Government Issues High-Severity Security Warning For iPhone and iPad Users; Update Your Device Immediately
New Delhi, 13th May 2025: The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has issued a significant security alert for iPhone and iPad users, marking it as a ‘High Severity’ threat. The warning, released on Monday (12th May), highlights a critical vulnerability in Apple’s iOS and iPadOS operating systems that could potentially expose users to malicious attacks.
According to CERT-In, the vulnerability is linked to the Darwin Notifications component, a part of Apple’s CoreOS layer. This flaw allows any app to access and transmit system notifications without permission, enabling hackers to exploit the device through a malicious app. This could lead to potential crashes or unauthorized data transmission.
CERT-In’s report outlines that the vulnerability affects multiple iPhone and iPad models, particularly those running older software versions. The affected devices include:
– iPhones: Models running iOS versions prior to 18.3, including the latest iPhone 16 and older models.
– iPads: Models operating on iPadOS 17.7.3 or earlier, specifically:
iPad Pro 12.9″ (2nd Gen), iPad Pro 10.5″, iPad 6th Gen.
– Devices running iPadOS 18.3 or earlier, including:
“iPad Pro 13″, iPad Pro 12.9″ (3rd Gen and later), iPad Pro 11” (1st Gen and later), iPad Air (3rd Gen and later), iPad 7th Gen and later, iPad mini (5th Gen and later).
Apple has acknowledged the vulnerability and has released a security update to mitigate the risk. Users are strongly advised to update their devices immediately to the latest software version.
How to Update:
1. Go to Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Navigate to General > Software Update.
3. Download and install the latest update.
Failure to update may leave devices vulnerable to potential crashes and data breaches, making it imperative for users to act swiftly.
