Apple has issued a warning that some iPhones and iPads may have been targeted by an “extremely sophisticated attack” that exploits a flaw in its USB Restricted Mode feature. The patches fix the issue, which was identified by Bill Marczak, a senior researcher at the Citizen Lab.
The problem arises when a physical attacker can disable the ports on a locked device, potentially bypassing the security measure. Apple has released iOS 18.3.1 and iPadOS 18.3.1 to patch the issue, which affects devices from iPhone XS onwards and various iPad models.
This incident highlights the complexity of modern attacks and the importance of software updates in protecting users’ devices. The Citizen Lab researcher’s warning is clear: users should update their iPhones to the latest version, as soon as possible, to ensure they are protected against this type of attack.
Source: https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/11/apple_ios_ipados_patches