Apple has released iOS 12.5.5 software update for older iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models. This update contains important security updates for vulnerabilities in CoreGraphics, WebKit, and XNU. Apple says that these exploits have been actively exploited, so if you are using any of these older devices, it is recommended that you update your software right away.
Apple has also released updates for macOS Catalina and iTunes for Windows with security fixes.
iOS 12.5.5 – yet another Apple software update with security fixes
Although Apple is still amazingly supporting devices as old as iPad Air 2, which is almost 7 years old, with iOS 15, the company still releases important security patches for older iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch models that run iOS 12.
iOS 12.5.5 has been released to fix vulnerabilities reported in CoreGraphics, WebKit, and XNU, which could be exploited by malicious PDF, web content, or applications. This could allow hackers to run arbitrary code with escalated privileges. It was been reported that these flaws were used by NSO Pegasus. Apple had previously released iOS 14.7.1 to fix NSO Pegasus-related security flaws in newer iPhone and iPad models.
iOS 12.5.5 is supported on the following models:
- iPhone 5s
- iPhone 6
- iPhone 6 Plus
- iPad Air
- iPad mini 2
- iPad mini 3
- iPod touch (6th generation)
To update, simply go to Settings > General > Software Update on your compatible device. Once the update shows up, tap on ‘Download and Install’. Make sure that you have at least 50% battery charge and are connected to a stable Wi-Fi network during the update.
Apple had previously released iOS 12.5.4 in June for older iPhone and iPad models with security fixes.
2021 has been a crazy year for security flaws in all software, including Apple’s various operating systems. Here are previous security updates released by Apple so far this year:
- Apple releases iOS 14.8 and iPadOS 14.8 with security fixes
- watchOS 7.6.2 released with important security fix
- macOS Big Sur 11.6 released with two important security fixes
- Apple releases macOS Big Sur 11.5.1 with security fix
- Apple releases watchOS 7.6.1 with security fix that may have been actively exploited
- watchOS 7.4.1 released with fix for another WebKit security flaw
- Apple releases macOS Big Sur 11.3.1 with WebKit security fixes
- Apple releases watchOS 7.3.3 with security fix for WebKit flaw
- iOS 14.7 fixes Wi-Fi bug along with 30 other security vulnerabilities
- Apple seeds macOS Big Sur 11.2.3 update with WebKit security fixes
- watchOS 7.3.2 released with WebKit security fix
- Apple releases iOS 14.4.1 and iPadOS 14.4.1 with WebKit security fix
- iOS 14.4.2 and iPadOS 14.4.2 released with security fix that may have been exploited in the wild
- iOS 14.4 fixes security flaws that might have been actively exploited
