A day after the release of Apple’s latest product, the Apple Vision Pro, a security concern has emerged. Joseph Ravichandran, a PhD student from MIT with expertise in microarchitecture security, claims to have identified a critical kernel vulnerability in the device’s operating system, visionOS. This vulnerability could potentially enable jailbreaking and the development of harmful software designed to exploit this new hardware.
Kernel Vulnerability Found in Apple Vision Pro
Joseph Ravichandran shared his findings on Twitter, posting a series of tweets that included photos showing the Apple Vision Pro’s reaction to a kernel exploit. After the exploit, the device goes into a “perspective mode” and instructs the user to remove the headset in preparation for a restart, which is scheduled to occur within 30 seconds.
Following this restart, Ravichandran highlighted an emergency log indicating a kernel crash. Further, he showcased a custom application named Vision Pro Crasher, featuring a skull adorned with a headset icon and a button labeled Crash My Vision Pro.
Potential Security Concerns
This news isn’t entirely surprising. New hardware releases often attract security researchers eager to test its defenses. Similar to attempts to jailbreak iPhones, Ravichandran’s exploit highlights potential security concerns for the Vision Pro ecosystem.
However, there’s reason to remain optimistic. Apple has a proven track record of swiftly addressing security issues, especially in high-profile products like the Vision Pro. Additionally, Ravichandran hasn’t confirmed submitting his findings to Apple, though the company’s security bounty program could incentivize such disclosure.
Even if the exploit remains public, its immediate impact might be limited. The Vision Pro’s gradual rollout targets tech-savvy early adopters, making widespread exploitation less likely. Moreover, Apple will likely prioritize fixing the vulnerability in a swift update, further mitigating any potential risks.
Apple Vision Pro Launch and Pricing
Apple Vision Pro launched in the US earlier this week, representing a significant milestone as Apple’s first major new product category since the Apple Watch in 2015. Pre-orders became available on January 19. While there hasn’t been an official announcement about its launch in China, Tim Cook has indicated that it will happen very soon. In terms of pricing, the Apple Vision Pro starts at $3,499 in the United States.
