Computerworld - Apple Inc. patched nearly 30 Java vulnerabilities in Mac OS X yesterday, months after Sun Microsystems Inc., Java's developer, fixed most of the same flaws for other operating systems.

The separate updates for Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) and Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) patched 27 and 23 bugs, respectively.

Two of the vulnerabilities in Leopard, only one of which was also present in Tiger, are specific to Mac OS, and attackers could use them to execute malicious code. Both of these critical bugs could be triggered by specially-crafted Java applets if the user was tricked into visiting a malicious Web site, Apple noted.

However, the bulk of the vulnerabilitie were not Mac-specific and had been patched by Sun for Windows, Linux and Solaris as far back as March 2008. Unlike its operating system rivals, Apple maintains its own version of Java and so is responsible for handling updates for machines running OS X.

Apple has been criticized for its sluggish patching of third-party components, particularly open-source code, that it bundles with Mac OS. More than a year ago, Charles Miller, a researcher at Independent Security Evaluators LLC, called Apple's inability to keep up with open-source fixes "negligent."

Yesterday's update brings Java SE 6 to Version 1.6.0_07, J2SE 5.0 to Version 1.5.0_16, and J2SE 1.4.2 to 1.4.2_18. All are the most current versions available from Sun, which last patched Java for Windows, Linux and Solaris in July.

Apple's patch process a mess, say researchers

Comment Recommend Digg Twitter ShareThis

Email Print Send Feedback Reprints

Jump to comments

Apple

Additional Resources

WHITE PAPER

Do You Know the 7 Steps to Successful Data Migration?

Approximately 60 percent of data migration projects overrun time or budget, while some fail completely. Download this white paper, "Enhancing Your Chance for Successful Data Migration," to learn the critical steps you need to take to execute a data migration project with minimum cost and risk to your business.

WHITE PAPER

Total Cost of Ownership of Server Computing Vs. PCs

Read the Gartner research note to learn why the TCO of a server-based computing deployment used to deliver all applications to users is around 50% lower than that of an unmanaged desktop deployment.

WHITE PAPER

IDC White Paper: Linux in a Global Recession

Economic downturns have a tendency to accelerate emerging technologies, boost the adoption of effective solutions, and punish solutions that are not cost competitive or that are out of synch with industry trends. This IDC White Paper presents the results of an IDC survey of 330 companies in Western Europe, Asia/Pacific and the Americas that measures the receptiveness to Linux and takes into consideration changing views driven by the disruptive economic environment that businesses face today.

What People Are Saying

2 comments | Add new

See all comments (2) | Add new

White Papers & Webcasts

Share our Strength
Download Now

Extending Client Refresh - 11 Steps to Maximize Savings
Register Now!

Can Heuristic Technology Help Your Company Fight Viruses?
What is Heuristic Technology and how can it help safeguard your business against viruses? Learn more.

Lower the Cost and Complexity of a Mobile Workforce through Automation
Download This Resource Now!

Eradicate Spam & Gain 100% Asurance of Clean Mailboxes
Get this paper now!

Managing Mobility: Improve Data Security, Compliance and Manageability
Download This Resource Now!

Mastering eDiscovery: The IT Manager's Guide to Preservation, Protection & Production
Get this paper now!

Consolidate Your Servers and Storage to Lower Costs with Oracle Database 11g
Register for this webcast!

Not Just Words: Enforce Your Email and Web Acceptable Usage Policies
Get this paper now!

The Commercialization of ITIL: Lessons Learned
Register for this event today!

All White Papers | All Webcasts

Computerworld Reports

8 Questions To Ask About Your Intrusion-Security Solution

Computerworld Technology Briefings IT Service Management

Computerworld Briefing - Analytics: The Art and Science of Better

All Computerworld Reports

	Security
	Virus and Vulnerability Roundup
	Computerworld Daily News (First Look and Wrap-Up)
	Computerworld Blogs Newsletter
	The Weekly Top 10
	Cloud Computing

resource center

Newsletter Sign-Up

Apple patches months-old Java bugs

Fixes more than two-dozen bugs Sun patched in March for Windows, Linux

Related Story

Apple's patch process a mess, say researchers

Apple

Additional Resources

What People Are Saying

White Papers & Webcasts

Computerworld Reports

White Papers

Sponsored Links