On Wednesday, Apple released minor updates to its iTunes, QuickTime, and Front Row software.
According to Apple’s Web site, iTunes 7.6.2 “provides bug fixes to improve stability and performance,” and Front Row 2.1.3 “provides improved iTunes 7.6.2 compatibility.”
QuickTime 7.4.5 “includes fixes that enhance reliability, improve compatibility with third-party applications, and address security issues,” Specifically, the QuickTime update features 11 patches that fix a variety of problems that could have allowed a hacker to execute malicious code on a machine.
It’s at least the sixth time Apple has patched QuickTime since October, as researchers and hackers have been closely examining media players for vulnerabilities. As operating systems have become more secure, vulnerabilities in applications have become a favored route to break into a PC.
Apple credited identification of more than half of the problems described to TippingPoint, a security vendor that runs Zero Day Initiative, a program that rewards researchers for finding vulnerabilities.
The updates are available via OS X’s Software Update feature or on the Apple Downloads section of Apple.com.
Jeremy Kirk of IDG News Service contributed to this report.
Updated at 10:15 a.m. PT on April 3, 2008 to include more information on the QuickTime 7.4.5 update.