Urgent Security Alert: iOS 18.3.1 Update Released For iPhone

Apple has just released iOS 18.3.1 with a strong recommendation for users to update their iPhones as soon as possible. This is necessitated by the existence of another critical security vulnerability being exploited already in attacks in the wild. 

Hence, Apple feels tight-lipped about any details of the fix in iOS 18.3.1 but hopes to give users enough time to update before such details become available to individuals interested in exploiting affected versions.

The update fixes a critical flaw in Accessibility that would allow a physical attack on a locked device to disable USB Restricted Mode. Apple issued a statement, “Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals.”

The vulnerability, CVE-2025-24200 was reported by Bill Marczak, of The Citizen Lab at the Munk School of the University of Toronto.

The security expert informs that USB Restricted Mode came into implementation on iOS 11.4.1 and has been in place ever since. For every accessory that intends to act beyond charging, the device must be unlocked through to connection.  

Security expert Josh Long said, “The feature is critical to consider because it stops hacker tools like Grayshift’s GrayKey from using locked devices. Mostly, these tools are available to governments and law enforcement agencies, but there is always a risk of them being sold to the highest bidder.” 

The Citizen Lab got onto the radar here adds another layer to the vulnerability and the seriousness with which it should be treated, being an organization of investigation into digital espionage against civil society.

Lastly, iOS 18.3.1 would appear to turn Apple Intelligence back on by default, even if it has been turned off by users before updating to iOS 18.3.