Apple is usually very good about keeping their users safe and up to date, so when they release an update followed by a message to “Update Now” – naturally it has gotten everyone’s attention. This update will fix two security vulnerabilities – both are actively being used in the wild as we speak.
While many of the details of the fixes included in iOS 16.4.1 have not been released by Apple although that is not entirely uncommon for Apple as their focus has always been about providing safe and secure products to their customers.
The first fix being identified as CVE-2023-28205 – Apple’s Support Page reports this as an attack that has already been verified as being actively exploited in the wild. This flaw within WebKit, the engine that powers Apple’s Safari browser, could allow an attacker to execute code on the device, without your permission or knowledge.
The second issue though – Identified as CVE-2023-28206 is an issue within IOSurfaceAccelerator that could enable an app to execute arbitrary code that also has kernel privileges.
Apple has confirmed that it “is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.”
While it may go without saying – both of these vulnerabilities are serious and potentially dangerous. The biggest indicator of this potential threat is that Apple decided to release these updates over the weekend – which for them is very rare. Typically, iPhone has marked Mondays and Tuesdays as their scheduled update days.
Why Do I Need To Update to iOS 16.4.1 Now?
With any patch – it is important to run the updates when possible although when an out of band patch is released, over the weekend, this highlights the importance and need for being up to date. Multiple security researchers and those in the field have reinforced the urgency of this latest patch update.
The iOS 16.4.1 update also fixes some bugs plaguing iPhone users, including a Siri issue. So what are you waiting for? Go to Settings > General > Software Update and upgrade to iOS 16.4.1 now to keep your iPhone safe.
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