Samuel Axon
As we speak, Apple launched a number of new working system updates to the general public: iOS 15.3, iPadOS 15.3, macOS Monterey 12.2, watchOS 8.4, tvOS 15.3, and HomePod Software program 15.3.
The replace notes for these releases are a few of the leanest I’ve seen. iOS, iPadOS, and macOS merely state that the replace “contains bug fixes and safety updates” and is “beneficial for all customers.”
iOS and iPadOS 15.3 don’t add any new user-facing options. Slightly, they repair a number of key safety points. Probably the most notable is a zeroday vulnerability that was being exploited within the wild. Tracked as CVE-2022-22587, the risk stems from a reminiscence corruption bug within the IOMobileFrameBuffer. Hackers who efficiently exploit the bug can execute malicious code with kernel privileges on susceptible units. The vulnerability additionally resides in macOS Monterey.
“Apple is conscious of a report that this problem might have been actively exploited,” Apple stated in Wednesday’s launch notes.
Apple additionally patched a previously reported Safari vulnerability that allowed web sites that use the widespread IndexedDB API to access the names of databases from other websites. Be aware that this additionally affected different browsers on iOS and never simply Safari (that is as a result of all iOS internet browsers should use WebKit). macOS 12.2 fixes the identical bug within the desktop model of Safari. (In contrast to iOS, there are macOS internet browsers that weren’t affected.)
For the total listing of safety updates in iOS and iPadOS, go to Apple’s support page on the topic. There is a related page for macOS, too.
macOS 12.2 additionally lastly makes Apple Music absolutely native and AppKit-based in macOS, and the replace improves the smoothness of scrolling in Safari on Macs with 120 Hz ProMotion shows.
As for the Apple Watch replace, it is all about bug fixes once more. Particularly, watchOS 8.4 fixes a widespread problem that prevented some Apple Watch Sequence 7 house owners from having the ability to correctly cost the machine from sure chargers.
Updates to the Apple TV and HomePod software program additionally hit right this moment. The HomePod 15.3 replace “provides Siri voice recognition assist for as much as six customers in a house in English (India) and Italian (Italy)” plus “efficiency and stability enhancements.” The HomePod mini launched in each Italy and India late final 12 months.
Apple did not publish any particulars in regards to the tvOS replace, however that replace seemingly supplied efficiency and stability enhancements below the hood, too.
Apple has been busy exterior the realm of software program updates this week as nicely. For months, customers have been complaining to app builders about iCloud syncing points accompanied by error messages that say, “request failed with HTTP Standing Code 503.” Builders shortly acknowledged that this was an issue on Apple’s finish, whilst many customers assumed the fault was the builders’.
Now, builders are saying on Twitter and elsewhere that the iCloud Sync bug appears to be fastened. Apple hasn’t but launched a public assertion on it, although.
All the aforementioned software program updates can be found to all supported units beginning right this moment.
