Security News

Microsoft has released important security updates to Office for Mac 2011, which includes bug fixes and patches for security issues. Microsoft’s 112.8 MB software update resolves a critical flaw in Office Outlook for Mac that could allow information disclosure if a user opens a specifically crafted email message.

In addition to the Office for Mac 2011 14.3.2 update, Microsoft patched security issues in Office 2008 for Mac with its 209.7 MB update to version 12.3.6. Both software updates “[include] fixes for vulnerabilities that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer’s memory with malicious code,” said the company. Microsoft addressed these security issues by helping to ensure that MS Outlook for Mac does not download content from external sources without user consent.

These updates apply to the following Microsoft applications:

• The Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 14.3.2 update applies to Office 2011, Office 2011 Home and Business Edition, Word 2011, Excel 2011, PowerPoint 2011, Outlook 2011, Office for Mac Standard 2011 Edition, Microsoft Office for Mac Home & Student 2011, and Microsoft Office for Mac Academic 2011.
• The Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac 12.3.6 update applies to Office 2008, Office 2008 Home and Student Edition, Office 2008 Special Media Edition, Word 2008, Excel 2008, PowerPoint 2008, Entourage 2008, Office 2008, and Office 2008 for Mac Business Edition.

All users running Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac and Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 are strongly advised to apply these updates as soon as possible. Office users can update their software using Microsoft’s AutoUpdate application, or they can download the updates directly from Microsoft: Office 2008 for Mac 12.3.6 update or Office for Mac 2011 14.3.2 update.