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iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 Fix Over 30 Security Vulnerabilities

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The iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 updates that Apple released today include fixes for more than 30 vulnerabilities, which is why it's a good idea to update as soon as possible if you have not done so already.

iphone-14-cyber.jpg

Apple addressed issues with everything from the Graphics Driver to WebKit to the kernel, along with vulnerabilities in Safari, Weather, Photos and more. None of these issues were known to have been actively exploited in the wild, but updating is still important now that they're publicly highlighted.

Apple has provided many of the same fixes in the iOS 15.7.2 and iPadOS 15.7.2 updates available to those who are not able to install iOS 16.2, and there are also fixes in tvOS 16.2, watchOS 9.2, and iCloud for Windows 14.1.

On the Mac, macOS Ventura 13.1 has the same fixes, plus a WebKit vulnerability that may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS released before iOS 15.1, which Apple fixed in iOS 16.1.2.

Those who cannot update to Ventura can install macOS Monterey 12.6.2 or macOS Big Sur 11.7.2 to get protection against some of the vulnerabilities.

Article Link: iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 Fix Over 30 Security Vulnerabilities
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2022/12/13/apple-ios-16-2-security-vulnerabilities-fixed/
Sasparilla said:
Looking for opinion of the folks who ran the beta - good to use on your daily driver?
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I can attest that iPadOS 16.2RC has been running very well. Not seeing excessive battery usage at all. This release is the same build. Safari 16.2 when looking at the blu-ray.com deals URL is working as it should with many images that in the past failed to display when scrolling.
 
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Realityck said:
I can attest that iPadOS 16.2RC has been running very well. Not seeing excessive battery usage at all. This release is the same build.
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Thank you sir, will be bringing my iPhone into 16.


DigitalAR said:
So this means that anyone with an iPhone that is not able to update to iOS 16 is exposed to all these vulnerabilities?

Crazy to think you gotta pay to play safely now.
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It's always been that way Digital - they're just computers. Apple gives 5-6 yrs of major OS updates from release. It's worse over in Android (and always has been), lower end phones often don't even get updates, with higher end ones just getting 4yrs for Sammy now (used to be like 2 years). Of course alot of people just use phones for everything - so they're being targeted more and more.

Same goes for PC's with alot of PC's being artificially restricted from running Windows 11, a ton will loose security updates when Windows 10 doesn't get them anymore (couple of years I think).
 
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DigitalAR said:
So this means that anyone with an iPhone that is not able to update to iOS 16 is exposed to all these vulnerabilities?

Crazy to think you gotta pay to play safely now.
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It literally says this in the article:
Apple has provided many of the same fixes in the iOS 15.7.2 and iPadOS 15.7.2 updates available to those who are not able to install iOS 16.2, and there are also fixes in tvOS 16.2, watchOS 9.2, and iCloud for Windows 14.1.
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Macintosh Quadra 840av said:
You believe your desktop computer is more secure?

For comparison, Microsoft generally patches an average of 50-200 security flaws with each monthly update to Windows.
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Just look at the results of the Pwn2Own competition that just wrapped up. Security researchers sit on these until the competition. Who knows how many other sophisticated organizations have discovered security flaws.

No system is secure. It's just a balance of how many security precautions you are willing to take to make it more difficult to break, vs how much you want to be constantly inconvenienced.

The only organizations that approach full security are military where everything is tightly controlled on threat of prison or death. And even then they have breaches.
 
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I hope Safari is feeling snappier on this update, but what about wireless performance? This AWDL bug is killing end clients at work. 😢
 
DigitalAR said:
So this means that anyone with an iPhone that is not able to update to iOS 16 is exposed to all these vulnerabilities?

Crazy to think you gotta pay to play safely now.
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Nah. A lot of vulnerabilities were added, inadvertently, with each successive updates. The only time it's a real security is when they do only bug fixes with no new features. Look at any system where security/safety is the top priority. It's feature set is a sparse a Lunar landscape.
 
is automated local backup still dead in ios/ipados 16.2?
(asks to enter passcode manually for each backup)
 
Cool about all this security stuff, although quite concerning that they had so many issues...
Now if only they addressed those thousand bugs... been using my 2018 iPad Pro for an hour and I don't use it often, but the experience almost makes me want to put it in the drawer.

- I cannot disable Photos from iCloud on my iPad anymore.
- The device does not always show up in the Finder.
- The storage shows totally different things in the Finder and in the iPad itself.
- There's clearly a UI bug in mass managing lists. Last time I tried, it didn't work and I had to delete 30 files individually.
- Sometimes pressing a button just doesn't do anything at all until you wait 10 seconds.
- Experiencing a bunch of Wi-Fi drops (macOS 13.1 only)

At this point, I wonder if Apple got rid of their quality department ?

I've been pro-Apple since the last 16 years, but now I'm not sure anymore. :-/
 
I wonder how many security vulnerabilities being fixed in 16.2 were created in 16. All but one Apple device in my household is still on 15.7.1. I’ll update them to 15.7.2, thank you very much.

The only exception is my wife’s new iPad Air, which forced me to accept 16.1.2 during set up. Neither of us cares about any of the new “features” in 16.2. and prefer to avoid the bugs that 16 brings.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Apple needs to provide the option of using an “iOS Light” on iPhone and iPad for those whose devices are tools and not toys.
 
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falkon-engine said:
So with all these zero day vulnerabilities, how exactly will sideloading and alternative app stores make iOS less secure?
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“With all the little holes that are already in the bottom of this boat, how exactly will my blasting several much larger holes in it make it take on water faster??” :rolleyes:

Glad they are providing updates for older devices - my 2015 MacBook Pro is stuck on Big Sur.
 
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QCassidy352 said:
Glad they are providing updates for older devices - my 2015 MacBook Pro is stuck on Big Sur.
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Not really.

Serious security vulnerabilities may remain open. Problems in the subsystems are not fixed either, like bugs in APFS.

Apple: "not all known security issues are addressed in previous versions (for example, macOS 12)."

 
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