CERT-In issues fresh security alert for iPhone, Mac and iPad users over Apple software flaws

India’s national cybersecurity agency has issued a fresh warning for users of Apple devices, highlighting several newly identified security vulnerabilities affecting iPhones, iPads, Mac computers and other products within Apple’s ecosystem.

The advisory was released by Indian Computer Emergency Response Team, the government body responsible for tracking and responding to cybersecurity threats in India. According to the agency, the vulnerabilities exist across multiple Apple software platforms and may expose users to security risks if devices are not updated promptly.

CERT-In said the flaws could potentially be exploited by attackers to gain elevated system privileges, access confidential information, bypass security controls or trigger denial-of-service situations that affect normal device functioning.

Who are at risk?

The warning covers several Apple operating systems and applications, including older versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS and the Safari browser.

More from Tech

Among the affected software versions are older releases of iPadOS used on select iPad models. CERT-In also listed multiple Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) identifiers associated with the flaws, including issues related to information disclosure and security restriction bypass mechanisms.

Users running outdated macOS versions on Mac devices may also remain vulnerable if recent security patches have not been installed. Similarly, iPhone owners who continue using older iOS builds could face increased exposure to cyber threats tied to these weaknesses.

Although the advisory did not specify any ongoing attacks targeting Indian users, cybersecurity agencies typically issue such alerts to encourage faster adoption of software fixes before vulnerabilities can be widely exploited.

How to be safe?

CERT-In has urged Apple users to update all affected devices to the latest available software versions released by the company. These updates include security patches designed to address the identified flaws and strengthen device protections.

On iPhones and iPads, users can check for pending updates by opening the Settings app, selecting General and then Software Update. Mac users can access updates through System Settings under the General section.

The agency also advised users to ensure Safari and other Apple software components are updated regularly, as attackers often target outdated applications with known security loopholes.

Security experts generally recommend installing software patches as soon as they become available, especially when vulnerabilities involve potential remote access or privilege escalation risks.

Apple routinely rolls out security updates throughout the year to address newly discovered threats. However, users who delay updates for extended periods may continue running software versions with publicly known weaknesses, increasing the chances of exploitation by malicious actors.