Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

End of the line for iOS 18 updates?

I have a 14 PM and mine does not show the option to update to iOS 18 anymore; only 26. I have 17.7. I did not update because of the redesigned Photos App.

Is there a way to still get iOS 18 ?
 
The release notes have been updated.
iOS 18.7.3 and iPadOS 18.7.3
Available for:
iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPad Pro 13-inch, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 7th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Initial release notes: “iPhone XS and later"
Updated release notes: "iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR"

Just as in the previous years, we can now assume that iOS 18 updates will only be released for devices that don’t support iOS 26.
 
  • Like
Reactions: winxmac, schneeland, tranceking26 and 1 other person
It's a bit odd to receive the update for my relatively new iPad Mini 7, but not for my aging iPhone 11.
Thanks to the people pointing to the beta program! I guess, I can sit out the update on my private phone a bit longer now.
 
schneeland said:
It's a bit odd to receive the update for my relatively new iPad Mini 7, but not for my aging iPhone 11.
Thanks to the people pointing to the beta program! I guess, I can sit out the update on my private phone a bit longer now.
Click to expand...
I know, why is it so important that the iPhone 11 users update to iOS 26 but not for the newest iPad Pros? It’s like they’re trying to ruin everything about it to get us to upgrade.
 
bogdanw said:
The release notes have been updated.
iOS 18.7.3 and iPadOS 18.7.3
Available for:
iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPad Pro 13-inch, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 7th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Initial release notes: “iPhone XS and later"
Updated release notes: "iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR"

Just as in the previous years, we can now assume that iOS 18 updates will only be released for devices that don’t support iOS 26.
Click to expand...

Thanks for highlighting this. I don't like it but I like the clarification...
 
bogdanw said:
iOS 18.7.4 was released only for iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR
https://support.apple.com/en-us/100100
No beta for other devices, like my iPhone SE 2.
Click to expand...

Likewise. Good news is that iOS 18.7.4 only appears to update iOS 18.7.3 with new root certificates and modem/cellular firmware that breaks things in Australia (and elsewhere?). From what I can tell new root certificates can be installed manually though not quite as easily as Android.

I haven't tried yet. Has anyone done this with current or previous versions of iOS? Ideally without using enterprise tools, creating a profile, etc?
 
bogdanw said:
Yes, Apple will re-release iOS 18.7.4 for iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR.
Click to expand...
Ok, thanks. I was able to put my 13 Mini on the 18.7.3 public beta before Apple put a stop to that, and now it sounds like it truly is the end of the line for IOS 18 updates.
 
Apple is signing 12.5.8, 15.8.6, and 18.7.4 again as of this afternoon.

The issue is with 16.7.13 on Telstra Australia. Users can back up their data, wipe the device by installing 16.7.12 which is still being signed. This will erase all data!

iPhone 8 IPSW 16.7.12

iPhone 8 Plus IPSW 16.7.12

iPhone X IPSW 16.7.12

We've identified an issue with some older Apple devices connecting to our network - Telstra

We're currently investigating an issue making and receiving calls, including calls to 000, on older Apple iPhone devices.
www.telstra.com.au www.telstra.com.au
 
"A powerful iPhone-hacking technique known as DarkSword has been discovered in use by Russian hackers. It can take over devices running iOS 18 that simply visit infected websites."
https://www.wired.com/story/hundred...-be-hacked-with-a-new-tool-found-in-the-wild/
"Inside DarkSword: A New iOS Exploit Kit Delivered Via Compromised Legitimate Websites"
https://iverify.io/blog/darksword-ios-exploit-kit-explained
"New “Darksword” iOS exploit used in infostealer attack on iPhones"
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/ne...xploit-used-in-infostealer-attack-on-iphones/
 
bogdanw said:
"A powerful iPhone-hacking technique known as DarkSword has been discovered in use by Russian hackers. It can take over devices running iOS 18 that simply visit infected websites."
https://www.wired.com/story/hundred...-be-hacked-with-a-new-tool-found-in-the-wild/
"Inside DarkSword: A New iOS Exploit Kit Delivered Via Compromised Legitimate Websites"
https://iverify.io/blog/darksword-ios-exploit-kit-explained
"New “Darksword” iOS exploit used in infostealer attack on iPhones"
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/ne...xploit-used-in-infostealer-attack-on-iphones/
Click to expand...
From iVerify:
"The exploits specifically targeted devices running iOS versions from 18.4 through 18.6.2. The exploit that we found only had config data for iOS 18.4 - 18.6.2, and Apple gradually addressed the underlying bugs and techniques it leveraged in security patches in iOS 26.1, iOS 26.2, and iOS 26.3."

If I interpret that correctly, the latest iOS 18 versions are not impacted. Though the comment about underlying bugs being addressed via iOS 26 updates does add some ambiguity.
 
bogdanw said:
"A powerful iPhone-hacking technique known as DarkSword has been discovered in use by Russian hackers. It can take over devices running iOS 18 that simply visit infected websites."
https://www.wired.com/story/hundred...-be-hacked-with-a-new-tool-found-in-the-wild/
"Inside DarkSword: A New iOS Exploit Kit Delivered Via Compromised Legitimate Websites"
https://iverify.io/blog/darksword-ios-exploit-kit-explained
"New “Darksword” iOS exploit used in infostealer attack on iPhones"
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/ne...xploit-used-in-infostealer-attack-on-iphones/
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing -- it looks like iOS 18.7.3 is safe for now but we should assume its time is coming as well. For those not given the option of iOS 18.7.4/5/6, it looks like we'll have to start making choices about iOS 26 sooner rather than later.

I am confused about this note from one of the postings:
Furthermore, these exploits would not be effective without additional bypasses on devices where Lockdown Mode is active or on the iPhone 17 with Memory Integrity Enforcement (MIE) enabled.
Click to expand...

The way I read that those things make things worse but I don't think that is what the authors meant.
 
gustophersmob said:
From iVerify:
"The exploits specifically targeted devices running iOS versions from 18.4 through 18.6.2. The exploit that we found only had config data for iOS 18.4 - 18.6.2, and Apple gradually addressed the underlying bugs and techniques it leveraged in security patches in iOS 26.1, iOS 26.2, and iOS 26.3."

If I interpret that correctly, the latest iOS 18 versions are not impacted. Though the comment about underlying bugs being addressed via iOS 26 updates does add some ambiguity.
Click to expand...

My ~ quick reading of all those articles is that iOS 18.7.3 is safe from these attacks but even iOS 18.7 (and possibly iOS 18.7.2) is vulnerable.

The iVerify article did mention two vulnerabilities used in the attack chains not patched until 18.7.3 (so iOS 18.7.2 is vulnerable to at least part of the attack chains used):
CVE-2025-43529
CVE-2025-14174

There was also some mention that Google researchers found logic checking for iOS 18.7 in the DarkSword code and I would assume then there is a known attack chain for that version as well.

Given that iOS 18.7.6 patched the same security updates included in iOS 26.3.1, and that version just had an emergency security update released on top of it, I'm guessing known attach chains have been found in the wild up through those versions, too.

If Lockdown Mode has been blocking these attacks preemptively (that is deflecting them before the patches were made available), that may be my next stop simply to reduce mental energy thinking about all this...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back