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      iOS 15.7.2 and iPadOS 15.7.2 Block Exploited Security Vulnerability

   Adam Engst

   The recent release of iOS 16.1.2 was odd in that it wasn't accompanied
   by updates to any other Apple operating systems, the changes were
   fairly minor, and Apple delayed releasing its security notes. Now we
   know why Apple hurriedly pushed it out on its own with little
   fanfare'iOS 16.1.2 blocked a WebKit vulnerability that has been
   actively exploited in the wild, allowing malicious Web content to lead
   to arbitrary code execution. It turns out that the vulnerability also
   afflicted most of Apple's other operating systems, including older
   versions of iOS and macOS.

   Apple has now eliminated the vulnerability in all its current operating
   systems (see '[1]Apple Releases iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, macOS 13.1
   Ventura, watchOS 9.2, and tvOS 16.2,' 13 December 2022), in the last
   two versions of macOS ('[2]macOS Monterey 12.6.2 and Big Sur 11.7.2,'
   13 December 2022) and finally, in iOS 15, with the release of [3]iOS
   15.7.2 and iPadOS 15.7.2.

   If you're still running iOS 15 on an older device that can't upgrade to
   iOS 16 or iPadOS 16, we strongly encourage you to update to iOS 15.7.2
   or iPadOS 15.7.2 right away. You can find it, as usual, in Settings >
   General > Software Update.

   However, if you've been holding off upgrading an iPhone or iPad
   compatible with iOS 16 or iPadOS 16, note that Apple is no longer
   allowing such devices to remain on the iOS/iPadOS 15 track. In that
   case, you'll have to stick with version 15.7.1 or upgrade to 16.2.

References

   1. https://tidbits.com/2022/12/13/apple-releases-ios-16-2-ipados-16-2-macos-13-1-ventura-watchos-9-2-and-tvos-16-2/
   2. https://tidbits.com/watchlist/macos-monterey-12-6-2-and-big-sur-11-7-2/
   3. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213531

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