion Middleware, Oracle Enterprise Manager Grid Control, Oracle E-Business Suite Applications, JD Edwards EnterpriseOne, JD Edwards OneWorld Tools, PeopleSoft Enterprise Portal Applications, PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools, Siebel Enterprise, Industry Applications, FLEXCUBE, Primavera and Oracle VM patches in the Critical Patch Updates are cumulative.

The Patch Set Assistant is used in patch set releases only to update the database schemas of Oracle Fusion Middleware components. The schemas that are valid for updating with the Patch Set Assistant must meet one of the following criteria:

• The schema was created using the Repository Creation Utility (RCU).
• The schema was upgraded using the Upgrade Assistant.