Apple will release a new iOS 18 update on Wednesday morning that fixes the DarkSword exploit, a hacking technique that has already been used to target iPhones running older software versions, and this move directly addresses users who have delayed updating to iOS 26 but still need critical security protection.
Wired reports that Apple is now extending these fixes beyond devices that cannot run iOS 26, which means millions of iPhone users who stayed on iOS 18 will finally receive protection without being forced to upgrade their operating system.
Over the past few weeks, Apple pushed multiple security updates to patch two major exploits, Coruna and DarkSword, both of which chained vulnerabilities and often used WebKit as the entry point before escalating access to the device.
Apple has already released the following updates for older devices:
- iOS 15.8.7 / iPadOS 15.8.7 for iPhone 6s, iPhone 7, and older iPads
- iOS 16.7.15 / iPadOS 16.7.15 for iPhone 8, iPhone X, and select iPads
- iOS 18.7.7 / iPadOS 18.7.7 for devices that cannot run iOS 26
However, devices that support iOS 26 but remain on iOS 18 stayed exposed until now, which created a gap in Apple’s usual security approach.
Apple confirms backported patch rollout
Apple confirmed the upcoming update in a statement shared with Wired:
“Tomorrow we are enabling the availability of an iOS 18 update for more devices so users with auto-update enabled can automatically receive important security protections. We encourage all users with supported devices to update to iOS 26 to receive our most advanced protections.”
Users with auto-updates turned on will receive the patched iOS 18 version automatically, while others can choose between updating to the latest iOS 18 build or moving to iOS 26.
DarkSword exploit increased urgency
The urgency around this update increased after DarkSword appeared on GitHub, which made the exploit easier for attackers to reuse and scale across targets, and security researchers have already linked it to campaigns involving espionage and cryptocurrency theft.
This situation also pushed Apple to change its usual stance, as the company rarely backports fixes for users who stay on older operating systems.
For now, Apple still recommends upgrading to iOS 26 for the strongest protection, but this update ensures that iOS 18 users no longer remain exposed while deciding when to upgrade.
