Apple has rolled out the iOS 26.2 update for iPhone users, followed by an emergency warning to update their devices immediately to install the critical security fixes. The latest iOS update addresses numerous security vulnerabilities. It also includes two zero-day exploits that were actively being used in recent targeted security attacks.
Apple rolls out new iOS 26.2 update for iPhone users
Apple has launched the iOS 26.2 update for iPhone users, and it’s a crucial one. The mandatory update tackles 26 security vulnerabilities.
The two exploited issues fixed in iOS 26.2, tracked as CVE-2025-43529 and CVE-2025-14174, are related and involve WebKit flaws. The first vulnerability could result in arbitrary code execution when a user allows and interacts with malicious web content. “CVE-2025-14174 was also issued in response to this report,” Apple explained.
Apple’s iOS 26.2 update also addresses a crucial vulnerability in the iPhone Kernel, tracked as CVE-2025-46285. Using this drawback, attackers could gain root privileges.
“If an attacker gains root access on a phone, they ‘effectively own it’, bypassing app sandboxes, reading messages and login codes and hijacking banking sessions”, said Javvad Malik, lead CISO advisor at KnowBe4.
“Users should update now from their phone’s settings — and not via links or popups — and encourage their friends and family to do the same”, Malik added, while warning that criminals weaponise newly patched flaws quickly.
The release of iOS 26.2 follows Apple’s confirmation that spyware was targeting its devices. The iPhone maker issued cyber threat notifications to users in at least 80 countries, warning them about being possible targets of sophisticated spyware.
Apple dropped iOS 26.2 and iOS 18.7.3 updates, fixing 26 and 22 flaws, respectively. The update is now available from iPhone XS to iPhone 11 and newer models, as well as several iPad models. While iOS 18.7.3 covers iPhone XS and later, iOS 26.2 is for iPhone 11 and newer.
Meanwhile, Apple has also released macOS Tahoe 26.2, macOS Sequoia 15.7.3, and macOS Sonoma 14.8.3 for Macs. The iPhone maker has also issued tvOS 26.2 for Apple TV, watchOS 26.2 for Apple Watch, visionOS 26.2 for the Apple Vision Pro, and Safari 26.2 for macOS Sonoma and macOS Sequoia.
Originally reported by Sibanee Gogoi on Mandatory.
