A USB-based vulnerability that allows for the brute forcing of a passcode on an iOS device has been discovered by security researcher Matthew Hickey, reports ZDNet.

The method, which bypasses the 10-entry attempt that erases an iOS device when the setting is enabled, allows a hacker to plug an iPhone or iPad into a computer and send all passcodes, from 0000 to 9999, all at once, triggering an input routine that takes priority over anything else on the device. Hickey demos the hack in the video below.

"Instead of sending passcodes one at a time and waiting, send them all in one go," he said.

"If you send your brute-force attack in one long string of inputs, it'll process all of them, and bypass the erase data feature," he explained.

All that's required to use this brute force password cracking method is an iPhone or iPad that's turned on and locked and a Lightning cable, according to Hickey. It works on iOS devices up to iOS 11.3.

Hickey's iPhone cracking method takes between three and five seconds for each four-digit passcode, which means it's slow and not as advanced as other passcode cracking methods employed by companies like Grayshift, which makes the GrayKey box. For this method to guess a six-digit passcode, Hickey says it would take weeks.

Apple in iOS 12 is introducing a new USB Restricted Mode that may put a stop to the vulnerability that Hickey has discovered, as well as vulnerabilities exploited by tools like the GrayKey Box.

ios12usbaccessoriessetting
With USB Restricted Mode, enabled by default on iOS devices running iOS 12, USB access to an iPhone or iPad is cut off if it's been more than an hour since the device was last unlocked.

That means computers and other accessories can't be used to access a locked iPhone if it's been locked for over an hour, disabling access via a USB to Lightning cable.

Update: In a statement obtained by iMore, Apple says "the recent report about a passcode bypass on iPhone was in error, and a result of incorrect testing."

Top Rated Comments

B4U Avatar
75 months ago
Up to iOS 11.3...
Opens settings > general > about > version
Sees 11.4, close settings and move on with life.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
asdavis10 Avatar
75 months ago
Interesting bug.

Maybe instead of just coming up with ideas, Apple needs to have a team who’s job is to try to break or break into every Apple device. They should be full time employed with their sole mission being to find and exploit every possible weakness.
Somehow you seem to think that an almost trillion dollar company doesn't do this. Fact of the matter is that everything has a vulnerability. It's just a matter of how practical the exploit actually is for it to be useful.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jonblatho Avatar
75 months ago
Testing and engineering design seem to have taken a backseat to thinness recently.
Great, this tired point again.

Apple has different employees who do different things. What you’re suggesting here is like asking a school custodian to take over a classroom from a teacher.
[doublepost=1529717755][/doublepost]
Up to iOS 11.3...
Opens settings > general > about > version
Sees 11.4, close settings and move on with life.
The iOS 11.4 security content notes ('https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208848') don’t specify anything seemingly related to this bug.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
flyinmac Avatar
75 months ago
Interesting bug.

Maybe instead of just coming up with ideas, Apple needs to have a team who’s job is to try to break or break into every Apple device. They should be full time employed with their sole mission being to find and exploit every possible weakness.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
centauratlas Avatar
75 months ago
Testing and engineering design seem to have taken a backseat to thinness recently.

Between the root bug and ones like this, one wonders how many others are out there.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TrulsZK Avatar
75 months ago
Get an alphanumeric passcode!

1 attempt takes 4 seconds, that means a 16 digit alphanumeric passcode with upper- and lower case, numbers, and two symbols will take up to 64^16=7,922816251e28 seconds which is in practice never. Unless you can run a dictionary attack or something.

With the brute force attempts an alphanumeric passcode is the only solution to stay safe.
[doublepost=1529735909][/doublepost]
3. Pops SIM out of tray
That is exactly why I want eSIM in the iPhone and passcode requirement when switching your phone off + auto restart after force shut down.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

reset password request iphone

Warning: Apple Users Targeted in Phishing Attack Involving Rapid Password Reset Requests

Tuesday March 26, 2024 4:34 pm PDT by
Phishing attacks taking advantage of Apple's password reset feature have become increasingly common, according to a report from KrebsOnSecurity. Multiple Apple users have been targeted in an attack that bombards them with an endless stream of notifications or multi-factor authentication (MFA) messages in an attempt to cause panic so they'll respond favorably to social engineering. An...
maxresdefault

Apple to Launch New iPad Pro and iPad Air Models in May

Thursday March 28, 2024 11:07 am PDT by
Apple will introduce new iPad Pro and iPad Air models in early May, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman previously suggested the new iPads would come out in March, and then April, but the timeline has been pushed back once again. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Apple is working on updates to both the iPad Pro and iPad Air models. The iPad Pro models will...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Purple

iOS 18: What to Expect From 'Biggest' Update in iPhone's History

Wednesday March 27, 2024 11:10 am PDT by
At least some Apple software engineers continue to believe that iOS 18 will be the "biggest" update in the iPhone's history, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. "The iOS 18 update is expected to be the most ambitious overhaul of the iPhone's software in its history, according to people working on the upgrade," wrote Gurman, in a r...
maxresdefault

Apple Announces WWDC 2024 Event for June 10 to 14

Tuesday March 26, 2024 10:02 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its 35th annual Worldwide Developers Conference is set to take place from Monday, June 10 to Friday, June 14. As with WWDC events since 2020, WWDC 2024 will be an online event that is open to all developers at no cost. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. WWDC 2024 will include online sessions and labs so that developers can learn about new...
apple maps 3d feature

Apple Maps May Gain Custom Routes With iOS 18

Tuesday March 26, 2024 3:10 pm PDT by
Apple may be planning to add support for "custom routes" in Apple Maps in iOS 18, according to code reviewed by MacRumors. Apple Maps does not currently offer a way to input self-selected routes, with Maps users limited to Apple's pre-selected options, but that may change in iOS 18. Apple has pushed an iOS 18 file to its maps backend labeled "CustomRouteCreation." While not much is revealed...
General iOS 17 Feature Orange Purple

Apple Releases Revised Versions of iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 With Updated Build Number

Wednesday March 27, 2024 5:59 am PDT by
Apple on late Tuesday released revised versions of iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 with an updated build number of 21E237, according to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. The updates previously had a build number of 21E236. The revised updates are available for all iPhone and iPad models that are compatible with iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, but they can only be installed via the Finder app on macOS...
applephilschiller

Apple's Phil Schiller Works 80 Hours a Week Overseeing App Store

Wednesday March 27, 2024 2:03 pm PDT by
With the App Store and app ecosystem undergoing major changes in the European Union, The Wall Street Journal today shared a profile on App Store chief Phil Schiller, who is responsible for the App Store. Though Schiller transitioned from marketing chief to "Apple Fellow" in 2020 to take a step back from Apple and spend more time on personal projects and friends, he is reportedly working...