iOS 16.7.8 Security Update

What iOS 16.7.8 Fixes

iOS 16.7.8 and iPadOS 16.7.8, released May 13, 2024, fixes 24 vulnerabilities in 17 parts of the system, according to Apple's security advisory.

Apple says one of these flaws — CVE-2024-23296 — may already have been exploited. That makes iOS 16.7.8 an update to install now rather than at the weekend.

It has since been superseded: the newest security release for iOS 16 is iOS 16.7.16 and iPadOS 16.7.16, from May 11, 2026, which includes these fixes.

Grouped by us from the impact Apple gives for each fix; the impact lines below are Apple's own.

Exploited Before the Fix

Apple flags a fix as possibly exploited when it has a credible report that the flaw was used against real people before the patch. This one is the reason to update today.

• RTKit Exploited

  An attacker with arbitrary kernel read and write capability may be able to bypass kernel memory protections. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited.

  A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved validation.

  CVE-2024-23296

Which Devices Get iOS 16.7.8

Apple lists iOS 16.7.8 and iPadOS 16.7.8 for: iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPad 5th generation, iPad Pro 9.7-inch, and iPad Pro 12.9-inch 1st generation.

How to Install iOS 16.7.8

On the iPhone, open Settings → General → Software Update. If more than one update is offered, the one with the higher version number is the current release; the other is for people who want to stay on the previous major version.

Security fixes are cumulative: any later release for the same version includes these as well, so if you are already past iOS 16.7.8 there is nothing to do.

Every Fix in iOS 16.7.8

The rest of Apple's advisory — every fix not already listed above, the most serious kinds first. Each entry is the part of the system affected, Apple's description of the impact and the fix, and the CVE ID.

• AVEVideoEncoder

  An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges

  The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

  CVE-2024-40771

• CoreMedia

  An app may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges

  The issue was addressed with improved checks.

  CVE-2024-27817

• CoreMedia

  Processing a file may lead to unexpected app termination or arbitrary code execution

  An out-of-bounds write issue was addressed with improved input validation.

  CVE-2024-27831

• Kernel

  A user may be able to cause unexpected app termination or arbitrary code execution

  The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

  CVE-2024-27818

• Kernel

  An attacker that has already achieved kernel code execution may be able to bypass kernel memory protections

  The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

  CVE-2024-27840

• Metal

  Processing a maliciously crafted file may lead to unexpected app termination or arbitrary code execution

  An out-of-bounds read was addressed with improved input validation.

  CVE-2024-27802

• WebKit

  Processing a file may lead to unexpected app termination or arbitrary code execution

  The issue was addressed with improved checks.

  CVE-2024-27856

• WebKit

  Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution

  An integer overflow was addressed with improved input validation.

  CVE-2024-27833

• WebKit Web Inspector

  Processing web content may lead to arbitrary code execution

  The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

  CVE-2024-27820

• IOHIDFamily

  An unprivileged app may be able to log keystrokes in other apps including those using secure input mode

  This issue was addressed with additional entitlement checks.

  CVE-2024-27799

• Kernel

  An attacker in a privileged network position may be able to spoof network packets

  A race condition was addressed with improved locking.

  CVE-2024-27823

• Voice Control

  A user may be able to elevate privileges

  The issue was addressed with improved checks.

  CVE-2024-27796

• Core Data

  An app may be able to access sensitive user data

  An issue was addressed with improved validation of environment variables.

  CVE-2024-27805

• Foundation

  An app may be able to access user-sensitive data

  A logic issue was addressed with improved checks.

  CVE-2024-27789

• Mail

  An attacker with physical access may be able to leak Mail account credentials

  An authentication issue was addressed with improved state management.

  CVE-2024-23251

• Shortcuts

  A shortcut may be able to use sensitive data with certain actions without prompting the user

  The issue was addressed with improved checks.

  CVE-2024-27855

• Spotlight

  An app may be able to access sensitive user data

  This issue was addressed with improved environment sanitization.

  CVE-2024-27806

• Symptom Framework

  An app may be able to circumvent App Privacy Report logging

  The issue was addressed with improved checks.

  CVE-2024-27807

• Sync Services

  An app may be able to bypass Privacy preferences

  This issue was addressed with improved checks

  CVE-2024-27847

• WebKit

  A malicious attacker with arbitrary read and write capability may be able to bypass Pointer Authentication

  The issue was addressed with improved checks.

  CVE-2024-27834

• Messages

  Processing a maliciously crafted message may lead to a denial-of-service

  This issue was addressed by removing the vulnerable code.

  CVE-2024-27800

• Mail

  A maliciously crafted email may be able to initiate FaceTime calls without user authorization

  The issue was addressed with improved checks.

  CVE-2024-23282

• WebKit

  A maliciously crafted webpage may be able to fingerprint the user

  The issue was addressed by adding additional logic.

  CVE-2024-27838

iOS 16 Security Release History

iOS 16.7.8 in context: the security releases Apple has published for iOS 16, newest first, with the number of fixes each carried.

The Same Fixes Elsewhere

Apple ships most fixes to every platform that shares the code, and to older versions still under support. These releases close at least one of the same CVEs:

Frequently Asked Questions