Microsoft Release for Mac 12.1.2 is the security vulnerability affects Excel, and could allow someone to execute code remotely if you download and open a specially-crafted Excel document. This is important because an attacker could take complete control of your computer that may include install programs,data and delete files. The rating level may be “important” rather than “critical” because you must be enticed to download and open an Excel spreadsheet. The issue is critical and it’s highly recommended that all readers must download and install the Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.12 update.

Improvements

The Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.2 Update contains several changes that improve stability and performance. In addition, this update includes fixes for vulnerabilities that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of a computer’s memory by using malicious code. Improvements that are included in the update

Improvements for all Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac applications

1. 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 that is listed earlier in this document.

2. AppleScript reliability is improved.

This update fixes an issue that prevents Office 2008 applications from running AppleScript scripts from the Script menu until after you restart the Office 2008 application.
Improvements for Microsoft Word 2008 for Mac

1. Word opens more quickly.

This update fixes an issue that causes Word to open slowly.
2. Display of text in tables is improved.

This update fixes an issue that causes some text in tables to appear bold, even when a bold style is not applied to the text.
3. Reliability is improved when you use headers and footers.

This update fixes the following issues:

• Typed text does not appear in the footers. This issue occurs when you insert a section break in the document.

• The Close button does not appear in Header and Footer view.

4. Display of form fields is improved.

This update fixes an issue that causes Word to draw a border around form fields.

Improvements for Microsoft Excel 2008 for Mac

1. Security is improved.

• To improve security and stability, Excel 2008 for Mac and Excel 2007 for Windows do not open files that are saved in the Excel chart (.xlc) file format.
• Files that have invalid characters in the sheet name open correctly.
• This update fixes an issue that prevents Microsoft Excel 2008 for Mac Service Pack 1 (SP1) and later versions to open a workbook when some of the sheet names contain invalid characters such as the forward slash (/).
• Reliability is improved for formulas when the international format preference is set to New Zealand.
• This update fixes an issue that causes formula errors when you use comma separators. The formula errors occur only when you select New Zealand as the geographic region in System Preferences to specify the date format, the time format, and the number format on your computer.
• Number formatting for some international languages is improved.
• This update fixes an issue that causes number formatting errors when regional settings are set to some non-US regions.
• Reliability is improved.
• This update fixes an issue that prevents Excel from opening workbooks that contain a range that spans more than one row and is sorted left-to-right. This issue occurs only when the workbook is saved in the Excel workbook (.xslx) format.
• Calculation performance is improved.
• This update improves the overall performance of calculations in Excel 2008, especially when you work with large data sets and complex formulas.
• Stability is improved when you save workbooks that contain PivotTable reports.
• This update fixes an issue that prevents Excel from saving a workbook in the Excel workbook (.xlsx) format after you copy a PivotTable report into the workbook. When this issue occurs, the following message appears:

Improvements for Microsoft Entourage 2008 for Mac

• Stability is improved when you use Microsoft Sync Services.
• This update fixes the following issues:
• Events and other items in Entourage or in iCal are duplicated.
• All contacts in Entourage or in the Apple Address Book are deleted and re-created when you use Microsoft Sync Services.
• Reliability is improved for recurring calendar events.
• This update fixes an issue with Entourage 2008 in which a canceled instance of a recurring meeting is re-added to the organizer’s calendar when the organizer receives a response from an attendee.
• Reliability is improved.
• This update fixes an issue that causes the following behavior in Entourage 2008:
• Embedded graphics or images are not displayed correctly in messages when you read or view the messages.
• HTML e-mail messages appear as blank messages.
• In Entourage 2008 SP1, some characters that follow the ampersand (&) in a hyperlink are truncated.
• The Japanese postal code dictionary is updated.
• The Japanese postal dictionary is updated with information as of May 2008.
• Time zone information is updated.
• This update provides updated time zone information.
• Reliability is improved when Entourage establishes a encrypted channel.
• The junk mail filter is updated.
• This update includes a new Junk E-mail Protection definition file.

Prerequisites

Before you install the Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.2 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, the Microsoft Office 2008 12.1.1 Update must be installed on the computer before you install the Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.2 Update.

To verify that the Office 2008 12.1.1 Update is installed, follow these steps:
1. On the Go menu, click Applications .
2. Open the Microsoft Office 2008 folder, and then open any Office application. For example, open Word.
3. On the Word menu, click About Word .
4. In the About Word dialog box, examine the version number next to the Latest Installed Update label.

Here how you get the update
The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
Download the Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac 12.1.2 Update package now.

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click HERE

It’s all free of virus. 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 click Show Files on the File menu.

Notes

• The Office 2008 12.1.2 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, and then click Check for Updates on the Help menu.

For more information about resources for Office 2008 for Mac, visit MAC website