iPhone, Mac and iPad users can update their devices to the latest software version, closing a long list of security vulnerabilities in Apple’s operating system. iOS version 18.2 has been available for iPhones since Wednesday evening, and iPadOS 18.2 is available again for iPads.
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Users who are still stuck on iOS 17 should also upgrade now: apparently there are no more patches for the operating system, they have remained at version 17.7.2 since November. Apple is now already pushing to switch to iOS 18.
Version 17.7.3 only for some iPads – no iPhones
Unlike iOS 17, iPadOS 17 has a new version 17.7.3 with security improvements. However, this is solely for the iPad model series that cannot be updated to iPadOS 18. These are the iPad Pro 10.5″, the second generation iPad Pro 12.9″ and the iPad 6. All new iPads must be installed with version 18 to receive the latest security-related bug fixes.
Apple doesn’t have any specific update promises for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Older iOS versions sometimes also receive patches if very serious vulnerabilities become known – but only for hardware that is no longer supported by newer operating system versions. Keep in mind, Apple fixes all known vulnerabilities only in the latest versions of its operating systems.
As with macOS, Apple usually continues to provide (some) security updates for the previous two versions of the operating system. Currently these are macOS 14 Sonoma and macOS 13 Ventura, with patches for both available as versions 14.7.2 and 13.7.2. Additionally, version 18.2 of the Safari browser is available as a standalone download. watchOS 11.2, tvOS 18.2, and VisionOS 2.2 also fix the bugs.
Microsoft is retrofitting file exchange between Windows and iPhonemultiple documented vulnerabilities
iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 will follow Document contains 20 good security flaws, according to ApplemacOS 15.2 even about 50These include vulnerabilities in the kernel and a bug classified as critical in the open-source XML parser library Expat (LibExpat), which could allow a remote attacker to inject malicious code, Apple noted in the release notes. Additionally, several vulnerabilities that allow malicious apps to read sensitive user data should be fixed.
MDM provider Jamf has this week Bug details publishedWhich allows, under certain conditions, a malicious app to exfiltrate data from other apps that use iCloud Drive, including WhatsApp. Apple apparently fixed this in September with iOS/iPadOS 18 and macOS 15, but only in these latest versions of the operating system according to the documentation.
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iOS and iPadOS 18.2: New reports of problems with Apple Mail
