EF - Update multiple rows in database without using foreach loop

You don't need to SaveChanges() on each iteration. That will hit the database multiple times. Try:

using (var db = new MyDbContext())
{
  string fromUser = ""; //sender
  string toUser = ""; //receiver
  var messages = db.Message.Where(x => x.FromUser == fromUser && x.ToUser == toUser)
                 .ToList();
  messages.ForEach(m => m.IsRead = true);
  db.SaveChanges();
}

Just to update Steve's answer, in newer EF (current EF Core 3.1.3) you can do it all as one statement.

await db.Message.Where(m => m.FromUser == fromUser && m.ToUser == toUser).ForEachAsync(m => m.IsRead = true);
await db.SaveChangesAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);