PSA: Make Sure to Update Soon, macOS Ventura 13.2.1 and iOS 16.3.1 Address Actively Exploited Vulnerability

The macOS Ventura 13.2.1, iPadOS 16.3.1, and iOS 16.3.1 updates that Apple released today include minor bug fixes and address security vulnerabilities, and because one of the vulnerabilities was known to be exploited in the wild, it's important to update to the new software as soon as you can.

Ventura Macs Feature Yellow
According to Apple's security notes for the updates, The software fixes a WebKit issue that could allow maliciously crafted web content to result in arbitrary code execution. Apple says that it is "aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited."

The vulnerability was a type confusion issue that Apple says has been addressed with improved checks.

While there are no other notable fixes in macOS Ventura 13.2.1, the iOS 16.3.1 update adds a Siri Find My fix, addresses a problem with iCloud settings, and introduces additional Crash Detection optimizations for iPhone 14 models.

Related Forums: iOS 16, macOS Ventura

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Top Rated Comments

v0lume4 Avatar
24 months ago
Nope! I'm staying on iOS 15.7 with my stability and good battery life. YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RalfTheDog Avatar
24 months ago
Updating as soon as I finish posting this. Not visiting any shady marmot porn websites until I do.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
one more Avatar
24 months ago
Were not important security updates meant to be installed automatically by the OS now, without any user intervention?
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jent Avatar
24 months ago
What about prior OS versions?
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ElectricPotato Avatar
24 months ago
Maybe it will work with Pioneer optical drives again. Or maybe not.

Edit: It does! Yay.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tywebb13 Avatar
24 months ago
There is also a Safari update 16.3 for Big Sur and Monterey to fix it on those systems too.

http://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/30/47/032-38743-A_CT6YB7IU0E/etlliehrvoqmlrb8mso9d2lh8vtnb59e0o/Safari16.3BigSurAuto.pkg

(build 16614.4.6.11.6)

https://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/61/07/032-38754-A_I6L5FGHO4W/6vezgtgkabm4112wd26y1moii3kak18ykb/Safari16.3MontereyAuto.pkg

(build 17614.4.6.11.6)

Note on how to find build numbers without actually installing it:

1. Copy the url and change the last letter from g to m and download the pkm file instead of the pkg file.

2. Open the pkm file with textedit and scroll down to the line that looks like this (I am using the monterey one as an example)

<bundle CFBundleVersion="17614.4.6.11.6" CFBundleShortVersionString="17614" SourceVersion="7614004006011006" id="com.apple.JavaScriptCore" path="./Library/Apple/System/Library/

This means the build number is 17614.4.6.11.6

Note about the version number:

There is some confusion as to the version number of Safari for Big Sur and Monterey. Currently it installs as Version 16.3, but security info suggests it should be 16.3.1: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213638 and https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT201222 . So long as the build numbers are 16614.4.6.11.6 for Big Sur or 17614.4.6.11.6 for Monterey, it is up-to-date regardless of Version numbers. Apple may re-release them with version number 16.3.1 but I would suggest it would be easier to re-edit the security info and just change that back to 16.3 instead - and maybe be more specific about the build numbers.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)