Apple Java Patch Kills 27 Bugs, Some Critical
Alongside the release of iOS 4.3, which injected some Nitro into Safari's JavaScript engine, Apple has shipped a Java security update for both Mac OS X Leopard and Snow Leopard, Security Watch reports. The update patches no fewer than 27 vulnerabilities, including an exploit through which hackers could hijack your Mac by running an attack code.
Apple declined to say how the vulnerabilities might be exploited to "execute arbitrary code"; however, the patch, the first since last fall, ought to be considered a critical download.
Not all versions of Mac OS X are equally vulnerable. The patch plugs 16 vulnerabilities in Java SE 6 and another 11 in Java SE 5 for Leopard (OS X 10.5) users, whereas the update for Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6) addresses only 16 bugs in Java SE 6. The Java SE 6 update mirrors Oracle's 1.6.0_24 security update issued last month.
