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Apple released the iOS 16.5.1 update to its iPhone users running iOS 16. This includes iPhone 8 and newer. According to the company, the release comes with a security fix addressing the security flaw discovered weeks ago by Russian security software maker Kaspersky Lab.
The update comes with other updates from Apple, including watchOS 8.8.1, macOS Big Sur 11.7.8, macOS Monterey 12.6.7, iPadOS 15.7.7, and iOS 15.7.7. Nonetheless, the main highlight of this week’s release is iOS 16.5.1 and iPadOS 16.5.1, which can now be downloaded on iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, iPad mini 5th generation and later.
Both updates come with a solution for the issue reported by Kaspersky Lab. To recall, this led to Russia’s Federal Security Service’s accusation of the National Security Agency being the brain behind it. According to the researchers who divulged the flaw, it worked via an iMessage containing a malicious attachment. What made it more problematic, however, was that it could reportedly infect a device without directly seeing the message. Kaspersky’s report added that it could lead to file modification and stealing, password extraction, and even viewing of the user’s location.
Apple addresses the flaw, now dubbed CVE-2023-32434, in the updates, crediting Kaspersky’s researchers who shared it, including Georgy Kucherin, Leonid Bezvershenko, and Boris Larin. According to Apple, the release addresses an integer overflow “with improved input validation.”
“An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges,” the update description reads. “Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS released before iOS 15.7.”
Apple notes that the update is highly suggested. Yet, aside from fixing the said flaw, the company says the update also resolves the bug preventing charging with the Lightning to USB 3 Camera adapter. The build number of the updates for iOS and iPadOS users will appear as 20F75, while the build number of the updates for macOS Ventura 13.4.1 release, the number is 22F82, and for watchOS 9.5.2 is 20T571.
Users who want to get the iOS and iPadOS updates can go to Settings, General, then tap on Software Update.
