[91543] A severe and unpatchable hardware vulnerability discovered in millions of iPhones

[91543] A severe and unpatchable hardware vulnerability discovered in millions of iPhones

Security researchers have discovered a bootROM-level hardware vulnerability that cannot be fixed via software, affecting iPhone models XS and 11 with A12 and A13 chips.

Critical security vulnerability in older iPhone devices

Security researchers have exposed a significant hardware flaw in older generation iPhones, which leaves a door open to hackers from the manufacturing stage. According to Technology Updates 💻, this is a "door that has remained open since production" in older generation devices. The report emphasizes that Apple will not be able to close the vulnerability, as it is a hardware flaw affecting millions of devices worldwide.

Disclosure details

According to Tech and Hi-Tech News ⚙️, this is a "bootROM exploit" identified by researchers from the company Paradigm Shift. The vulnerability affects devices equipped with A12 and A13 chips, including the iPhone XS and iPhone 11. According to the channel, the vulnerability "cannot be fixed through software updates" and allows for a permanent jailbreak of the device.

Implications for users

The main risk stems from the fact that some of the affected devices, such as the iPhone 11, still receive ongoing support and iOS updates from Apple. Although the exploitation requires physical access to the device, the fact that it is a hardware-level flaw that cannot be patched by software makes it particularly complex for the owners of these devices.