On Monday, Apple announced the release of iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6. iOS 16.6 comes just 28 days after iOS 16.5, an iteration noted for its improvements to the Apple News app. The latest update addresses more than a dozen security flaws, including two actively exploited vulnerabilities. At the same time, the Cupertino-based tech giant released macOS 13.5 Ventura to address the same security concerns.
What’s Addressed in iOS and iPadOS 16.6
Per the release notes from Apple, the update serves to rectify a total of 16 security-linked issues. This collection of resolved flaws encompasses an array of categories, inclusive of the kernel, Find My, WebKit, and the Apple Neural Engine.
Apple has acknowledged that two of these flaws were likely targets of active exploitation. The initial patch was promptly provided to address the compromised WebKit issue via Rapid Security Response iOS 16.5.1 (c). The kernel flaw, another potential victim of active exploitation, likely saw its initial resolution via iOS 15.7.1. However, it is important to note that Apple resolved both of these issues in iOS 16.6, too.
The two actively-exploited security vulnerabilities include a kernel bug and an issue with WebKit, the engine driving all web browsers on iOS and iPadOS.
Kernel
Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An app may be able to modify sensitive kernel state. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS released before iOS 15.7.1.
Description: This issue was addressed with improved state management.
CVE-2023-38606: Valentin Pashkov, Mikhail Vinogradov, Georgy Kucherin (@kucher1n), Leonid Bezvershenko (@bzvr), and Boris Larin (@oct0xor) of Kaspersky
WebKit
Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: Processing web content may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.
Description: The issue was addressed with improved checks.
WebKit Bugzilla: 259231
CVE-2023-37450: an anonymous researcher
This issue was first addressed in Rapid Security Response iOS 16.5.1 (c) and iPadOS 16.5.1 (c).
16 Patches Included in Latest iOS and iPadOS 16.6
Here are the full security details for the 16 patches coming with iOS 16.6:
Apple Neural Engine
Available for devices with Apple Neural Engine: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (3rd generation) and later, iPad Air (3rd generation) and later, and iPad mini (5th generation)
Impact: An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges
Description: The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.
CVE-2023-38136: Mohamed GHANNAM (@simo36)
CVE-2023-38580: Mohamed GHANNAM (@simo36)
Find My
Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An app may be able to read sensitive location information
Description: A logic issue was addressed with improved restrictions.
CVE-2023-32416: Wojciech Regula of SecuRing (wojciechregula.blog)
Kernel
Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges
Description: The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.
CVE-2023-32734: Pan ZhenPeng (@Peterpan0927) of STAR Labs SG Pte. Ltd.
CVE-2023-32441: Peter Nguyễn Vũ Hoàng (@peternguyen14) of STAR Labs SG Pte. Ltd.
CVE-2023-38261: an anonymous researcher
CVE-2023-38424: Certik Skyfall Team
CVE-2023-38425: Certik Skyfall Team
Kernel
Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An app may be able to modify sensitive kernel state. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS released before iOS 15.7.1.
Description: This issue was addressed with improved state management.
CVE-2023-38606: Valentin Pashkov, Mikhail Vinogradov, Georgy Kucherin (@kucher1n), Leonid Bezvershenko (@bzvr), and Boris Larin (@oct0xor) of Kaspersky
Kernel
Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges
Description: A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management.
CVE-2023-32381: an anonymous researcher
CVE-2023-32433: Zweig of Kunlun Lab
CVE-2023-35993: Kaitao Xie and Xiaolong Bai of Alibaba Group
Kernel
Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: A user may be able to elevate privileges
Description: The issue was addressed with improved checks.
CVE-2023-38410: an anonymous researcher
Kernel
Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: A remote user may be able to cause a denial-of-service
Description: The issue was addressed with improved checks.
CVE-2023-38603: Zweig of Kunlun Lab
libxpc
Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An app may be able to gain root privileges
Description: A path handling issue was addressed with improved validation.
CVE-2023-38565: Zhipeng Huo (@R3dF09) of Tencent Security Xuanwu Lab (xlab.tencent.com)
libxpc
Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An app may be able to cause a denial-of-service
Description: A logic issue was addressed with improved checks.
CVE-2023-38593: Noah Roskin-Frazee
NSURLSession
Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: An app may be able to break out of its sandbox
Description: The issue was addressed with improvements to the file handling protocol.
CVE-2023-32437: Thijs Alkemade from Computest Sector 7
WebKit
Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: A website may be able to bypass Same Origin Policy
Description: The issue was addressed with improved checks.
WebKit Bugzilla: 256549
CVE-2023-38572: Narendra Bhati (twitter.com/imnarendrabhati) of Suma Soft Pvt. Ltd, Pune – India
WebKit
Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: Processing web content may lead to arbitrary code execution
Description: The issue was addressed with improved checks.
WebKit Bugzilla: 256865
CVE-2023-38594: Yuhao Hu
WebKit Bugzilla: 256573
CVE-2023-38595: an anonymous researcher, Jiming Wang, and Jikai Ren
WebKit Bugzilla: 257387
CVE-2023-38600: Anonymous working with Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative
WebKit
Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: Processing web content may lead to arbitrary code execution
Description: The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.
WebKit Bugzilla: 258058
CVE-2023-38611: Francisco Alonso (@revskills)
WebKit
Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: Processing web content may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.
Description: The issue was addressed with improved checks.
WebKit Bugzilla: 259231
CVE-2023-37450: an anonymous researcher
This issue was first addressed in Rapid Security Response iOS 16.5.1 (c) and iPadOS 16.5.1 (c).
WebKit Process Model
Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: Processing web content may lead to arbitrary code execution
Description: The issue was addressed with improved checks.
WebKit Bugzilla: 258100
CVE-2023-38597: 이준성(Junsung Lee) of Cross Republic
WebKit Web Inspector
Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
Impact: Processing web content may disclose sensitive information
Description: The issue was addressed with improved checks.
WebKit Bugzilla: 256932
CVE-2023-38133: YeongHyeon Choi (@hyeon101010)
Installing the iOS and iPadOS 16.6 Update
To install the iOS and iPadOS 16.6 update, follow these instructions.
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to General > Software Update.
- Tap to install the update, entering your device’s passcode when prompted.
An auxiliary update, iOS 15.7.8, has been provided by Apple for those users unable to transition to iOS 16.
As the focus on iOS 16 starts to recede with the availability of iOS 17 for beta testing and its upcoming release in September, paired with new iPhone models, it’s evident that Apple’s relentless pursuit of perfection is unyielding.