iOS 18.6.2 Security Update Released for iPhone & iPad to Patch Image File Exploit
Apple has issued important security updates for iPhone and iPad, versioned as iOS 18.6.2 and iPadOS 18.6.2. The security update addresses an actively exploited security hole pertaining to malicious image files, and given the huge number of people who share and receive funny pictures, memes, gifs, and other image files online, it’s a good idea to install this update as soon as you can onto your devices. With all that said, it’s unlikely that most people are impacted by this particular exploit, but nonetheless it’s still good security practice to install these type of updates right away when possible.
The same security patch is also available for older iPad users with iPadOS 17.7.10, along with Mac users versioned as MacOS Sequoia 15.6.1, MacOS Sonoma 14.7.8, and macOS Ventura 13.7.8.
No new features or other changes are included in the update, it is strictly security oriented.
How to Download & Install iOS 18.6.2 / iPadOS 18.6.2 Security Update
Be sure you backup iPhone or iPad to iCloud before anything else. Then installing the update is easy:
- Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone or iPad
- Go to “General”, and then go to “Software Update”
- Select to “Update Now” to download and install iOS 18.6.2 onto iPhone or iPadOS 18.6.2 on iPad
The iOS 18.6.2 update is reasonably small, but it requires a reboot to complete, and it may take a little while to install. Just be patient and let it complete on your device.
If you’re a more advanced user, you can also update your iPhone or iPad with a computer, or by using IPSW firmware files to manually install the update.
iOS 18.6.2 IPSW Firmware Download Links
The following links point to IPSW files as hosted by the Apple CDN:
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16e
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone XR
- iPhone SE 2nd Generation
- iPhone SE 3rd Generation
iPadOS 18.6.2 IPSW Firmware Files
- 13-in. iPad Pro (M4)
- 12.9-in. iPad Pro (5th generation)
- 12.9-in. iPad Pro (4th generation)
- 11-in. iPad Pro (M4)
- 11-in. iPad Pro (3rd generation)
- 11-in. iPad Pro (2nd generation)
- 11-in. iPad Pro (4th generation)
- 12.9-in. iPad Pro (6th generation)
- 11-in. iPad Pro (1st generation)
- 12.9-in. iPad Pro (3rd generation)
- iPad mini (7th generation)
- iPad mini (6th generation)
- iPad mini (5th generation)
- iPad Air (5th Generation)
- iPad Air (4th generation)
- iPad Air (3rd generation)
- 11-inch iPad Air (M2)
- 11-inch iPad Air (M3)
- 13-inch iPad Air (M2)
- 13-inch iPad Air (M3)
- iPad (A16)
- 10.2-in. iPad (iPad 7th generation and 8th generation
- iPad 9th generation
- iPad 10th generation
iOS 18.6.2 Release Notes & Security Notes
Release notes with the download for iOS 18.6.2 and iPadOS 18.6.2 are brief, mentioning the important security fix:
This update provides important security fixes and is recommended for all users.
For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website:
https://support.apple.com/100100
The security specific notes offer more details about the exploit which has been patched:
Processing a malicious image file may result in memory corruption. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/124925
Given the nature of the exploit, it’s a good idea to update all of your eligible Apple devices.
