Recent forensic evidence suggests that a rare iPhone crash linked to an iMessage bug may be indicative of targeted spyware attempts, although Apple remains skeptical. The iMessage vulnerability, discovered by the security firm iVerify, affected how iPhones handled nickname updates within the Messages app.
Apple has since patched the flaw, named “Nickname,” in the iOS 18.3 update. The issue was connected to the Share Name and Photo feature, which allows users to share their chosen name and profile picture when messaging.
The researchers found that a bug in the processing of these nickname updates could lead to a remote crash of the Messages app. By sending a specific sequence of nickname changes, attackers could exploit a memory error in a system process known as “imagent.”
This type of vulnerability requires no user interaction, making it particularly dangerous as it only needs the target’s phone number and Apple ID. iVerify analyzed crash logs from nearly 50,000 devices between April 2024 and January 2025, discovering that the crashes linked to the Nickname bug were extremely rare and mostly found on phones used by individuals holding sensitive positions.
Notably, one high-ranking European Union official experienced a crash that aligned with the vulnerability and later received a threat alert from Apple. In response, Apple’s head of Security Engineering, Ivan Krstic, stated that the company does not support claims of a targeted attack and believes the issue was merely a software bug.
He pointed out that no credible evidence exists to suggest exploitation in real-world attacks. While Apple employs advanced security features to protect users, the incident underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and being cautious of unknown messages.
Users, especially those in sensitive fields, should consider enabling additional security measures such as Lockdown Mode and stay vigilant against potential threats.
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