• Home
  • Cyber Crime
  • Cyber warfare
  • APT
  • Data Breach
  • Deep Web
  • Digital ID
  • Hacking
  • Hacktivism
  • Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Laws and regulations
  • Malware
  • Mobile
  • Reports
  • Security
  • Social Networks
  • Terrorism
  • ICS-SCADA
  • POLICIES
  • Contact me
MUST READ

Severe Hikvision HikCentral product flaws: What You Need to Know

 | 

U.S. CISA adds TP-Link Archer C7(EU) and TL-WR841N flaws to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

 | 

Google addressed two Android flaws actively exploited in targeted attacks

 | 

U.S. CISA adds WhatsApp, and TP-link flaws to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

 | 

Android droppers evolved into versatile tools to spread malware

 | 

Jaguar Land Rover shuts down systems after cyberattack, no evidence of customer data theft

 | 

Cloudflare blocked a record 11.5 Tbps DDoS attack

 | 

Palo Alto Networks disclosed a data breach linked to Salesloft Drift incident

 | 

Von der Leyen’s plane hit by suspected Russian GPS Jamming in Bulgaria, landed Safely

 | 

Supply-chain attack hits Zscaler via Salesloft Drift, leaking customer info

 | 

Crooks exploit Meta malvertising to target Android users with Brokewell

 | 

North Korea’s APT37 deploys RokRAT in new phishing campaign against academics

 | 

Fraudster stole over $1.5 million from city of Baltimore

 | 

SECURITY AFFAIRS MALWARE NEWSLETTER ROUND 60

 | 

Security Affairs newsletter Round 539 by Pierluigi Paganini – INTERNATIONAL EDITION

 | 

Amazon blocks APT29 campaign targeting Microsoft device code authentication

 | 

Lab Dookhtegan hacking group disrupts communications on dozens of Iranian ships

 | 

New zero-click exploit allegedly used to hack WhatsApp users

 | 

US and Dutch Police dismantle VerifTools fake ID marketplace

 | 

Experts warn of actively exploited FreePBX zero-day

 | 
  • Home
  • Cyber Crime
  • Cyber warfare
  • APT
  • Data Breach
  • Deep Web
  • Digital ID
  • Hacking
  • Hacktivism
  • Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Laws and regulations
  • Malware
  • Mobile
  • Reports
  • Security
  • Social Networks
  • Terrorism
  • ICS-SCADA
  • POLICIES
  • Contact me
  • Home
  • Breaking News
  • Hacking
  • Mobile
  • How to thwart the passcode lock screen on iOS 8 and 9?

How to thwart the passcode lock screen on iOS 8 and 9?

Pierluigi Paganini February 07, 2016

A security expert discovered an authentication bypass vulnerability in both iOS devices that allows thwarting lock screen passcode.

The security researcher Benjamin Kunz Mejri from Vulnerability Laboratory has discovered  an authentication bypass-sized hole in both  iPhones and iPads running iOS 8 and iOS 9 that can be exploited by attackers to thwart lock screen passcode.

This threat is real people, there is a video of it and documentation available online. It’s all pretty technical but the upshot is the vulnerability lets an attacker bypass the lockscreen on handsets running iOS 8 and iOS 9.

It is important to highlight that the attacker requires physical access to an unlocked iOS device, for this reason the threat is considered not so critical.

“An application update loop that results in a pass code bypass vulnerability has been discovered in the official Apple iOS (iPhone5&6|iPad2) v8.x, v9.0, v9.1 & v9.2. The security vulnerability allows local attackers to bypass pass code lock protection of the apple iphone via an application update loop issue. The issue affects the device security when processing to request a local update by an installed mobile ios web-application.” states the technical description published by the vulnerability-lab.com.

The attacker can bring the  iOS devices into an unlimited loop resulting in a temporarily deactivate of the pass code lock screen.

“Local attacker can trick the iOS device into a mode were a runtime issue with unlimited loop occurs. This finally results in a temporarily deactivate of the pass code lock screen. By loading the loop with remote app interaction we was able to stable bypass the auth of an iphone after the reactivation via shutdown button. The settings of the device was permanently requesting the pass code lock on interaction. Normally the pass code lock is being activated during the shutdown button interaction. In case of the loop the request shuts the display down but does not activate the pass code lock like demonstrated in the attached poc security video.”

The issue could be triggered by powering off the iOS device, upon reboot the passcode authentication feature remains disabled, allowing an attacker to access the device without providing the passcode.

iPhone 6 bypass passcode

The advisory describes the following attack scenario:

  1. First fill up about some % of the free memory in the iOS device with random data.
  2. Now, you open the app-store choose to update all applications (update all push button).
  3. Switch fast via home button to the slide index and perform iOS update at the same time Note: The interaction to switch needs to be performed very fast to successfully exploit. In the first load of the update you can still use the home button. Press it go back to index.
  4. Now, press the home button again to review the open runnings slides.
  5. Switch to the left menu after the last slide which is new and perform to open siri in the same moment. Now the slide hangs and runs all time in a loop.
  6. Turn of via power button the ipad or iphone ….
  7. Reactivate via power button and like you can see the session still runs in the loop and can be requested without any pass code Note: Normally the pass code becomes available after the power off button interaction to stand-by mode.
  8. Successful reproduce of the local security vulnerability!

Kunz reported the vulnerability to the Apple Product Security Team in late 2015, but at the time I was writing the issue is still present.

Are you an iOS user? You should be careful when leaving the mobile device unattended.

Pierluigi Paganini

(Security Affairs – iOS device, hacking)


facebook linkedin twitter

you might also like

Pierluigi Paganini September 04, 2025
Severe Hikvision HikCentral product flaws: What You Need to Know
Read more
Pierluigi Paganini September 04, 2025
U.S. CISA adds TP-Link Archer C7(EU) and TL-WR841N flaws to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
Read more

leave a comment

newsletter

Subscribe to my email list and stay
up-to-date!

    recent articles

    Severe Hikvision HikCentral product flaws: What You Need to Know

    Hacking / September 04, 2025

    U.S. CISA adds TP-Link Archer C7(EU) and TL-WR841N flaws to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

    Hacking / September 04, 2025

    Crooks turn HexStrike AI into a weapon for fresh vulnerabilities

    Cyber Crime / September 03, 2025

    Google addressed two Android flaws actively exploited in targeted attacks

    Security / September 03, 2025

    U.S. CISA adds WhatsApp, and TP-link flaws to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

    Hacking / September 03, 2025

    To contact me write an email to:

    Pierluigi Paganini :
    pierluigi.paganini@securityaffairs.co

    LEARN MORE

    QUICK LINKS

    • Home
    • Cyber Crime
    • Cyber warfare
    • APT
    • Data Breach
    • Deep Web
    • Digital ID
    • Hacking
    • Hacktivism
    • Intelligence
    • Internet of Things
    • Laws and regulations
    • Malware
    • Mobile
    • Reports
    • Security
    • Social Networks
    • Terrorism
    • ICS-SCADA
    • POLICIES
    • Contact me

    Copyright@securityaffairs 2024

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
    Cookie SettingsAccept All
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities...
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT