watchOS 10.3 Security Update

What watchOS 10.3 Fixes

watchOS 10.3, released January 22, 2024, fixes 14 vulnerabilities in 11 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 watchOS 10.3 a routine security update: worth installing soon, not an emergency.

It has since been superseded: the newest security release for watchOS 10 is watchOS 10.6, from July 29, 2024, which includes these fixes.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 watchOS 10.3

Apple lists watchOS 10.3 for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later.

How to Install watchOS 10.3

Open the Watch app on the paired iPhone, then General → Software Update. The watch needs to be on its charger and within range of the iPhone.

Security fixes are cumulative: any later release for the same version includes these as well, so if you are already past watchOS 10.3 there is nothing to do.

Every Fix in watchOS 10.3

All 14 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.

• Apple Neural Engine

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

  The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

  CVE-2024-23212

• Kernel

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

  The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

  CVE-2024-23208

• WebKit

  Processing web content may lead to arbitrary code execution

  The issue was addressed with improved memory handling.

  CVE-2024-23213

• CoreCrypto

  An attacker may be able to decrypt legacy RSA PKCS#1 v1.5 ciphertexts without having the private key

  A timing side-channel issue was addressed with improvements to constant-time computation in cryptographic functions.

  CVE-2024-23218

• Mail Search

  An app may be able to access sensitive user data

  This issue was addressed with improved redaction of sensitive information.

  CVE-2024-23207

• NSSpellChecker

  An app may be able to access sensitive user data

  A privacy issue was addressed with improved handling of files.

  CVE-2024-23223

• Safari

  A user's private browsing activity may be visible in Settings

  A privacy issue was addressed with improved handling of user preferences.

  CVE-2024-23211

• Shortcuts

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

  The issue was addressed with additional permissions checks.

  CVE-2024-23204

• Shortcuts

  An app may be able to bypass certain Privacy preferences

  A privacy issue was addressed with improved handling of temporary files.

  CVE-2024-23217

• TCC

  An app may be able to access user-sensitive data

  An issue was addressed with improved handling of temporary files.

  CVE-2024-23215

• WebKit

  A malicious website may cause unexpected cross-origin behavior

  A logic issue was addressed with improved checks.

  CVE-2024-23271

• libxpc

  An app may be able to cause a denial-of-service

  A permissions issue was addressed with additional restrictions.

  CVE-2024-23201

• Time Zone

  An app may be able to view a user's phone number in system logs

  This issue was addressed with improved redaction of sensitive information.

  CVE-2024-23210

• WebKit

  A maliciously crafted webpage may be able to fingerprint the user

  An access issue was addressed with improved access restrictions.

  CVE-2024-23206

watchOS 10 Security Release History

watchOS 10.3 in context: the security releases Apple has published for watchOS 10, 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