Apple users told to watch out for 'unpatchable' iPhone security issues - here's what we know

Date:
Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:05:00 +0000

Description:
The bug is physical and also very difficult to exploit. Still, it can help jailbreak the device and snoop on the data inside.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Paradigm Shift discovered usbliter8, a hardware flaw in A12/A13 iPhone and S4/S5 Apple Watch chips allowing jailbreak via USB data handling Exploitation requires physical
access and Raspberry Pi, but enables bypassing iOS restrictions and deep system compromise Apple cannot patch; only unaffected models (preA12 or A14+) are secure, making device replacement the sole mitigation Security
researchers Paradigm Shift have discovered a vulnerability in older iPhone
and Apple Watch models which can be used to jailbreak the devices. What makes this vulnerability special is the fact that there is no fix for it - the only way to really be secure is to replace the device with a newer model.

The good news is that exploiting the flaw isnt that simple. It cannot be done remotely since the attacker needs to have physical access to the device, and needs to hook it up to a Raspberry Pi. It is still an important finding, and one which puts stolen iPhones (or those confiscated by law enforcement) at risk. Latest Videos From Watch full video here: Handling incoming data The researchers dubbed the bug usbliter8 , and say it affects iPhone XS's A12 chip, the Apple Watch Series 4's S4 chip, and the iPhone 11's A13 SoC. Furthermore, the S5 (powering the Apple Watch Series 5, first-generation SE, and HomePod mini), was said to be vulnerable as well

The vulnerability stems from how these chips USB controllers handle incoming data. They dont properly reset memory addresses between data transfers, letting the attacker place unauthorized code into the chips protected memory. You may like Apple pushes 'critical' software alerts to iPhones with outdated software Anthropic Mythos helped build a working macOS exploit in just five days This iOS 18 patch could protect your device from a vicious malware
strain

Therefore, according to Paradigm Shift, the bug can be abused for
jailbreaking the device, meaning attackers could bypass iOS security restrictions entirely, install software at the deepest level of the system, and potentially extract data stored on the device.

Since this is a physical hardware design flaw, rather than a software bug, Apple cant fix it with an update, and the only way to really remain secure is to move to a different model which isnt affected by usbliter8. That includes either earlier SoCs (older than A12), or A14 and newer chips. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get
all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting
your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Paradigm Shift said it notified Apple of its findings, and thanked the
company for its prompt response, constructive engagement, and cooperation throughout the disclosure process. The best antivirus for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best antivirus 1. Best overall: Bitdefender Total Security 2. Best for families: Norton 360 with LifeLock 3. Best for mobile: McAfee Mobile Security Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/apple-users-told-to-watch-out-for-unpat chable-iphone-security-issues-heres-what-we-know


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)