Apple has released iOS 16.2, fixing 35 major security vulnerabilities, some of which are serious.
Among the security issues fixed in iOS 16.2 are six in the kernel at the heart of the iPhone operating system and 10 in WebKit, the engine that powers Apple’s Safari browser. WebKit vulnerabilities implemented in iOS 16.2 include issues that could lead to arbitrary code execution, according to Apple’s support page.
Fixed issues in the kernel include CVE-2022-46689, reported by security researcher Ian Beer in Google’s Project Zero initiative, which could see an application capable of executing arbitrary code with kernel privileges. Another serious kernel issue fixed in iOS 16.2 (CVE-2022-42842) could see code execution taking place remotely.
Apple has released iOS 16.2, fixing 35 major security vulnerabilities, some of which are serious.
Apple iPhone
Please update to iOS 16.2 as soon as you can
Although the security vulnerabilities fixed in iOS 16.2 are numerous and serious, none have yet been used in real-life attacks. However, it makes sense to update now to keep your iPhone as secure as possible.
Apple’s iOS 16.2 also includes some major security updates, including end-to-end encryption for more iCloud categories, which is rolling out to US users first. The iOS 16.2 update also includes additional privacy and security protections for AirDrop, a feature available to everyone now.
While the iOS 16.2 update brings some exciting new features, it also includes important security updates, says independent security researcher Sean Wright. He says chaining together some of the vulnerabilities fixed in iOS 16.2 could “potentially allow an attacker to gain full control of a device remotely,” though he admits the likelihood of that happening is small.
“For most users, this is not something to be too alarmed about. However, I would still recommend that you update when you can,” says Wright.
Apple releases iOS 15.7.2, an urgent update for those still running iOS 15
In addition to iOS 16.2, Apple also released iOS 15.7.2 for people still using the iPhone maker’s previous iOS 15 operating system. This is an urgent update as it fixes an already exploited security issue in WebKit—CVE-2022-42856—also fixed. on iOS 16.1.2.
If you haven’t updated to iOS 16.2, you should make sure you have at least iOS 15.7.2 to keep your iPhone secure.
With security updates and tons of new features, iOS 16.2 is definitely worth the upgrade. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and update to iOS 16.2 now to keep your iPhone safe.