14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has just released a new software update for iPhones and iPads out there, therefore bringing the operating system version to 15.3.1.
As you can easily figure out by simply reading the version number of this update, the focus is on fixing some bugs, but this time, the company is actually trying to resolve an important security problem.
And there’s a good reason why this update shows up all of a sudden.
In the official release notes, Apple acknowledges that the vulnerability it’s fixing with this update has already been used out in the wild by malicious actors.
It impacts all supported iPhones, which means that as long as you have an iPhone 6s or a newer model, your smartphone came with this vulnerability.
More software updates for Apple products
Apple explains that it was all possible with malicious web content.
“Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited,” Apple explains, adding that the exposed devices were the iPhone 6s and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 2 and later, iPad 5th generation and later, iPad mini 4 and later, and iPod touch (7th generation).
The company says an anonymous researcher reported the vulnerability, and the update brings improved memory management to fix the user after free issue.
Needless to say, given it discovered a security problem in its software, the iPhone isn’t the only device getting an update. As said earlier, the iPad is also being patched, but earlier today, Apple also rolled out software updates for other products.
If you have an Apple Watch, then watchOS 8.4.2 is now waiting for your download, while macOS users are updated to Monterey version 12.2.1.
All these updates resolve the security problem described above.