Apple has disclosed serious security vulnerabilities in iPhones, iPads and Macs that could potentially allow attackers to gain full control over these devices, The Hill writes.

Apple's explanation of the vulnerability means that a hacker could gain full administrative access to the device. According to Rachel Tobac, CEO of SocialProof Security, this would allow attackers to impersonate the device owner and subsequently run any software on their behalf.

Security experts advised users to update vulnerable devices - iPhone6S and later models; several iPad models, including 5th generation and newer, all iPad Pro and iPad Air 2 models; Mac computers running MacOS Monterey. The vulnerability also affects some iPod models.

Commercial spyware companies such as Israel's NSO Group are known for identifying and exploiting such flaws, using them in malware that secretly infects smartphones, downloads their content and monitors targets in real time.

NSO Group has been blacklisted by the US Department of Commerce. Its spyware is known to have been used in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America against journalists, dissidents and human rights activists.