Apple releases iOS 26.5.2 with dozens of security fixes for iPhone

Apple has released iOS 26.5.2 and iPadOS 26.5.2 with security fixes that focuses heavily on WebKit and related web technologies

Apple has released iOS 26.5.2 and iPadOS 26.5.2, which are security-only updates for the iPhone and the iPad. The update brings a bunch of security fixes for WebKit, WebRTC, WebKit Storage, WebKit Canvas, Web Extensions, libxslt, IOGPUFamily, and even the kernel.

Some of the WebKit issues that were fixed could have allowed malicious web content to disclose sensitive user information, exfiltrate cross-origin data, crash Safari, or process restricted web content outside the browser sandbox.

One notable WebKit Storage bug could let a malicious website to silently hijack clipboard data, according to Apple’s description. Other WebKit-related flaws involved memory corruption, use-after-free bugs, type confusion, out-of-bounds writes, permissions problems, and cross-origin data handling issues.

The update also includes three kernel-related fixes. Apple says one of the flaws could let an app write kernel memory or cause unexpected system termination, while another may leak sensitive kernel state, and a third could corrupt kernel memory or terminate the system unexpectedly.

Although Apple hasn't described them as remote web attacks, kernel bugs are still important to fix, as they can sometimes be chained with other flaws to escape app or browser restrictions.

The updates are available for iPhone 11 and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 8th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later.

Similar security fixes also came with the latest update to macOS Tahoe 26.5.2, which Apple released on the same day. That overlap is not surprising, since Safari, WebKit, WebRTC, and other underlying components are shared across Apple’s platforms.

Users are advised to update their devices sooner rather than later as these security fixes are crucial. iOS 26.5.2 can be installed from Settings > General > Software Update. Similarly, Mac users can find macOS Tahoe 26.5.2 through System Settings > General > Software Update.