Apple Releases iOS 4.3.4 to Address Latest Jailbreaking Vulnerability

Friday July 15, 2011 11:39 am PDT by Eric Slivka

Apple has just released iOS 4.3.4, making good on a promise to patch a vulnerability that has been used for the latest JailbreakMe.com jailbreaking method but which could also allow malicious downloads to infect users' devices. The update is available for the iPhone 4/3GS, third- and fourth-generation iPod touch, and all iPads. A special iOS 4.2.9 update is also available for the CDMA iPhone 4.

The iOS 4.3.4 update comes in as Build 8K2, while the iOS 4.2.9 registers as Build 8E501.

iOS 4.3.4 Software Update

Fixes security vulnerability associated with viewing malicious PDF files.

Apple has also posted security-related documents outlining the three vulnerabilities patched in iOS 4.3.4 and iOS 4.2.9.

Top Rated Comments

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baleensavage

111 months ago

i thought jailbreaking was legal and your right to do so..... why then does apple keep issuing patches to break the jailbreakers....?

Because this particular method of jailbreaking uses a security loophole that could be used by a malicious website to hack your iPhone. Whether you agree with jailbreaking, it's a good thing that Apple is addressing security concerns like this.

Rating: 38 Votes

Aduntu

111 months ago

i thought jailbreaking was legal and your right to do so..... why then does apple keep issuing patches to break the jailbreakers....?

Jailbreaking is accomplished by exploiting a vulnerability in the device. Apple patches these vulnerabilities like any responsible company should.

Rating: 35 Votes

andylyon

111 months ago

i thought jailbreaking was legal and your right to do so..... why then does apple keep issuing patches to break the jailbreakers....?

What? It's to patch a security hole!

Rating: 34 Votes

fabian9

111 months ago

i thought jailbreaking was legal and your right to do so..... why then does apple keep issuing patches to break the jailbreakers....?

Because the exploit can also be used to inject non-jailbreak related code.

Rating: 22 Votes

GeekLawyer

111 months ago

i thought jailbreaking was legal and your right to do so..... why then does apple keep issuing patches to break the jailbreakers....?

Apple is patching the legitimate security vulnerability that allowed the jailbreakme break to work. Which could be used by other for malicious purposes.

It's a good precaution for Apple to take. Luckily the jailbreak community has already released their own fix, which means those jailbroken can keep their jailbreak and sense of security.

Rating: 21 Votes

GeekLawyer

111 months ago

It's a trap!

Rating: 19 Votes

utwarreng

111 months ago

i thought jailbreaking was legal and your right to do so..... why then does apple keep issuing patches to break the jailbreakers....?

Since the PDF exploit is usable for far more than just a jailbreak, it's a genuine security risk.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a jailbreaker myself, but even comex himself will tell you that these PDF exploits could easily be put to bad use if people chose to use them that way. Comex even wrote a fix for this vulnerability, and posted it on Cydia, so that after people had jailbroken their phones, they could close the vulnerability without waiting on Apple.

Jailbreaking IS legal, but that doesn't mean Apple has to like it. They're well within their rights to attempt to close the holes that allow it. The ruling more or less just gave users the right to attempt to jailbreak. It doesn't make vulnerabilities in the iOS code an inalienable right that Apple has to put in/leave in.

Rating: 18 Votes

c0heed

111 months ago

who cares about 4.3.4 :)
all we want is lion!

Rating: 16 Votes

2IS

111 months ago

i thought jailbreaking was legal and your right to do so..... why then does apple keep issuing patches to break the jailbreakers....?

It being legal doesn't mean Apple has to like it. They can make it more difficult for you, but they cant sue you. I'm no lawyer, but that's my interpretation.

Rating: 13 Votes