In one swing, Apple unleashes a tally of security updates that nearly surpasses all of the patches it released last year.

In Security Update 2008-002, Apple is fixing 87 security flaws that span 30 separate applications, a number of functions in OS X, as well as other platforms that range from Apache to X11.

This service pack-sized patch follows on the heels of an update to both the Windows and Mac versions of its Safari browser, with fixes for more than a dozen vulnerabilities.

The flaws in question create the usual software hazards, such as buffer overruns and the ability to inject malicious code into an unpatched system.

One of the more interesting fixes involves a cross-realm authentication issue with AFP Server. In this flaw, attackers may be able to create unauthorized connections to the server.

I installed both the updated version of Safari, as well as the Security Update on both a MacBook Pro and a Mac Pro each running Leopard.

So far, so good.

The patches can be downloaded manually from Apple's download support page, or via software update.