watchOS 10.6 Security Update

What watchOS 10.6 Fixes

watchOS 10.6, released July 29, 2024, fixes 32 vulnerabilities in 13 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 10.6 a routine security update: worth installing soon, not an emergency.

It is the newest security release for watchOS 10 on Apple's list.

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

Which Devices Get watchOS 10.6

Apple lists watchOS 10.6 for: Apple Watch Series 4 and later.

How to Install watchOS 10.6

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 10.6 there is nothing to do.

Every Fix in watchOS 10.6

All 32 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

• 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

• Sandbox

  An app may be able to bypass Privacy preferences

  This issue was addressed through improved state management.

  CVE-2024-40824

• 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 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

  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

• 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

• 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

watchOS 10 Security Release History

watchOS 10.6 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