Apple's big warning to billions across the globe: Update iPhones and iPads, or else cyber crooks can take control of devices

Apple has urged its millions of user through the whole world to immediately update their iPhones and iPads due to the discovery of a serious security vulnerabilities. According to Daily Mail, Apple has now released some emergency security updates namely iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1 to address the ‘extremely sophisticated’ attacks targeting specific individuals.

The vulnerability which is being identified as CVE-2025-24200 actually involves an authorization issue that could allow a malicious actor to disable the USB Restricted Mode on a locked device via a physical attack.

USB Restricted Mode which was being introduced in iOS 11.4.1 is reportedly a security feature which is being designed to prevent unauthorized access to data on locked devices through USB connections, reported Daily Mail. By bypassing this very mode, attackers now could potentially extract data from the very device.


Apple has not yet disclosed regarding the extensive details but noted that the issue has been exploited in attacks against targeted individuals, asserted Daily Mail. The update is now recommended for iPhone XS and later models too as well as various iPad models.

The vulnerability was first reported by Bill Marczak of The Citizen Lab at The University of Toronto's Munk School. The emergency update now reportedly addresses a flaw in accessibility features while preventing attackers with physical access from disabling USB Restricted Mode, noted Daily Mail.

This mode typically requires a password to connect the iPhone or iPad to a computer via USB while preventing the unauthorized data access and the update also improves the state management to address the authorization issue as well.

FAQs:

What has Apple urged its millions of users quite recently?

Apple has urged its millions of user through the whole world to immediately update their iPhones and iPads due to the discovery of a serious security vulnerabilities.

What is the vulnerability of Apple iPhones is being identified as and what does it involves?

The vulnerability which is being identified as CVE-2025-24200 actually involves an authorization issue that could allow a malicious actor to disable the USB Restricted Mode on a locked device via a physical attack.