Apple issues security update for iPhone, iPad and Macs

Apple released an emergency security update Thursday, disclosing that there were vulnerabilities for certain iPhone, iPad and Mac products.

The company said that the software update would protect the products, because these vulnerabilities were disclosed in a software update.

The potential for an application to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, which refers to a discrete right to perform an operation, was the first issue.

The second issue, according to Apple, was in WebKit, a layout engine designed to allow web browsers to render web pages.

Apple said it was aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited. The issue could allow a potential attacker to take complete control of these devices.

Security experts have advised users to update affected devices, including the iPhone 6 s and later models, several models of the iPad, including the 5th generation and later, all iPad Pro models and iPad Air 2 and Mac computers running MacOS Monterey. The iPod touch 7th generation models are also affected by the vulnerabilities.

A hacker could get full admin access to the device, so they can execute any code as if they are you, the user, said Rachel Tobac, CEO of SocialProof Security.

People who are in the public eye, such as activists or journalists, could be the target of sophisticated nation-state spying, Tobac said.