iOS 15 Includes Improved Face ID Anti-Spoofing Models and Other Vulnerability Fixes

The iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 updates that were released today add improved anti-spoofing models for Face ID, further improving the security of facial recognition on the iPhone X and later and the iPad Pro models.

iPhone 13 Face ID
According to Apple's security support document for the updates, there was a ‌Face ID‌ vulnerability that could allow a ‌Face ID‌ ‌iPhone‌ to be unlocked and authenticated using a 3D model constructed to look like the ‌iPhone‌'s owner.

Apple says that this issue has been resolved through improvements to the ‌Face ID‌ feature, which is available on the ‌iPhone‌ X, ‌iPhone‌ XR, ‌iPhone‌ XS (all models), ‌iPhone‌ 11 (all models), ‌iPhone‌ 12 (all models), ‌iPad Pro‌ (11-inch), and ‌iPad Pro‌ (3rd generation).

There are a number of other security fixes included in the iOS 15 update, but none of the exploits were listed as being used in the wild. There was an issue with the Neural Engine that could allow an application to execute arbitrary code with system privileges on devices with a Neural Engine, and a CoreML bug could let attackers cause unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution.

Apple also addressed issues with FontParser, Preferences, Siri, WebKit, and WiFi, all of which are outlined in Apple's full security document.

For those not particularly interested in the feature set that iOS 15 offers, it may still be a good idea to upgrade just to get the full suite of security fixes that Apple has deployed.

Related Forum: iOS 15

Popular Stories

iOS 26 on Three iPhones

Here's When to Expect the iOS 26 Public Beta

Tuesday July 15, 2025 11:07 am PDT by
Apple previously announced that a public beta of iOS 26 would be available in July, and now a more specific timeframe has surfaced. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said that Apple's public betas should be released on or around Wednesday, July 23. In other words, expect the public betas of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, and more to be available at some point next week. Apple will be releasing...
iPhone 17 Colors

All 15 New iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Colors Revealed in Latest Leak

Wednesday July 16, 2025 6:50 am PDT by
We may finally have a definitive list of all color options for the iPhone 17 series, ahead of the devices launching in September. MacRumors concept In a report for Macworld today, Filipe Espósito said he obtained an "internal document" that allegedly reveals all of the color options for the upcoming iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max models. The report includes ...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Ultra 3: What to Expect

Sunday July 13, 2025 10:30 am PDT by
The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 is nearly over, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the Apple Watch Ultra 3:Satellite connectivity for sending and receiving text messages when Wi-Fi and cellular coverage is unavailable 5G support, up from LTE on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Likely a wide-angle OLED display that ...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 16 New Features

Friday July 11, 2025 12:40 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are only two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:A redesigned Dynamic Island: It has been rumored that all iPhone 17 models will have a redesigned Dynamic Island interface — it might ...
apple tv 4k new orange

New Apple TV Expected Later This Year With These New Features

Saturday July 12, 2025 3:09 pm PDT by
A new Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors. Rumors Faster Wi-Fi Support The next Apple TV will be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He said the chip supports ...
Apple Hornsby

Apple Store Near Sydney Permanently Closing Later This Year

Monday July 14, 2025 6:14 pm PDT by
Apple today said its store at the Westfield Hornsby shopping mall, in Hornsby, Australia, will be permanently closing in October. Apple Hornsby In a statement shared with Australian tech news website EFTM (via Reddit), Apple said that it has decided not to renew its lease at Westfield Hornsby. Apple said all affected retail employees will be given the opportunity to work at Apple's nearby...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...

Top Rated Comments

Apple_Robert Avatar
50 months ago
Glad to see more security like this in iOS 15.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
alexiaa Avatar
50 months ago

Still, it doesn‘t change the fact that people can still open your phone by just pointing it to your face!
Not true. That's exactly what "Require Attention for Face ID" is for, and it's on by default. You need to have your eyes open and actively looking at the screen. If you're looking away, it won't unlock. It's not totally impossible but makes it harder for people to pull that off. But if you're so concerned about that, you can temporarily disable Face ID by holding the power and volume down buttons for a few seconds.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
8707908 Avatar
50 months ago

you rather have your finger cut off?
I’ve Been hearing about this scenario for almost a decade now.

1. It’s a capacitive sensor. So even if someone cut off your finger and placed it on the phone it still wont unlock…needs electricity from your body
2. Unless the KGB or Jack Bauer is trying to get some info on your phone, this is an utterly absurd scenario. Stealing someone’s phone and cutting someone‘s finger off are on the complete opposite of the spectrum in terms of crime.

People who steal phones are looking to sell it to make money. They aren’t looking to go to prison on a mayhem assault charges for your ~$1,000 smartphone

Seriously, stop watching TV and trying to cast all criminals on the same level. People don’t just cut fingers off because they want to see your emails.

Try critical thinking
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
subi257 Avatar
50 months ago

"For those not particularly interested in the feature set that iOS 15 offers, it may still be a good idea to upgrade just to get the full suite of security fixes that Apple has deployed."

So the whole 'we will continue to release security updates for iOS 14 users' was a lie.
They always continue to realize security updates...for years afterwards.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
alexiaa Avatar
50 months ago

So the whole 'we will continue to release security updates for iOS 14 users' was a lie.
No, it wasn't. They can still backport security fixes to iOS 14 but maybe they'll only get the ones that are deemed more critical.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Populus Avatar
50 months ago
Improved Face iD. For once I thought facial recognition was improved wearing a facemask
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)