Apple's iOS 10.3.3 update protects against 'Broadpwn' Wi-Fi exploit

The iOS 10.3.3 update Apple released on Wednesday reportedly closes a critical Wi-fi vulnerability, known as Broadpwn, that was patched for Android devices earlier this month.

While the flaw isn't mentioned by name in Apple's security notes, its discovery is credited to Nitay Artenstein from Exodus Intelligence, who helped find the Android equivalent and is preparing a presentation at this month's annual Black Hat conference in Las Vegas, according to CNET. iPhones, iPads, and iPods not patched to iOS 10.3.3 could potentially have their Broadcom Wi-Fi chips taken over by nearby hackers.

The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology has rated Broadpwn a 9.8 out of 10 on its severity scale.

iOS 10.3.3 is largely a maintenance release. In fact it fixes security problems in many different parts of iOS, ranging from apps like Safari, Contacts, and Messages through to underlying frameworks like CoreAudio, WebKit, and the kernel.

The software may be the last iOS update ahead of this fall's iOS 11, which is already in its second public beta. Just a few new features include an overhauled Control Center, a dedicated Files app, and a divergent iPad interface.

10 Comments

ericthehalfbee 4489 comments · 13 Years

About 7 years ago

"that was patched for Android devices earlier this month"

Google Play Services can't perform security updates, so the majority of Android users with this flaw won't get fixed. Ever.

riverko 247 comments · 9 Years

Any idea if the public beta of iOS 11’has this fix too? :)

sergioz 338 comments · 12 Years

riverko said:

Any idea if the public beta of iOS 11’has this fix too? :)

Of course, all newly discovered security flaws will be included in final version!

foggyhill 4767 comments · 10 Years

ericthehalfbee said:

"that was patched for Android devices earlier this month"

Google Play Services can't perform security updates, so the majority of Android users with this flaw won't get fixed. Ever.

Yes, this kind of info is a non sequitur, a bullshit joke google plays on everyone. Billions of device are not unsecured forever, bravo google and your don't give a frack policy made to gain market share.

scartart 201 comments · 17 Years

sergioz said:

riverko said:

Any idea if the public beta of iOS 11’has this fix too? :)

Of course, all newly discovered security flaws will be included in final version!

I'm sure the final version will have this issue fixed but that isn't answering the question that was asked.