WhatsApp urges iOS, Mac users to update apps immediately

WhatsApp has recently issued an urgent alert calling on all iPhone and Mac devices to immediately update their app to the latest version, as hackers are trying to exploit devices through malware-ridden websites.

Primarily, the alert was issued due to discovery of a serious, high-risk vulnerability that could allow hackers to install spyware on a user’s device without them even having to click on a malicious link.

CVE-2025-55177 is a serious security vulnerability that affects WhatsApp for iOS, WhatsApp Business for iOS and for Mac.

According to the platform, vulnerabilities have been exploited in combination with another flow in Apple’s operating system.

A critical vulnerability, CVE-2025-23300 which was patched in recent updates to iOS 18.6.1, macOS Sequoia 15.6.1, macOS Sonoma 14.7.8 and macOS Ventura 13.7.8.

Which WhatsApp versions got affected?

The following versions got affected.

1. WhatsApp for iOS prior to 2.25.21.73(latest version: 2.25.23.82)
2. WhatsApp Business for iOS prior to 2.25.21.78 (latest version: 2.25.23.82)
3. WhatsApp for Mac prior to 2.25.21.78(latest version: 2.25.22.79)

Users are advised to update their apps by following these steps:

1. Open the App Store app.
2. Tap your profile icon at the top right corner of the screen.
3. Refresh the list by dragging down on the screen
4. From there users can now install the latest update

It is recommended for Apple users to install the latest version OS-level security patches to protect their devices from any malicious activity.

The cybersecurity experts declared that applying these patches through software updates is crucial to enhance the overall security of the platform to protect against potential exploits.

Nonetheless, WhatsApp is one of the globally used platforms, and the company’s latest move underlines its commitment for safeguarding users' privacy against growing cyber threats.