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Another day, another Apple iOS 15 security fix, but this time it’s a hefty one. iOS 15.2.1 pushed out to devices a few days ago now for iPhone and iPad, but what does it actually fix? Also, can we read through the lines about Apple finally fixing a massive security exploit?
Well, looking at the Apple support page for iOS 15.2.1 and iPadOS 15.2.1 isn’t giving away much, such is their approach to security updates. For the most part, we can understand them not giving any details about potential vulnerabilities in iOS and PadOS, but telling users what has been fixed isn’t great.
Apple immediately implies big security updates have taken place thanks to the short article opening with their security disclaimer:
“For our customers’ protection, Apple doesn’t disclose, discuss or confirm security issues until an investigation has taken place and patches or releases are available. Recent releases are listed on the Apple security updates page.“
iOS 15.2.1 issues
However, directly underneath the disclaimers and general information, we can see that Apple has finally patched and closed the HomeKit security issue. We predicted this would be fixed before the end of the month alongside other issues. Trevor Spiniolas identified the vulnerability with Apple back in August 2021, which is a bit worrying considering Apple took five months to officially respond and fix.
The vulnerability allowed devices within a HomeKit network to be renamed over the 500,000 character limit, this, in turn, exposed a vulnerability that allowed shady hackers to perform a Denial of Services and hold users iPhones and iCloud accounts ransom. More details can be found here.
Apple has also fixed the CarPlay issue that has been rife in iOS 15 powered devices since its launch back in September. This issue involves third-party apps not working correctly alongside CarPlay software whilst driving, which was less than ideal. Other fixes include battery life across the board, unstable Bluetooth and Apple Watch connections, and unresponsive screens.
All in all, it doesn’t look like iOS 15.2.1 issues are a reality, which is a good thing. We’ll make sure to keep an eye on any future developments and ensure fixes and guides are dropped into our iOS Hub. Why not visit and bookmark?