Emergency Patches for Apple and Google Zero-Day Exploits in Targeted Attacks

Apple and Google released emergency security updates after discovering that zero-day vulnerabilities in their software were being actively exploited in highly targeted attacks. The campaign, attributed to nation-state actors and commercial spyware vendors, focused on high-value individuals rather than the general public. Apple addressed two critical WebKit vulnerabilities, CVE-2025-14174 and CVE-2025-43529, which were exploited in sophisticated attacks against iPhones, iPads, and Macs running iOS versions prior to 26. Google also patched a Chrome vulnerability discovered in collaboration with Apple’s security team and Google’s Threat Analysis Group, indicating a coordinated response to a broader espionage campaign.

The Apple updates, released as iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2, fixed the WebKit flaws that allowed arbitrary code execution and memory corruption through malicious web content. These vulnerabilities affected iPhone 11 and later models, as well as several iPad variants. In addition to the WebKit issues, Apple resolved over 30 other vulnerabilities across various components, including the Kernel and Screen Time. Both companies withheld detailed technical information, suggesting ongoing investigations into the attacks. The rapid deployment of these patches underscores the severity and sophistication of the threat, with both Apple and Google urging users to update their devices immediately.