iOS 17.6 Security Update

What iOS 17.6 Fixes

iOS 17.6 and iPadOS 17.6, released July 29, 2024, fixes 40 vulnerabilities in 16 parts of the system, according to Apple's security advisory.

Apple does not say that any of them were exploited before the fix. That makes iOS 17.6 a routine security update: worth installing soon, not an emergency.

It has since been superseded: the newest security release for iOS 17 is iOS 17.7.2 and iPadOS 17.7.2, from November 19, 2024, which includes these fixes.

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

Which Devices Get iOS 17.6

Apple lists iOS 17.6 and iPadOS 17.6 for: iPhone XS and later, iPad Pro 13-inch, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 2nd generation and later, iPad Pro 10.5-inch, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 6th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later.

How to Install iOS 17.6

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 17.6 there is nothing to do.

Every Fix in iOS 17.6

All 40 CVEs in Apple's advisory, 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.

• Kernel

  A local attacker may be able to determine kernel memory layout

  An information disclosure issue was addressed with improved private data redaction for log entries.

  CVE-2024-27863

• Siri

  A sandboxed app may be able to access sensitive user data in system logs

  A privacy issue was addressed with improved private data redaction for log entries.

  CVE-2024-44205

• AppleMobileFileIntegrity

  An app may be able to bypass Privacy preferences

  A downgrade issue was addressed with additional code-signing restrictions.

  CVE-2024-40774

• dyld

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

  A race condition was addressed with additional validation.

  CVE-2024-40815

• Family Sharing

  An app may be able to read sensitive location information

  This issue was addressed with improved data protection.

  CVE-2024-40795

• libxpc

  An app may be able to bypass Privacy preferences

  A permissions issue was addressed with additional restrictions.

  CVE-2024-40805

• Phone

  An attacker with physical access may be able to use Siri to access sensitive user data

  A lock screen issue was addressed with improved state management.

  CVE-2024-40813

• Photos Storage

  Photos in the Hidden Photos Album may be viewed without authentication

  An authentication issue was addressed with improved state management.

  CVE-2024-40778

• Sandbox

  An app may be able to bypass Privacy preferences

  This issue was addressed through improved state management.

  CVE-2024-40824

• Sandbox

  An app may be able to access protected user data

  A path handling issue was addressed with improved validation.

  CVE-2024-27871

• Shortcuts

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

  A logic issue was addressed with improved checks.

  CVE-2024-40835 CVE-2024-40836

• Shortcuts

  A shortcut may be able to bypass Internet permission requirements

  A logic issue was addressed with improved checks.

  CVE-2024-40809 CVE-2024-40812

• Shortcuts

  A shortcut may be able to bypass Internet permission requirements

  This issue was addressed by adding an additional prompt for user consent.

  CVE-2024-40787

• Shortcuts

  An app may be able to access user-sensitive data

  This issue was addressed by removing the vulnerable code.

  CVE-2024-40793

• Siri

  An attacker may be able to view sensitive user information

  This issue was addressed through improved state management.

  CVE-2024-40786

• Siri

  An attacker with physical access may be able to use Siri to access sensitive user data

  This issue was addressed by restricting options offered on a locked device.

  CVE-2024-40818

• Siri

  An attacker with physical access to a device may be able to access contacts from the lock screen

  This issue was addressed by restricting options offered on a locked device.

  CVE-2024-40822

• VoiceOver

  An attacker may be able to view restricted content from the lock screen

  The issue was addressed with improved checks.

  CVE-2024-40829

• WebKit

  Private Browsing tabs may be accessed without authentication

  This issue was addressed through improved state management.

  CVE-2024-40794

• WebKit

  A user may be able to bypass some web content restrictions

  An issue in the handling of URL protocols was addressed with improved logic.

  CVE-2024-44206

• CoreGraphics

  Processing a maliciously crafted file may lead to unexpected app termination

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

  CVE-2024-40799

• CoreMedia

  Processing a maliciously crafted video file may lead to unexpected app termination

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

  CVE-2024-27873

• ImageIO

  Processing an image may lead to a denial-of-service

  This is a vulnerability in open source code and Apple Software is among the affected projects. The CVE-ID was assigned by a third party. Learn more about the issue and CVE-ID at cve.org.

  CVE-2023-6277 CVE-2023-52356

• ImageIO

  Processing a maliciously crafted file may lead to unexpected app termination

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

  CVE-2024-40806

• ImageIO

  Processing a maliciously crafted file may lead to unexpected app termination

  An out-of-bounds access issue was addressed with improved bounds checking.

  CVE-2024-40777

• ImageIO

  Processing a maliciously crafted file may lead to unexpected app termination

  An integer overflow was addressed with improved input validation.

  CVE-2024-40784

• WebKit

  Processing web content may lead to a denial-of-service

  The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

  CVE-2024-54551

• WebKit

  Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected process crash

  A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management.

  CVE-2024-40776 CVE-2024-40782

• WebKit

  Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected process crash

  An out-of-bounds read was addressed with improved bounds checking.

  CVE-2024-40779 CVE-2024-40780

• WebKit

  Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected process crash

  An out-of-bounds access issue was addressed with improved bounds checking.

  CVE-2024-40789

• WebKit

  Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected process crash

  The issue was addressed with improved checks.

  CVE-2024-44185

• WebKit

  Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to an unexpected process crash

  This is a vulnerability in open source code and Apple Software is among the affected projects. The CVE-ID was assigned by a third party. Learn more about the issue and CVE-ID at cve.org.

  CVE-2024-4558

• AirDrop

  A file received from AirDrop may not have the quarantine flag applied

  This issue was addressed through improved state management.

  CVE-2024-54564

• Kernel

  A local attacker may be able to cause unexpected system shutdown

  A type confusion issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

  CVE-2024-40788

• WebKit

  Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to a cross site scripting attack

  This issue was addressed with improved checks.

  CVE-2024-40785

iOS 17 Security Release History

iOS 17.6 in context: the security releases Apple has published for iOS 17, 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