Apple has let fly with a slew of system updates for its major operating platforms. watchOS also gets a minor refresh with version 11.3.1 and visionOS isn’t left out. iOS 17, macOS 14, and macOS 13 all get a minor update as well.
Apple has provided its usual, less-than-detailed description of what’s been fixed saying the update includes “important bug fixes and security updates”. But digging a little further, tells us that security update rectifies a vulnerability that has been exploited by threat actors.
iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1 is available for: iPhone XS and later, iPad Pro 13-inch, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 7th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later.
Here’s Apple’s summary of the security update:
Impact: A physical attack may disable USB Restricted Mode on a locked device. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals.
Description: An authorization issue was addressed with improved state management.
CVE-2025-24200: Bill Marczak of The Citizen Lab at The University of Toronto’s Munk School
Disclosed vulnerabilities are listed in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures database which can be publicly viewed. The full record of this particular issue can be read here.
Apple says there are no published CVE entries for the macOS, watchOS or visionOS updates. There are no entries for the updates to older versions of iOS or macOS either.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.