iOS 16.5.1 (a) and macOS 13.4.1 (a) Security Updates Pulled Hours After Rollout, Apple Responds [Updated]

Users who have already installed the latest software release can remove the Rapid Security Response Updates to downgrade their iPhone and iPad.

Written by David Delima, Edited by Siddharth Suvarna | Updated: 12 July 2023 09:13 IST

iOS 16.5.1 (a) and macOS 13.4.1 (a) Security Updates Pulled Hours After Rollout, Apple Responds [Updated]

Apple rolled out iOS 16.5.1 and iOS 15.7.7 with important security fixes last month

Highlights

iOS 16.5.1 (a) and iPadOS 16.5.1 RSR updates were rolled out on Monday
Users can choose to remove the update due to the new Safari bug
Apple is expected to roll out a new RSR update after resolving the bug

iOS 16.5.1 (a) and macOS 13.4.1 (a) were rolled out by Apple on Monday as Rapid Security Response (RSR) updates for the company's phones, tablets, and Mac computers. The update included fixes for a vulnerability in Apple's browser engine that may have been used by hackers to execute malicious code remotely on a user's device and gain access to their data. However, hours after rolling out the security update, Apple has reportedly pulled the software update due to a bug and is expected to roll it out once the issue is resolved.

Update: Apple has acknowledged the issue with the Rapid Security Response update and the company explained that a fix will roll out to users soon.

Apple is aware of an issue where this Rapid Security Response might prevent some websites from displaying properly. Rapid Security Response iOS 16.5.1 (b) and iPadOS 16.5.1 (b) will be available soon to address this issue.

The iOS 16.5.1 (a) and iPadOS 16.5.1 RSR updates were rolled out to users on Monday, along with a fix for a WebKit vulnerability that would allow arbitrary code execution while processing malicious web content. Apple advised all users to install the update as it was aware of a report that the security flaw was actively exploited and credited an anonymous researcher with identifying the flaw.

iOS 16.5.1 Rolls Out; macOS, iPadOS and watchOS Updates Follow: What's New

However, user reports on the MacRumors forum claimed that websites like Facebook, Instagram, Zoom, and WhatsApp began to show them a warning that the company's Safari browser wasn't supported. This is reportedly due to the inclusion of the (a) from update version in the "user agent" for Safari, that identifies the user when connecting to a website.

Apple has reportedly pulled the update after the bug was discovered. Users who have downloaded and installed the update can downgrade to iOS 16.5.1 and iPadOS 16.5.1 by visiting Settings > General > About > iOS Version and tap on Remove Security Update.

Gadgets 360 was able to confirm that the RSR update was no longer available to download after downgrading to iOS 16.5.1 (20F75). Apple is expected to release an update for iOS, iPad, and macOS once the bug related to the Safari user agent has been resolved, and users who have downgraded due to the issue should install the update when it is released again with fixes for the security flaws.

Apple unveiled its first mixed reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, at its annual developer conference, along with new Mac models and upcoming software updates. We discuss all the most important announcements made by the company at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Further reading: iOS 16, iOS updates, iPadOS, macOS, macOS Ventura, Security, Security Updates, Apple, Rapid Security Response

David Delima

Email David Delima

As a writer on technology with Gadgets 360, David Delima is interested in open-source technology, cybersecurity, consumer privacy, and loves to read and write about how the Internet works. David can be contacted via email at DavidD@ndtv.com, on Twitter at @DxDavey, and Mastodon at mstdn.social/@delima. More