iPhone and Mac Users at Risk as CERT-In Warns About Actively Exploited Security Flaw

India’s cybersecurity agency CERT-In has warned Apple users about a serious vulnerability affecting iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. The agency advised users to install the latest software updates after the flaw was found to be actively exploited against specific targets.

The warning, issued on October 1, covers vulnerabilities affecting iOS, iPadOS and macOS. The affected flaw, tracked as CVE-2026-86950, could allow attackers to run harmful code on a vulnerable Apple device. CERT-In said the vulnerability was being used in a highly sophisticated attack targeting specific individuals. Apple has also acknowledged that the security issue may have been exploited in targeted attacks.

According to CERT-In, iPhones and iPads running versions older than iOS and iPadOS 26.7.1 are affected. Mac users should also check their operating system versions. Devices running macOS Tahoe versions older than 26.7.1 and macOS Sequoia versions older than 15.8.1 are covered by the warning. Apple released iOS 26.7.1 and iPadOS 26.7.1 on September 28. The company has also released macOS Tahoe 26.7.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.8.1 for compatible Mac computers.

The vulnerability can reportedly be triggered when a user opens a specially crafted malicious file. If successfully exploited, the flaw could allow an attacker to run unauthorised code on the device and potentially access sensitive information. The issue affects iOS, iPadOS and macOS versions that have not received the latest security patches and could put personal files, messages and other data at risk. The targeted nature of the attacks suggests that specific individuals may be being targeted. Users should therefore be cautious with unknown files, email attachments and suspicious messages, particularly when they come from unfamiliar sources, and install the latest security updates as soon as possible.

The most important step is to update Apple devices as soon as possible. On an iPhone or iPad & Mac, go to Settings > General > Software Update and install the latest available update. Because the vulnerability has reportedly been exploited in real-world attacks, users should not delay installing the available security patches.

The key takeaway is simple that if you use an iPhone, iPad or Mac, check for updates now. Keeping Apple devices updated is one of the easiest ways to protect against known security threats.

This article is based on information from Times Now