Apple today released iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1, updates to its iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 software that was released last year. The updates include an important fix for a bug that was exploited in the wild.
The iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1 updates come two weeks after the release of iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3.
The new software can be downloaded over-the-air on eligible iPhones and iPads, by going to “Settings” -> “General” -> “Software Update.”
According to Apple’s release notes, iOS 18.3.1 includes bug fixes and security updates.
According to Apple’s security support document for iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1, it addresses an accessibility vulnerability that could disable USB Restricted Mode on a locked device.
Exploiting this vulnerability requires physical access to a device, and Apple says that it was used against specific individuals.
Impact: A physical attack may disable USB Restricted Mode on a locked device. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals.
The vulnerability was fixed with improved state management, according to Apple.
Apple has also released iPadOS 17.7.5 with the same security fix for devices that are not able to run iPadOS 18.
An iOS 18.4 beta that includes new Apple Intelligence features for Siri is expected to be seeded to beta testers in the near future.
