A team of iPhone hackers recently developed a new jailbreak tool that works on almost all iPhone models, reported Tech Crunch. The tool, called unc0ver, can even bypass the security measures placed in the newest models.
The group, which made the jailbreak available over the weekend, claims that it applies to iOS 11 to iOS 14.3, which was only released in December 2020. This covers devices starting from the iPhone 5s and later.
According to XDA-Developers, the tool was sponsored by Phone Rebel from EverythingApplePro.
Tech Crunch explained that jailbreak developers are users or researchers who want better control and customization of their devices. These hackers use vulnerabilities to bypass restrictions placed by Apple.
Some features acquired through jailbreaking include installing applications from third-party sources, particularly those not included in the App Store.
The new jailbreak tool was announced in a tweet by the group saying, “We wrote our own exploit based on CVE-2021-1782 for #unc0ver to achieve optimal exploit speed and stability.”
The cited vulnerability has been acknowledged by Apple and is a flaw that “may have been actively exploited by hackers.” The report said that targeting the kernel helps hackers get a firm grasp onto the core of the operating system.
XDA-Developers explained that the group uses a zero-day exploit that is yet to use in jailbreaks since iOS 8. It uses sideloads to implement the tool.
According to the XDA report, “All you need to do is sideload the unc0ver .ipa file using software like AltStore.” The writer was able to hack their iPhone SE and iPhone 11 Pro Max through this method.
Some of the features that can be added to jailbroken devices include the use of Garden, EyeOS, Snowboard, and AirPort 13. These tools add a few functions to the device including a home screen music page, icon packs, theme engines, and AirPods connection user interface.
The latest version of the OS is 14.4, which was released in February 2021. According to the company, this iteration prevents existing jailbreaks from working on proceeding versions.
This is not the first time that the unc0ver group released a tool for jailbreaking iPhones. Its previous release last year, which applied to iOS 11 to 13.5, was shut down by Apple within days.
Tech Crunch noted that the company acts quickly to address vulnerabilities. Moreover, it highlighted security experts’ advice to avoid jailbreaking devices as it makes the system more vulnerable to security threats.
