Apple has released iOS 12.5.6 for older iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models. The update features a security fix for WebKit. This issue has reportedly been actively exploited, so if you using one of these older devices, it is recommend that you upgrade right away.
iOS 12.5.6 changelog
As per Apple, this security update fixes a flaw in WebKit which allowed malicious web content to execute arbitrary code on the device. Apple fixed this issue by improving bounds checking for the out-of-bounds write issue.
WebKit
Available for: iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air, iPad mini 2, iPad mini 3, and iPod touch (6th generation)
Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.
Description: An out-of-bounds write issue was addressed with improved bounds checking.
Apple had also resolved this WebKit security flaw with iOS 15.6.1, iPadOS 15.6.1, and macOS Monterey 12.5.1, which were all released recently. However, older Macs did not receive a macOS update with this security fix.
Supported devices
The following older devices are compatible with this software update.
- iPhone 5s
- iPhone 6
- iPhone 6 Plus
- iPad Air
- iPad mini 2
- iPad mini 3
- iPod touch (6th generation)
It is interesting to note that iPhone 5s was released back in 2013, which is a little under 9 years ago. It is great to see that Apple is still supporting it with security updates, which is something you rarely see in Android smartphones.
Update to iOS 12.5.6
To upgrade your device, which we highly recommend, go to Settings > General > Software Update. Wait for a bit and the new update will show up. Tap on download and install to start the process. It may take a while for the download to complete, followed by a restart which will complete the update process. Before starting the update, make sure that you are connected to a stable Wi-Fi network and have at least 50% battery charge.
