The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), which operates under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has issued a high-risk cybersecurity advisory for Apple device users, specifically those using iPhones and iPads. The warning highlights a critical vulnerability in older versions of Apple’s iOS and iPadOS that could allow certain malicious applications to render affected devices unresponsive or completely non-functional until they are restored.
The advisory states that iPhones running software versions earlier than iOS 18.3, and iPads with iPadOS versions older than 17.7.3 or 18.3 (depending on the model), are particularly at risk. This includes devices such as iPhone XS and newer, and a broad range of iPads including the iPad Pro (2nd generation and onwards), iPad 6th generation and later, iPad Air starting from the 3rd generation, and iPad mini from the 5th generation and above.
CERT-In, India’s national agency for cyber threats, emphasized that the identified vulnerabilities could allow attackers to exploit these flaws, potentially compromising the device’s stability and the user’s security. Users are strongly urged to update their devices to the latest available software versions to mitigate any risks.