Apple Issues Critical iOS 18.7.7 Update for Older iPhone Models

Apple pushes critical patch for older devices

Apple on Thursday released iOS 18.7.7 and iPadOS 18.7.7 for older iPhone and iPad models, extending security protections to devices that cannot move to iOS 26 or have not yet been updated. The patch is aimed at blocking DarkSword, a web-based exploit linked to targeted attacks and a toolkit that researchers say was recently spotted on open-source code-sharing platforms.

Apple said the fixes were originally introduced in 2025 and are now being made available to a wider set of devices. The company also said users with Automatic Updates enabled should receive the patch automatically.

DarkSword risk reaches older iPhone and iPad users

The update matters for devices still running iOS 18, including users who have not upgraded to the latest firmware. Apple said systems already on iOS 26 were protected against DarkSword, but the new release brings the same protections to older supported models.

Security researchers had warned that the leaked DarkSword toolkit could be repurposed with little effort. The toolkit was reportedly used in targeted attacks in China, Malaysia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine, and its appearance on GitHub lowered the barrier for attackers, according to the warning cited in the transcript.

What Apple said about the patch

• iOS 18.7.7 released for iPhone
• iPadOS 18.7.7 released for iPad
• Targets devices unable to upgrade to iOS 26
• Protects against web-based attacks linked to DarkSword
• Automatic Updates should deliver the patch to eligible users
• Lockdown Mode is also available on iOS 18

DarkSword spyware and the broader security response

DarkSword is described as an iOS full-chain exploit that uses multiple zero-day vulnerabilities to compromise devices. According to the transcript, it links several bugs together, moving from a web page to full control of the phone.

Security researchers said the spyware can extract sensitive data from compromised devices, including contacts, messages, call history and information stored in the iOS Keychain. That includes passwords and other credentials, which can then be sent to attacker-controlled servers.

Apple said its Lockdown Mode, an optional high-security feature introduced with iOS 16 in 2022, can offer protection against such attacks and is available on older firmware such as iOS 18. The company’s security release page listed the update on April 1.

The release closes one more gap for older devices at a time when the DarkSword toolkit has already been discussed in relation to leaked code and targeted attacks. Apple’s latest patch brings critical protections to iPhone and iPad models that were otherwise left outside the iOS 26 rollout.