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Apple's A12 and A13 Chips Facing New Unpatchable Exploit

A new unpatchable hardware exploit targets older iPhones, leaving millions of devices permanently vulnerable.

14sources
14articles
13velocity
+0%since first seen
148d agofirst detected

🌍 Cross-language spread

PULSE detected this story across 2 language editions of the world's news.

🇬🇧 English Jun 18, 22:07 UTC
🇩🇪 German Jun 20, 18:13 UTC · BornCity

Detected by matching proper nouns and figures that survive translation. Times reflect when each edition's coverage was first indexed.

Velocity

How fast coverage is spreading — measured hourly from article rate × source diversity. How this works →

The brief

Researchers have released a hardware exploit known as "usbliter8" that targets Apple's A12 and A13 chips. Coverage identifies this as a BootROM and SecureROM vulnerability affecting devices ranging from the iPhone XS to the iPhone 11. Because the flaw resides in the hardware, it is described as unpatchable and unfixable via software updates.

Outlets including The Register, The Hacker News, and iClarified note that the exploit breaks the secure boot chain, potentially allowing for a full chain-of-trust compromise. Several sources, including Android Headlines and Mashable, emphasize that this is a permanent hardware issue similar to previous checkm8-style exploits. Coverage does not yet specify if Apple has issued an official response or guidance for affected users.

While the vulnerability affects specific older generations, the security implications for the remaining lifecycle of these devices remain a focal point of ongoing reporting.

Synthesized by PULSE from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: all claims supported by sources Updated 144d ago.

Quick answers

Which iPhone models are affected?

Coverage specifies models with A12 and A13 chips, including the iPhone XS through iPhone 11 series.

Can Apple fix this flaw?

No, coverage describes the issue as a hardware vulnerability in the BootROM that cannot be patched via software updates.

What is the name of the exploit?

Researchers have identified the exploit as "usbliter8."

Coverage (14)

Topics

Apple iPhone Security A12 A13 usbliter8

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