14 DAY TRIAL // The final version of OS X Lion 10.7.4 has been released for general consumption in both Client and Server form. The update is free for everyone running any version of the Lion operating system.
Highly recommended for all Lion users, OS X 10.7.4 includes the usual general operating system fixes that improve the stability, compatibility, and security of your Macintosh computer.
For the Client version, Apple highlights some important bug fixes, such as a resolved issue where the “Reopen windows when logging back in” setting was always enabled, improved compatibility with certain British third-party USB keyboards, an addressed issue that prevented files from being saved to a server, and improved reliability of copying files to an SMB server.
The 10.7.4 update is available for Server users as well. The update is recommended for all servers currently running Lion Server and “includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility, migration and security of your server.”
The release delivers improvements to a high number of services and applications, including File Sharing, Profile Manager, Web Server, Mail Server, and more.
Also included in Lion 10.7.4 are all the patches from Security Update 2012-002, a standalone release for all Mac users. Around 40 security holes have been plugged in total.
One example is the Login Window vulnerability which caused issues with the handling of network account logins.
According to a KB article on Apple’s Support site, “The login process recorded sensitive information in the system log, where other users of the system could read it. The sensitive information may persist in saved logs after installation of this update,” Apple said.
The issue was previously documented in the press. Apple says it affects systems running OS X Lion v10.7.3 with the Legacy File Vault and/or networked home directories.
Apple offers a guide for more information about how to remove any remaining records securely.