iOS 16.5.1 & Co: Apple eliminates zero-day gaps across all systems

Big updates from Apple: for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch – also for older devices – a new version of the operating system in question is available for download, which eliminates serious security holes. The company recommends all users to install it. Apple said that according to reports, the vulnerabilities “may be actively exploited in attacks.”

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Kernel and WebKit severe bugs

Bugs in the kernel and WebKit browser engine, which enable malicious code injection and complete hardware takeover, have been discovered by Kaspersky security researchers, among others. The sophisticated monitoring software TriangleDB has apparently been hacked, and new details about it were provided on Wednesday. Apple states that the attacks using the kernel vulnerability were targeting iOS versions earlier than 15.7.

iOS 16.5.1 and iPadOS 16.5.1 are available for newer iPhones (from iPhone 8) and iPads. At the same time, Apple released iOS 15.7.7 and iPadOS 15.7.7, the updates for devices that can’t be updated to iOS 16 — including the iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 series, which are now eight and seven years old. For MacBooks and Desktops – Macs have patched versions of the operating system in the form of macOS 13.4.1 Ventura, macOS 12.6.7 Monterey, and macOS 11.7.8 Big Sur. The watchOS kernel is also getting a bug fix, with watchOS 9.5.2 and watchOS 8.8.1 released. The latter covers the Apple Watch Series 3, which Apple no longer sells.

The USB Camera Adapter should work again

iOS 16.5.1 and iPadOS 16.5.1 also aims to fix a bug that apparently causes Apple’s Lightning to USB 3-Camera Adapter to stop working after installing iOS 16.5. The adapter is often used to connect USB devices to older iPhones and iPads (without a USB-C port).

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(lbe)