Apple Issues Rare iOS 18 Security Update to Protect Against DarkSword Exploit

[Avenged110]

Has anyone tried updating from a version older than 18 to 18.7.7? Since it's seeminly only available OTA, does it show up as an option for older versions?

 

[canadianreader]

Thank you Apple!

 

[Agent_Apple]

Was able to update another iPad that was on iOS 17.x to 18.7.7....phew!

 

[Agent_Apple]

Has anyone tried updating from a version older than 18 to 18.7.7? Since it's seeminly only available OTA, does it show up as an option for older versions?

Yea, was able to jump from iPadOS 17.x to 18.7.7.

 

[Avenged110]

Yea, was able to jump from iPadOS 17.x to 18.7.7.

Good to know. Thank you for the reply!

 

[nekov4ego]

I can see the update from iOS 16.6.1 on iPhone 12 mini. This is unprecedented (and very much appreciated).

 

[CATiNTHESTORE]

I’ll look forward to the upgrade from 18.7.3!

Increasingly glad I didn’t downgrade to iOS 26. What a mess.

Update completed from 18.7.3 to 18.7.7 successfully

 

[platinumaqua]

Has anyone tried updating from a version older than 18 to 18.7.7? Since it's seeminly only available OTA, does it show up as an option for older versions?

It's showing up on my phone on 17.7.2

 

[CATiNTHESTORE]

Are there any corporations still on 18? My company updated my se 2022 pretty quickly because the new 16e models they were buying already had iOS 26 preinstalled, and they want to keep everyone on the same version.

It's on 26.3.1. No ETA for 26.4.

Yes, many

 

[UliBaer]

Yes it is shown (after way further down scrolling) on 17.7.2.
I would prefer 17.7.10 or .11 to be released for my 12 Pro - I already didn't like 18.

 

[frou]

So is this a one time deal, or will all the 26.x-capable devices that have just been brought back into the fold of 18.x updates also receive all future 18.x updates?

 

[macaddiict]

Thank goodness - running older versions of 18.x was getting risky.

 

[macaddiict]

So is this a one time deal, or will all the 26.x-capable devices that have just been brought back into the fold of 18.x updates also receive all future 18.x updates?

There probably will not be another 18.x update.

 

[Nintendolinky]

Not without completely wiping your device and restoring in DFU to a recovery image So, no.

I’m happy to do that tbh. Do we have the DFU image? Can’t see it in my developer portal.

 

[thadoggfather]

I’m happy to do that tbh. Do we have the DFU image. Can’t see it in my developer portal.

it does not exist, this is an OTA only update.

 

[JosephAW]

No fair my brother can update but I can’t because I’m already on 26, IPSW files are only available for devices that cannot upgrade, bummer I was ready to roll back. 😵📱 🔨

 

[IvyKing]

I was getting nervous about the Darksword vulnerability, so updated my SE3 to 26.4 last week... My overall impression of 26 is meh, would have preferred to stay on 18. My iPad updates stopped at 18, noticed it's on 18.7.7 - actually it wasn't, it's updating now.

 

[CarAnalogy]

I’m happy to do that tbh. Do we have the DFU image? Can’t see it in my developer portal.

I have never done it, only heard legends and tales. I believe someone called Mr Macintosh archives the specific ipsw files you need, Apple doesn’t offer them directly.

 

[coolfactor]

It is highly unusual for Apple to provide a security update to iOS 18 users who simply don't want to upgrade to ‌iOS 26‌, as Apple uses security fixes as a way to push people to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS that their device supports.

Nonsense. That's just planned obsolescence thinking, and this latest patch release for iOS 18 is proof.

 

[CarAnalogy]

No fair my brother can update but I can’t because I’m already on 26, IPSW files are only available for devices that cannot upgrade, bummer I was ready to roll back. 😵📱 🔨

That’s the thing. I think with this specific release you can and it will work. But you have to download the ipsw from a trusted third party. Not sure I’m allowed to link it here and I would have to Kagi for it myself.

Downgrade does require total wipe and restore from DFU though.

Disclaimer: i have not done this and I’m not telling you to do it but I think it is possible.

 

[rui no onna]

That’s the thing. I think with this specific release you can and it will work. But you have to download the ipsw from a trusted third party. Not sure I’m allowed to link it here and I would have to Kagi for it myself.

Downgrade does require total wipe and restore from DFU though.

Disclaimer: i have not done this and I’m not telling you to do it but I think it is possible.

I don't think this is available as IPSW though. Just OTA update.

 

[JMStearnsX2]

Updated my 13 Mini from 18.7.2

 

[guesswho183]

As another user moving up form 18.7.3 on 16e is seems to be a blessing in terms of certificates which have been limited to January 2027.
However, these days you never know seeing how agressively Apple pushes 26 everything on their users.
I mean, I'm glad it's official. And yet I wouldn't hold my breath for that one day certificates gotten expired.

I mean, what would prevent them from signing iOS18 certificates expired in a couple of years for 26-capable iOS devices?

I realize this mights sound like some kind of paranoia but I completely lost trust with Apple. It's just there's no one better than them in their eco-system. Yet it doesn't mean they're not acting being nasty once in a while.

I got 14 Pro on 18.7.3, what is problem with certificates? As I know that won't be implemented for IOS 17 and IOS 18.

 

[Ursadorable]

I'm thankful they patched this on iOS 18, because there's no way I'm upgrading to 26. iOS doesn't appear to fixed the complaints I have with 26, so likely will skip that one too.

 

[Morod]

From the original post:
"Devices with older versions of iOS 18 will receive an additional alert to install a Critical Security Update."
Any idea where this might be? I'm on 18.1
ETA: Not available, or apparently not needed, for this version.