WhatsApp has released an urgent advisory urging iPhone and Mac users to update their apps immediately after the discovery of a high-risk vulnerability that could let hackers exploit devices through malicious URLs.
The flaw, listed as CVE-2025-55177 in the National Vulnerability Database, affects WhatsApp for iOS, WhatsApp Business for iOS, and WhatsApp for Mac. It may have been used alongside another Apple system vulnerability (CVE-2025-43300), which Apple has already patched in recent updates to iOS 18.6.2, macOS Sequoia 15.6.1, macOS Sonoma 14.7.8, and macOS Ventura 13.7.8.
Affected WhatsApp Versions
- WhatsApp for iOS: Versions prior to 2.25.21.73 (latest: 2.25.23.82)
- WhatsApp Business for iOS: Versions prior to 2.25.21.78 (latest: 2.25.23.82)
- WhatsApp for Mac: Versions prior to 2.25.21.78 (latest: 2.25.22.79)
What Users Should Do
- On iPhone/iPad: Open the App Store, tap the profile icon (top right), pull down to refresh updates, and install the latest version of WhatsApp.
- On Mac: Update WhatsApp via the official app update prompt or App Store.
- OS-Level Patches: Install Apple’s latest software updates to patch system-level vulnerabilities.
Cybersecurity experts stressed that prompt updates are essential to block potential exploits. With WhatsApp being one of the most widely used messaging apps worldwide, this move highlights the platform’s ongoing efforts to protect user privacy amid growing cyber threats.
