Apple has just released iOS 16.6 for iPhones and iPadOS 16.6 for iPads. These updates primarily focus on patching several vulnerabilities, one of which affects the Apple Neural Engine. This engine enables faster and more energy-efficient on-device natural language processing and image analysis compared to the CPU or GPU. The exploit fixed in this update allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, potentially running any command on the targeted
iPhone or
iPad.
The patch will be available for iPhone 8 and newer models, iPad Pro (3rd generation) and newer models, iPad Air (3rd generation) and newer models, and iPad mini (5th generation). Furthermore, there is also a vulnerability addressed in the Find My app that could potentially leak sensitive location information through a malicious app. This patch covers iPhone 8 and newer models, all iPad Pro models, iPad Air 3rd generation and newer models, iPad 5th generation and newer models, as well as iPad mini 5th generation and newer models.
The update also includes fixes for several kernel vulnerabilities. The kernel is a critical component of an operating system, and Apple acknowledges reports of active exploitation on iOS versions released prior to iOS 15.7.1. Through this vulnerability, an app gains the ability to modify sensitive kernel state, giving attackers the power to manipulate the operating system’s behavior.
Additionally, Apple highlights other potential attacks on the iOS and iPadOS kernels. These include privilege escalation for enhanced attacker capabilities, denial-of-service attacks to prevent user access to desired features and apps, and vulnerabilities that grant attackers root privileges. With such security risks, it is highly recommended to install the update promptly. Simply go to Settings > General > Software Update and follow the instructions.
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Alex Smith is a writer and editor with over 10 years of experience. He has written extensively on a variety of topics, including technology, business, and personal finance. His work has been published in a number of magazines and newspapers, and he is also the author of two books. Alex is passionate about helping people learn and grow, and he believes that writing is a powerful tool for communication and understanding.
