Microsoft has released security bulletins MS09-017, MS09-021, and MS09-027. This security bulletin contains all the relevant information about the security updates for Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac. To view the complete security bulletin, visit the following Microsoft Web sites:

Update details

The Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.9 Update improves security. It includes fixes for vulnerabilities that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of a computer's memory by using malicious code. In addition, this update readies Office 2008 for Mac for the installation of Microsoft Entourage 2008 for Mac Web Services Edition. It must be installed before Entourage 2008 Web Services Edition is installed.

Improvements that are included in the update

The Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.9 Update includes the following improvements.

Improvements for all Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac applications

• Security is improved.
  
  This update fixes vulnerabilities in Office 2008 that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer's memory with malicious code. For more information, see the security bulletin listed earlier in this document.

Improvements for Microsoft Entourage 2008 for Mac

• Prerequisite for the installation of Microsoft Entourage 2008 for Mac Web Services Edition
  
  This update prepares Office 2008 for Mac for the installation of Microsoft Entourage 2008 for Mac Web Services Edition. It must be installed before Entourage 2008 Web Services Edition is installed. After you install this update, each identity that you use will generate a text file. Entourage 2008 Web Services Edition will use this text file to evaluate whether the system meets the installation requirements during setup.

Previously released improvements included in this update

This update includes all the improvements that were released in all previous Office 2008 updates. For more information about the improvements in previous updates, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about the improvements in the Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.4 Update, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Prerequisites

Before you install the Office 2008 12.1.9 Update, make sure that the computer is running Mac OS X 10.4.9 (Tiger) or a later version of the Mac OS X operating system.

To verify that the computer meets this prerequisite, click About This Mac on the Apple menu.

Additionally, you must install Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.0 Update or later versions before you install the Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.9 Update.

To verify the update that is installed on your computer, follow these steps:

1. On the Go menu, click Applications.
2. Open the Microsoft Office 2008 folder, and then start any Office application. For example, start Word.
3. On the Word menu, click About Word.
4. In the About Word dialog box, verify the version number next to Latest Installed Update.

How to obtain the update

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Download the Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.9 Update package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=58326da2-eb75-4b42-b1bc-e70319defb58)

Release Date: June 9, 2009

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Updated Files

For a complete list of the files that this update adds or changes, double-click the update installer, and then on the File menu, click Show Files.

Notes

• The Office 2008 12.1.9 Update is also available from Microsoft AutoUpdate. AutoUpdate is a program that automatically keeps Microsoft software up to date.
  
  To use AutoUpdate, start a Microsoft Office program. Then, on the Help menu, click Check for Updates.
  
  For more information about resources for Office 2008 for Mac, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
  http://www.microsoft.com/mac (http://www.microsoft.com/mac)