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19th Aug 2022

Apple warns of serious security issues with iPads, iPhones and Macs

Stephen Porzio

It is said that these bugs “could effectively give attackers full access” to someone’s device.

Apple has issued two security updates in which it warns of serious “vulnerabilities” with some of its products.

The alerts were for the following devices: iPhone 6s and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 2 and later, iPad 5th generation and later, iPad mini 4 and later, iPod touch (7th generation) and Mac computers running MacOS Monterey.

Apple said the security bugs identified relate to WebKit, the browser engine that powers Safari, and the Kernel, the core of the operating system that controls everything.

In regards to the Kernel issue, Apple said: “An application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.”

While on the WebKit issue, it added: “Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution.”

CEO of SocialProof Security Rachel Tobac said that these bugs “could effectively give attackers full access” to someone’s device.

Apple has said it is aware of reports that these issues may have already been “actively exploited”.

Patches have been made available for the tech giants’ products that could be affected and users have been urged to update their devices.

Meanwhile, Tobac tweeted on Thursday: “For most folks: update software by end of day.

“If threat model is elevated (journalist, activist, targeted by nation states, etc): update now.”

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