Apple Patches Unc0ver Jailbreak in iOS 13.5.1
Jun. 2, 2020Apple has today released iOS 13.5.1. The updatepatches the kernel vulnerability that led to the recentunc0ver jailbreak.“iOS 13.5.1 update provides important security updates and is recommended for all users”,says Apple in the update changelog.
According to Apple’s support page, the update is aimed to address the ability of applications to “execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges”. The company says the memory consumption issue was fixed with improved memory handling.
Right after Apple started rolling out the update, Pwn20wnd – one of the developers of unc0ver team confirmed on Twitter that the update fixes the kernel vulnerability that the team used.
Theupdate comes just a few weeks after the Cupertino giantreleased iOS 13.5with Exposure Notification API, improvements for Face ID, and Group FaceTime. Apple fixing the kernel vulnerability doesn’t really come as a surprise since the jailbreak was available on a wide-scale and surfaced just a couple of days after iOS 13.5 got released.
With this update, the widespreadexcitement of the iOS jailbreaking community got shortlivedas they will now have to avoid new software updates to retain the jailbreak, which could potentially make devices vulnerable to new security flaws. While iOS jailbreak enthusiasts might not be happy, it is worth applauding Apple’s efforts to patch such a critical vulnerability within days after it got uncovered.
The update is available to iPhone 6s and later. You can update your iPhone right now fromSettings -> General -> Software Update. Alongside iOS 13.5.1, Apple has also released iPadOS 13.5.1, watchOS 6.2.6, and updates to HomePod and Apple TV.
Subin writes about consumer tech, software, and security. He secretly misses the headphone jack while pretending he’s better off with the wireless freedom.
