Apple released yesterday an exhaustive security update for its Mac OS X and OS X Server, which will successfully handle more than 40 vulnerabilities. According to an official post by Apple’s developers, the update "includes general operating system improvements that enhance the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac."

The new 10.5.3 update for the OS X Leopard will fix the vulnerabilities expected to lead to several application terminations and arbitrary code executions for Apple Pixlet Video, ATS, CoreGraphics, Help Viewer, iCal, AppKit, AFP Server, Core Foundation, Flash Player Plug-in and others.

The problems concerning the iCal were first discovered by Core Security Technologies and presented to the public for the first time last week. iCal’s flaws led to its crashes and also executions of a series of arbitrary codes.

The update also offers several performance and stability fixes such as the enhanced Active Directory, which will be used for Address Book, AirPort, iChat, Mail, Automator, Time Machine, VoiceOver and Parental Controls.

Another significant gain brought by Apple’s update is the fix on the vulnerabilities responsible for an information disclosure that led to the file manipulation by a certain user using another user’s privileges.

On a different note, the Security Update 2008-003 will enable iPhone users to sync their Mac Adress Book contacts with Google contacts.

Apple strongly recommends the 10.5.3 update for all Mac OS X 10.5, 10.5.1 and 10.5.2 users.