Apple places update to iOS 18.6.2 and MacOS 15.6.1 in front of: Exploit “In the Wild”

Although Apple’s large upgrades are expected to iOS 26 and MacOS 26 (TAHOE) in a few weeks, the group has now again presented updates for the pre -versions iOS 18, Ipados 18 and MacOS 15 (Sequoia). The reason is security gaps in the systems, which according to the manufacturer are already being used actively. Older iOS versions are also affected, but the Apple only partially patches. According to the company, the updates do not contain any other innovations.

Complex attack on certain targets

Apple mentions only one gap in its package paper for safety -related changes: a bug in the image processing library Image i/o. It is said that the processing of maliciously manipulated images can lead to a storage error. “Apple is known that this problem may have been exploited in an extremely complex attack on targeted selected people.” In practice, this means that it was probably state actors – or companies that supported them.

Apple did not share who was affected by the attack. The group is called the discoverer of the gap that the CVE-ID CVE-2025-43300 bears. The error was remedied by fixing an out-of-bounds writing problem-through improved bounds checking. The bug could be part of an entire exploit chain, in which image I/O is probably used as a gateway-for example by sending a manipulated image via iMessage. However, technical details are still missing – whether Apple communicates them at a later date remains open.

Which versions you should install quickly

Interestingly, the useful error is apparently only in MacOS, IPADOS and iOS-at least so far Apple has not updated for its other operating systems Watchos, Visionos and TVOS, although these also contain the image I/O library. However, TVOS does not have its own news app, visionos and watchos. The current version are now iOS 18.6.2 and iPados 18.6.2 as well as MacOS 15.6.1. On a test Mac, the update with 1.5 GB was quite powerful, so there could also be other innovations. It remains unclear why Apple does not use the suitable rapid security response system for a mistake.

Users of older MacOS and iPados versions also receive updates, iOS-17 users have to update to iOS 18. Currently are now Ipados 17.7.10,, MacOS 13.7.8 Ventura and MacOS 14.7.8 Sonoma. The only change communicated by Apple is to remedy the image-i/o bug.