Apple Releases iOS 10.3.2 – What’s Included and Should you Upgrade?
Today Apple released iOS 10.3.2 for iPhone and iPad. Let’s review the release notes and see what was fixed and if you should upgrade your device or wait.
Apple is following up April’s iOS 10.3.1 update with a new release predictably christened, 10.3.2. The release includes many fixes and security updates, making it a must-have (when has it never been). In fact, after reviewing the release notes, the 10.3.2 update feels more like a major point release vs. a simple update considering the severity of the vulnerabilities it resolves.
The iOS 10.3.2 update is available for download and installation for Apple devices including the iPhone 5 and later, iPad 4th generation and later, and iPod touch 6th generation.
Summary of iOS 10.3.2?
There are no user-facing changes, but the 177 MB update suggests there are numerous low-level updates included. In contrast, last month’s 10.3.1 was just 28 MBs, so, users might want to perform a quick backup just in case. Areas touched by 10.3.2 include fixes for over two AVEVideoEncoder, CoreAudio, iBooks, Kernel, Notifications, Safari, and more. What is particularly important to note, is the potential for many different attacks which include the ability to run arbitrary code. Here’s a sample of what Apple fixed with today’s update.
What’s Included in the iOS Update
Here’s just a small sample of the security exploits being fixed by Apple in the iOS 10.3.2 update. 
AVEVideoEncoder
Available for: iPhone 5 and later, iPad 4th generation and later, and iPod touch 6th generation
Impact: An application may be able to gain kernel privileges
Description: A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved memory handling.
CVE-2017-6989: Adam Donenfeld (@doadam) of the Zimperium zLabs Team
CoreAudio
Available for: iPhone 5 and later, iPad 4th generation and later, and iPod touch 6th generation
Impact: An application may be able to read restricted memory
Description: A validation issue was addressed with improved input sanitization.
CVE-2017-2502: Yangkang (@dnpushme) of Qihoo360 Qex Team
iBooks
Available for: iPhone 5 and later, iPad 4th generation and later, and iPod touch 6th generation
Impact: A maliciously crafted book may open arbitrary websites without user permission
Description: A URL handling issue was addressed through improved state management.
CVE-2017-2497: Jun Kokatsu (@shhnjk)
But Wait. There’s More
IOSurface
Available for: iPhone 5 and later, iPad 4th generation and later, and iPod touch 6th generation
Impact: An application may be able to gain kernel privileges
Description: A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved memory handling.
CVE-2017-6979: Adam Donenfeld of Zimperium zLabs
Kernel
Available for: iPhone 5 and later, iPad 4th generation and later, and iPod touch 6th generation
Impact: An application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges
Description: A race condition was addressed through improved locking.
CVE-2017-2501: Ian Beer of Google Project Zero
SQLite
Available for: iPhone 5 and later, iPad 4th generation and later, and iPod touch 6th generation
Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution
Description: Multiple memory corruption issues were addressed with improved input validation.
CVE-2017-6983: Chaitin Security Research Lab (@ChaitinTech) working with Trend Micro’s Zero Day Initiative
CVE-2017-6991: Chaitin Security Research Lab (@ChaitinTech) working with Trend Micro’s Zero Day Initiative
WebKit
Available for: iPhone 5 and later, iPad 4th generation and later, and iPod touch 6th generation
Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution
Description: Multiple memory corruption issues with addressed through improved memory handling.
CVE-2017-2536: Samuel Groß and Niklas Baumstark working with Trend Micro’s Zero Day Initiative
Should you Upgrade to 10.3.2?
Absolutely. In fact, the earlier the better based on the high number of exploits this update resolves. Just make sure you perform a backup of your iOS device first. I am noticing these point updates for iOS 10 are taking longer than usual to install, so, make sure you are plugged into power with at least 50% battery. Running out of battery juice while updating your device can lead to really nasty issues. We don’t have time for that!
Summing Up
Quick side-note — Since updating to 10.3, I’ve noticed several glitches, particularly in third-party apps like Facebook. The Mobile Hotspot banner is sometimes distorted, Control Center functions like the Flashlight does not work when Facebook is open and the Google Gboard disappeared. System-wide, I also noticed my iPhone does not turn the display off automatically, often killing battery life. I have brought it up on Apple’s forum, but the issue seems isolated. Hopefully, Apples resolves some of these issues for me but, I’m not holding my break with 10.3.2.
Have you upgraded to 10.3.2 yet? Did you upgrade to an iPhone? iPad? How long did it take? Any issues? Join the conversation and tell us how your upgrade went on your iOS device!
6 Comments
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James Oetken
Upgrades over the last year are killing the battery life. I had the original batter replaced with an Apple battery which did not help. I have most things turned off an still the battery is less than 40% in 5 hours. Need an IOS repair to improve battery life like when I first bought it.
Andre Da Costa
Sounds like planned obsolescence on Apples part.
Charles
The update took 20 minutes.
Richard Olszewski
Took 20 minutes to update my I-pad
Phil
I just wish they’d sort the email consolidation out – since they decided for no good reason to screw up something that worked – it has become virtually unusable for work emails As it is difficult to sort out who replied to whom and who to reply to – so I have stopped using the email system – this is the one major issue that will convince me to drop the iPhone
Chris
This update, has literally in one fell swoop, rendered my iPhone 6s unusable. The update has messed up 3D touch, it has caused many of the apps to hang, including Messages etc. I often have to reset or power off/on my iPhone five or six times a day just to use it. Apple, you need to fix this NOW!!!!!!!