Key Takeaways:
Apple is urging all iPhone users to update their devices to the latest iOS 17.6, which the company claims will fix a hefty 35 bugs that left serious holes in the operating system, leaving all users at risk.
iOS 17.6 Update Fixes Critical Issue That Would Have Caused iPhones To Shut Down Unexpectedly
While Apple does not provide much detail about what issues have been fixed with iOS 17.6, it is rumored to be a loophole that would have allowed bad actors to cause unexpected system shutdowns on the iPhone.
In the release notes, Apple said the iOS 17.6 update “provides important bug fixes and security updates, and is recommended for all users”. Apple did not detail the security flaws because they wanted as many people to update as soon as possible before cyber crooks could get hold of the information.
However, looking at the list on Apple’s support page, it is clear that the iOS 17.6 update patches the bug in the Kernal that is at the heart of the iPhone’s operating system, as well as several flaws in WebKit – the engine that powers the Safari browser.
Among the notable patches, iOS 17.6 fixes two critical issues in the Kernal that were tagged as CVE-2024-27863 and CVE-2024-40788. The first bug could allow a bad actor to determine the Kernal’s memory layout while the second could enable an attacker to cause an unexpected system shutdown.
According to Apple’s support page, both vulnerabilities would require an attacker to have physical access to an iPhone.
Additionally, iOS 17.6 also patches eight issues in WebKit, most importantly CVE-2024-40785, which could result in a cross-site scripting attack if the user fell for maliciously crafted web content.
Sean Wright, head of application security at Featurespace, said that the Kernal flaws on iOS 17 “could be chained together” with other vulnerabilities to allow the entire device to be compromised. He highlighted that the latest update fixed “some serious vulnerabilities”.
Apple also released iOS 16.7.9 alongside iOS 17.6, to fix a smaller list of security flaws on older iPhones.
While none of the issues mentioned above are being used in real-world attacks yet, some of the flaws fixed by the update are pretty serious. If an attacker could take hold of the iPhone’s Kernal, they would be able to control every aspect of the device.
Wright asked iPhone users not to panic about the situation as it is under control, but he said it is a good idea to update the phone as soon as possible.
iOS 17.6 Could Be The Last Update Before iOS 18 Rolls Out In September
There is also another reason to upgrade to iOS 17.6 as it could very well be the last update for iOS 17 before Apple releases iOS 18 alongside the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro in September. iOS 18 was announced in June and is now available in a beta test version on compatible iPhones.
Here is a list of Apple devices that will support the iOS 17.6 update:
- iPhone XS and later
- iPad Pro 13-inch
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch 2nd generation and later
- iPad Pro 10.5-inch
- iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later
- iPad Air 3rd generation and later
- iPad 6th generation and later
- iPad Mini 5th generation and later
How To Install iOS 17.6?
While some iPhones are set up to install the software automatically, others will need to update their devices by downloading and installing it manually. Considering its file size of 1GB, it is recommended that users connect their iPhones to the WiFi before installing.
To update your iPhone to iOS 17.6, go to Settings > General > Software Update and follow the instructions to download and install the software right away.
Latest news: Google Pixel 9 Features And Design Leaks Ahead Of August 13 Launch
