Apple Patches Critical iPhone and iPad Vulnerability Exploited in Sophisticated Attacks
Apple patched a critical iPhone/iPad flaw exploited in targeted attacks, likely using forensic tools to bypass USB Restricted Mode.
Matilda
Apple Patches Critical iPhone and iPad Vulnerability Exploited in Sophisticated Attacks
Apple has rolled out iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1, addressing a significant security flaw that the company says "may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals." This vulnerability allowed attackers to disable USB Restricted Mode on locked iPhones and iPads, potentially granting access to sensitive data. The nature of the attack suggests it likely involved physical access to the device and the use of forensic tools. Understanding the Vulnerability and its Implications USB Restricted Mode, a security feature introduced by Apple in 2018, is designed to protect user data by limiting USB data connections when an iPhone or iPad remains locked for seven days. This measure was implemented to thwart attempts to bypass device security and access data using specialized tools. Last year, Apple further enhanced security by automatically rebooting devices that remain unlocked for 72 hours. This makes it significantly harder for law e…
