iPhone users urged to update now for important fixes

Make Forbes your go-to for all things iOS. Read full details of what’s in the release from me the moment it arrives. Kate O’Flaherty Take a look at the security considerations for each new release. then read Gordon KellyAnalyze whether you should install or wait.

What iPhones Can Run iOS 16.1.1?

If you have an iPhone from iPhone 8 onwards, this is for you.

For iPads, you need iPadOS which for the first time is on a different release schedule than iOS. The latest version is iPadOS 16.1.1, which has just been released.

How to get it

You’ll do this before but just in case: Open the Settings app on the iPhone and then choose General, then Software Update. Once you click download and install, you’ll be golden.

What’s in the version

This is a quick and compact version aimed specifically at solving problems and squashing bugs. Recent issues with the software have included a bug that affected wi-fi connections, with disconnections occurring unexpectedly. Apple hasn’t confirmed that’s what’s happening here, but let’s hope so.

As is common, Apple says it “includes bug fixes and security updates.” The latter has routinely been a major part of recent updates, with serious security issues known to have already been addressed front and center.

Apple is more clear about what the security issues are, and you can read their support document below. They focus on the ability of remote users to cause unexpected application termination or “arbitrary code execution”. And it’s not great.

Apple also says that the upgrade is recommended for all users.

Apple notes about security issues addressed in the latest update

iOS 16.1.1 and iPadOS 16.1.1

Released November 9, 2022

libxml2

Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: A remote user may be able to cause an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution

Description: An integer overflow was handled with improved input validation.

CVE-2022-40303: Maddie Stone of Google Project Zero

libxml2

Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: A remote user may be able to cause an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution

Description: This issue was addressed with improved checks.

CVE-2022-40304: Ned Williamson and Nathan Wachholz of Google Project Zero