Apple just released the iOS 17.2 update, which stops the Flipper Zero from bombarding iPhones with too many popups, making them freeze and need a reboot. The exploit, previously enabled by the Xtreme third-party firmware, allowed the Flipper Zero to flood iPhones within a 30-foot radius with notifications, essentially executing a denial of service (DoS) attack.
This special trick of the Flipper Zero got a lot of notice because it could be risky for iPhone users. Even though the Xtreme firmware can still make some popups, Apple has now stopped the non-stop flood of popups that used to make the devices freeze up in iOS 17.2.
The Xtreme firmware, which provided the BLE Spam app used for these attacks, has faced scrutiny for its potential misuse, leading to its banishment from the Amazon store. The Flipper Zero itself has been flagged as a hacking tool and has gained infamy in law enforcement circles.
ZDNET conducted tests that confirmed Apple's successful mitigation of the vulnerability with the latest Xtreme firmware against iPhones running iOS 17.2. While the devices continued to receive some annoying popups, they no longer succumbed to crashes. However, independent confirmation of the fix is still being monitored.
It's intriguing to note that the Xtreme firmware isn't directly available from Flipper's third-party app store, yet it remains accessible for installation on the Flipper Zero. Additionally, upcoming updates such as iOS 17.3 are anticipated to bring about further enhancements for anti-theft measures, potentially addressing Bluetooth message vulnerabilities.
For current iPhone and iPad users, accessing the latest updates to ensure device security is essential. To execute the iOS 17.2 update, users can navigate to Settings, General, and then select Software Update, following the prompts to keep their devices up to date and safeguarded against such potential exploits.
