- Apple’s iOS 26.1 fixes around 50 vulnerabilities, including serious app permissions and screenshot flaws
- Key Bugs Could Allow Privilege Escalation, Kernel Memory Corruption, and Sensitive Data Exposure
- The update applies to recent iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple TVs, Vision Pro and Watch Series 6+
Apple released iOS 26.1 and iPadOS 26.1, fixing approximately 50 vulnerabilities in a wide range of system components.
Among the issues Apple fixed was a permissions issue that allowed apps to identify which other apps a user has installed. If the malware can see that the victim has banking or crypto wallet apps installed, attackers can create extremely convincing phishing lures that mention the exact name of the bank or wallet, increasing success rates of clicks and credential theft.
This flaw, tracked as CVE-2025-43442, was addressed with additional restrictions.
Exploitation potential
The second major bug fixed in this update is CVE-2025-43455, a bug that allowed malicious applications to take screenshots of sensitive information in built-in views. A severity score has not yet been assigned.
The third key issue consists of two bugs: CVE-2025-43447 and CVE-2025-43462. With these two, an application can cause unexpected system termination or corrupt kernel memory. Fixed by improving memory handling in Apple Neural Engine (where it was discovered).
These three were flagged for their potential for serious exploitation. In theory, they could allow privilege escalation or deeper system compromise, as well as extracting sensitive data via screenshots.
However, there are dozens of additional vulnerabilities on the list that are worth paying attention to, so applying the fix as soon as possible is definitely recommended.
Patches are available for a large number of Apple devices, including iPhones 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch third generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch first generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, as well as iPad mini 5th generation and later. There are also Macs with macOS Tahoe, second-generation Apple TV and later, Apple Vision Pro, Watch Series 6 and later, and Macs with macOS Sonoma and Sequoia.
Those interested in reading the full list and details of each bug addressed can do so at this link.
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