Apple is urging iPhone, iPad, and Mac users to install all available updates as quickly as possible. The latest versions of iOS, released up to version 26 and back to iOS 15, protect against vulnerabilities exploited by two powerful exploit kits, DarkSword and Coruna, according to the company. Users can check for updates on their devices by navigating to “Settings > General > Software Update.” Keeping software current remains the most important step in protecting a device.
Continue reading after the ad
Not All iOS Versions Receive Patches
Apple did not specify exact version numbers with all available patches. Currently available are iOS, iPadOS, and macOS 26.3.1, iOS 18.7.6, as well as iOS/iPadOS 16.7.15 and iOS/iPadOS 15.8.7. Last week, Apple released an emergency update for older iOS/iPadOS versions citing Coruna. Whether the exploit kits were as well used against Macs remains unclear, but security updates are currently available for macOS 26, macOS 15, and macOS 14.
Users still running iOS 17 should update to iOS 18. IPhones running iOS 13 or iOS 14 should be upgraded to iOS 15 to address the security vulnerabilities, the company notes.
Several security researchers have published detailed analyses of DarkSword and Coruna in recent days. For the first time, highly complex exploit kits appear to be deployed on a wider scale against ordinary iPhone users—and with financial motivations, not solely as part of targeted state surveillance. This development underscores the increasing sophistication of mobile threats and the need for proactive security measures.
Malware Delivered Through Websites
Visiting a compromised website was reportedly sufficient to completely compromise an iPhone. Sensitive data could allegedly be read from the devices and transmitted to the attackers. The attacks targeted users in Ukraine, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, and the exploits were specifically designed for certain versions of iOS 17 and iOS 18.
Continue reading after the ad
(lbe)
