Apple Prepares Fix for Safari Bug Allowing Websites to Decipher Your Recent Browsing Activity - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Prepares Fix for Safari Bug Allowing Websites to Decipher Your Recent Browsing Activity

by

Over the weekend, we reported on a bug in WebKit's implementation of a JavaScript API called IndexedDB that can reveal your recent browsing history and even your identity, according to browser fingerprinting service FingerprintJS.

safari icon blue banner
Apple has since prepared a fix for the bug, according to a WebKit commit on GitHub, but the fix will not be available to users until Apple releases macOS Monterey, iOS 15, and iPadOS 15 updates with an updated version of Safari. Apple declined to comment when asked to provide a timeframe for a fix being released to the public.

The bug allows any website that uses IndexedDB for client-side data storage to access the names of IndexedDB databases generated by other websites during a user's browsing session. The bug could allow one website to track other websites the user visits in different tabs or windows, as the database names are often specific to each website, and sometimes the database names contain user-specific identifiers that could reveal a user's identity.

FingerprintJS has a live demo of the bug, which affects newer versions of browsers using Apple's open source browser engine WebKit, including Safari 15 for macOS and Safari on all versions of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15. The bug also affects third-party browsers like Chrome and Edge on iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, as Apple requires all iPhone and iPad browsers to use WebKit.

The bug does not affect Safari 14 for macOS or any browser on iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, according to FingerprintJS, which has a blog post with more details.

Tag: Safari

Popular Stories

iOS 27 Next to iPhone

Here's When iOS 27 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: It's Out]

Sunday September 13, 2026 3:00 am PDT by
Update 10:04 a.m.: iOS 27 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Apple is about to release iOS 27, which will finally deliver more advanced Siri AI capabilities as well as a variety of other refinements, improvements, and new features to iPhones. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at Wednesday's iPhone event...
Read Full Article • 151 comments
iOS 27 Icon iPhone

iOS 27 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday September 14, 2026 9:00 am PDT by
Update — 10 a.m. Pacific Time: Apple has released iOS 27. During its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event last week, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released widely on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 should be available around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Settings app, under General → Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight new features and...
Read Full Article • 111 comments
Apple iCloud Plus expansion hero

iCloud+ Now Includes Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Curated Apple Music Stations in Over 100 Countries

Tuesday September 15, 2026 1:43 am PDT by
Apple today announced a new subscription initiative that turns paid iCloud+ subscriptions into a broader services bundle in more than 100 countries. In select countries, Apple says every paid iCloud+ plan, including the cheapest 50GB tier, now includes Apple TV and Apple Arcade "at no additional cost," while family sharing extends the storage, TV and Arcade access to up to five people....
Read Full Article • 106 comments

Top Rated Comments

ouimetnick Avatar
ouimetnick
61 months ago

but the fix will not be available to users until Apple releases macOS Monterey, iOS 15, and iPadOS 15 updates with an updated version of Safari.
Why can't we have Safari separated from the OS? I didn't have to update macOS for iTunes updates. Never had to update iOS for updates to Pages, Numbers, Keynote, etc.

They do update Safari separate from macOS on older versions of macOS.. Why can't the same be done with the latest/current release of macOS (and iOS/iPadOS)?
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️ Avatar
TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️
61 months ago

What do you mean Apple is preparing for a fix?

Apple just issued a fix for macOS and users can get it right here ('https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/') :p
I’m a big fan of Mozilla, Firefox browser. Been using it for years. Possibly a decade. It's too bad I'm addicted to Safari. But Firefox is my 2nd go-to.

Good suggestion though. 👌☝️
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
D
diamondsw
61 months ago

Why can't we have Safari separated from the OS? I didn't have to update macOS for iTunes updates. Never had to update iOS for updates to Pages, Numbers, Keynote, etc.

They do update Safari separate from macOS on older versions of macOS.. Why can't the same be done with the latest/current release of macOS (and iOS/iPadOS)?
Because Safari is the new IE. I only somewhat kid... Remember when we all blasted Microsoft for this exact behavior in Win98? :(
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
sw1tcher
61 months ago
What do you mean Apple is preparing for a fix?

Apple just issued a fix for macOS and users can get it right here ('https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/') :p
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
K
KaliYoni
61 months ago

The bug does not affect Safari 14 for macOS or any browser on iOS 14 and iPadOS 14
Yet again, upgrading right when a new macOS or iOS is released causes major problems for users! If I could get Tim Cook to do one thing, it would be to stop the forced annual releases of OS's. It's not like Apple would take a sales revenue hit from stretching out releases to 18 or 24 months...
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
I
ian87w
61 months ago

Using Firefox while Safari is being repaired is a great idea 👍
Not when you are on iOS. Every browsers on iOS use the same Safari/Webkit engine, and are affected by this bug.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments