Major AirPlay Security Flaws Put 1.8 Billion Apple Devices at Risk, Experts Warn
A critical cybersecurity alert has been issued for Apple users worldwide following the discovery of 23 serious vulnerabilities in the AirPlay feature. These flaws, collectively named ‘Airborne’ by cybersecurity researchers at Oligo Security, potentially expose approximately 1.8 billion iPhones along with millions of other Apple devices to remote hacking risks.
The vulnerabilities enable hackers to execute zero-click attacks on devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network, meaning no user interaction is required for exploitation. Once compromised, attackers can access sensitive data, install malware, or spread viruses across connected Apple products including Mac computers, smart home speakers, and CarPlay systems.
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Oligo Security’s team identified 17 distinct attack methods that leverage these flaws, emphasizing the widespread risk across the Apple ecosystem.
While Apple released security patches with iOS 18.4, macOS Sequoia 15.4, and tvOS 18.4 on March 31 to address these issues, many third-party AirPlay-compatible devices remain unpatched, leaving millions vulnerable.
In worst-case scenarios, an infected iPhone could be used as a launchpad to infect other devices on shared Wi-Fi networks, behaving like a network worm.
How to Protect Your Device
Experts strongly recommend Apple users disable AirPlay immediately to reduce exposure. The steps are simple:
- Navigate to Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity > Automatically AirPlay
- Select ‘Never’ to stop constant background broadcasting.
This precaution helps prevent silent, background attacks.
Despite Apple’s assurance that attacks require local network access, Oligo warns that the slow update rollout among third-party device makers hampers full protection.
Users should remain vigilant, install all available updates promptly, and disable wireless features when not in use.
With over 2.35 billion active Apple devices globally, the scale of the Airborne threat is massive, making immediate action critical to prevent potential cyberattacks.
