Apple Fixes Vision Pro Security Flaw That Could Expose What You Typed

As reported by WIRED today, a group of six computer scientists this year discovered a security vulnerability with the Apple Vision Pro that allowed them to reconstruct what people were typing, including passwords, PINs, and messages.

visionOS Virtual Keyboard
When a Vision Pro user was using a virtual Persona avatar, such as during a FaceTime call, the researchers were able to analyze the Persona's eye movement or "gaze" to determine what the user was typing on the headset's virtual keyboard. The researchers created a website with technical details about the so-called "GAZEploit" vulnerability.

In short, the researchers said that a person's gaze typically fixates on a key they are likely to press next, and this can reveal some common patterns. As a result, the researchers said they were able to identify the correct letters people typed in messages 92% of the time within five guesses, and 77% of the time for passwords.

dan persona vision pro
The researchers disclosed the vulnerability to Apple in April, according to the report, and the company addressed the issue in visionOS 1.3 in July. The update suspends Personas when the Vision Pro's virtual keyboard is active.

Apple added the following entry to its visionOS 1.3 security notes on September 5:

Presence

Available for: Apple Vision Pro

Impact: Inputs to the virtual keyboard may be inferred from Persona

Description: The issue was addressed by suspending Persona when the virtual keyboard is active.

CVE-2024-40865: Hanqiu Wang of University of Florida, Zihao Zhan of Texas Tech University, Haoqi Shan of Certik, Siqi Dai of University of Florida, Max Panoff of University of Florida, and Shuo Wang of University of Florida

The proof-of-concept attack was not exploited in the wild, according to the report. Nonetheless, Vision Pro users should immediately update the headset to visionOS 1.3 or later to ensure they are protected, now that the findings have been shared publicly.

Related Roundups: Apple Vision Pro, visionOS 2
Buyer's Guide: Vision Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: Apple Vision Pro

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Top Rated Comments

justperry Avatar
26 weeks ago
So, five passwords were lost.?
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
26 weeks ago

When a Vision Pro user was using a virtual Persona avatar, such as during a FaceTime call, the researchers were able to analyze the Persona's eye movement or "gaze" to determine what the user was typing on the headset's virtual keyboard.
Bet they can't analyze my eye movement and figure out what I'm typing
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
26 weeks ago

Exactly this. This means they’re already in your house so you have bigger problems.
You do know that some people are using their Vision Pro outside of their home, right? And as more people buy the Vision Pro over time, you'll see more people using them away from home.

[MEDIA=twitter]1753839916948009316[/MEDIA]



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Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Blackstick Avatar
26 weeks ago
If baddies could get my password by watching the utterly low resolution of my eyeballs darting around in a Persona, more power to 'em.

By the way, $1900 used. So worth it.

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Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
4k78 Avatar
26 weeks ago
Typing on a virtual keyboard seems so ridiculous.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dawn of Individual Merit Avatar
26 weeks ago
> The proof-of-concept attack was not exploited in the wild, according to the report

Obviously.
There's only like, 17 people worldwide who're still using their AVP.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)