Apple releases iOS 18.4.1, macOS Sequoia 15.4.1, and more to patch actively exploited security vulnerabilities

By Divya Dhingra Published on April 18, 2025, 13:48 IST

Apple has issued a wave of software updates for its major platforms, including iOS 18.4.1, iPadOS 18.4.1, macOS Sequoia 15.4.1, tvOS 18.4.1, and visionOS 2.4.1. These updates not only patch actively exploited security vulnerabilities but also introduce a host of new features, particularly in macOS Sequoia 15.4.1.

Critical Security Fixes

The updates address two severe vulnerabilities that Apple believes may have been exploited in highly targeted attacks:

CoreAudio (CVE-2025-31200): A memory corruption issue in audio stream processing could allow arbitrary code execution via a specially crafted media file. Apple patched the flaw by improving bounds checking.

RPAC (CVE-2025-31201): This flaw could allow attackers with arbitrary read/write access to bypass Pointer Authentication. The vulnerable code was removed entirely.

These flaws affect devices across Apple’s ecosystem, including iPhones (XS and newer), iPads (7th gen and later), Macs running Sequoia, Apple TV models, and Apple Vision Pro. Apple credited both its internal teams and Google’s Threat Analysis Group for discovering these exploits.

macOS Sequoia 15.4.1: New Features and Enhancements

Alongside the security fixes, macOS Sequoia 15.4.1 introduces a substantial set of improvements:

Apple Intelligence (Macs with M1 or later)

Users can now create Memory movies in Photos simply by describing the story they want.
A new Sketch Style option in Image Playground enables rich, hand-drawn visuals.
Apple Intelligence now supports 8 additional languages and two extra English locales, including regional variants for India, Singapore, France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Spain, Latin America, and the US.

Mail

Mail Categorisation helps sort emails by priority, surfacing important messages first.

Photos

New filter to show/hide unorganised items in Library view.
Retouch brush added to the Clean Up tool.
Improved sorting and reordering in Media Types and Utilities.
Option to sort albums by Date Modified.
Ability to disable Recently Viewed/Shared collections from the menu.

General Enhancements and Bug Fixes

8 new emojis added, including objects, plants, and a smiley face.
New Podcast widgets (Followed Shows, Library view).
Matter-compatible robot vacuums can now be integrated into the Home app.
Fixes for external displays not turning off Night Shift.
Increased GPU memory allocation for Mac Studio (2025) with M3 Ultra (256GB/512GB).
Improved transcoding in Final Cut Pro for M3 Ultra Mac Studio.
Screen Time App Limits now persist after reinstalling apps.
VoiceOver navigation fixes in Music.
Braille display navigation issue resolved.

Apple urges users to update their devices immediately to ensure they are protected from potential threats. The updates are available now via Settings or System Preferences, depending on the device.