whatsappWhatsApp today disclosed a vulnerability that allowed hackers to remotely exploit a bug in the app's audio call system to access sensitive information on an iPhone or Android device.

According to The New York Times, attackers were able to insert malicious code into WhatsApp, allowing them to steal data, regardless of whether or not a WhatsApp phone call was answered.

Security researchers said that the spyware that took advantage of this flaw featured characteristics of the Pegasus spyware from NSO Group, which is normally licensed to governments who purchase the spyware for installing on the devices of individuals who are the target of an investigation.

Description:A buffer overflow vulnerability in WhatsApp VOIP stack allowed remote code execution via specially crafted series of SRTCP packets sent to a target phone number.

Affected Versions: The issue affects WhatsApp for Android prior to v2.19.134, WhatsApp Business for Android prior to v2.19.44, WhatsApp for iOS prior to v2.19.51, WhatsApp Business for iOS prior to v2.19.51, WhatsApp for Windows Phone prior to v2.18.348, and WhatsApp for Tizen prior to v2.18.15.

The vulnerability was described by WhatsApp as "nontrivial to deploy, limiting it to advanced and highly motivated actors," but it's not clear how long the security flaw was available nor how many people were affected. It was used to target a London lawyer who has been involved in lawsuits against the NSO Group, and security researchers believe others could have been targeted as well.

WhatsApp engineers "worked around the clock" to address the vulnerability, and made a patch available on Monday. The initial vulnerability was discovered ten days ago after WhatsApp found abnormal voice calling activity following complaints from the aforementioned lawyer. WhatsApp says that it has notified the Department of Justice and a "number of human rights organizations" about the issue.

Update: Reader comments suggested that some of the wording in this article was confusing or misleading, so we have updated it to make sure the details of the vulnerability are clear. Specifically, this issue impacted WhatsApp, not the iOS operating system.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Top Rated Comments

Slix Avatar
80 months ago
Remember all the comments the other day about WhatsApp being more secure than iMessage?

:rolleyes:
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macfacts Avatar
80 months ago
Remember all the comments the other day about WhatsApp being more secure than iMessage?

:rolleyes:
So a bug in WhatsApp can install unsigned apps? That sounds like iOS has the bigger security bug
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
realtuner Avatar
80 months ago
So a bug in WhatsApp can install unsigned apps? That sounds like iOS has the bigger security bug
Nah, not on iOS, it's so private and secure things like this or the carrier tracking situation could never be an iPhone issue. Yeah Privacy Timmy!
Two ridiculous comments. So if iOS is the problem, how come the fix was done via a patch to the WhatsApp App itself and also a server side update to WhatsApp? How come there's no updates for iOS or Android (since, you know, this exploit also worked with WhatsApp on Android) to fix this issue?

NVM, because Apple.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mascots Avatar
80 months ago
How did this vulnerability make it past the App Store review process? Do app reviewers take bribes to allow spy trash like this into apps?
This exploit is sideloaded and delivered to WhatsApp outside of the App Store.

The App Store itself does not vet apps for vulnerabilities (that would be impossible), but it does vet them for these types of warez directly.
[doublepost=1557803453][/doublepost]
So a bug in WhatsApp can install unsigned apps? That sounds like iOS has the bigger security bug
I just searched a little and it looks like this exploit is scoped solely to WhatsApp's VOIP stack (and within the sandbox) and whatever WhatsApp had permissions for. It will access all of your photos, if you've allowed WhatsApp access, for example.

I can't find any evidence of any additional system exploiting, yet. But this seems why it's able to affect such a wide range of systems - it is spyware within WhatsApp itself.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Marshall73 Avatar
80 months ago
not as bad as the FaceTime bug/exploit.
I’d say it’s arguably worse as they could remote install software to your phone which could do any number of things including scraping all of your information stored on the phone.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
killhippie Avatar
80 months ago
Anyone else find it extremely disturbing Israelis spying?

Luckily they don’t make phones.
Israel makes loads of telecoms equipment for Europe and maybe even the USA under the name ECI. Now I don't use WhatsApp, never have but I do find it ironic that Huawei are being banned left right and centre yet ECI based equipment isn't, and now WhatsApp gets caught being a bad actor. I guess it depends on how friendly you are with your spying counterparts and what financial arrangements you have in place with them, as I'm sure every country knows exactly who is spying on who globally. It's good that iOS is so secure though, as Tim says what happens on your iPhone stays on your iPhone, oh hang on...
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPadOS 26 App Windowing

Apple Explains Why iPads Don't Just Run macOS

Friday June 13, 2025 7:46 am PDT by
iPadOS 26 allows iPads to function much more like Macs, with a new app windowing system, a swipe-down menu bar at the top of the screen, and more. However, Apple has stopped short of allowing iPads to run macOS, and it has now explained why. In an interview this week with Swiss tech journalist Rafael Zeier, Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi said that iPadOS 26's new Mac-like ...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday June 12, 2025 8:58 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
iOS 26 Screens

Here Are All the iOS 26 Features That Require iPhone 15 Pro or Newer

Thursday June 12, 2025 4:53 am PDT by
With iOS 26, Apple has introduced some major changes to the iPhone experience, headlined by the new Liquid Glass redesign that's available across all compatible devices. However, several of the update's features are exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models, since they rely on Apple Intelligence. The following features are powered by on-device large language models and machine...
Logitech Logo Feature

Logitech Announces Two New Accessories for WWDC

Friday June 13, 2025 7:22 am PDT by
Alongside WWDC this week, Logitech announced notable new accessories for the iPad and Apple Vision Pro. The Logitech Muse is a spatially-tracked stylus developed for use with the Apple Vision Pro. Introduced during the WWDC 2025 keynote address, Muse is intended to support the next generation of spatial computing workflows enabled by visionOS 26. The device incorporates six degrees of...
apple beta 26 lineup

Apple 'Sherlocked' These Apps at WWDC 2025

Wednesday June 11, 2025 7:14 am PDT by
Apple at WWDC previewed a bunch of new features coming in its updated operating systems, but certain changes will have been met with dismay by third-party developers who already offer apps with equivalent or similar features. In other words, their product has been "sherlocked" by Apple. When Apple creates an app or a feature that has functionality found in a third-party app, it is referred...
iOS 26 on Three iPhones

Hate iOS 26's Liquid Glass Design? Here's How to Tone It Down

Wednesday June 11, 2025 4:22 pm PDT by
iOS 26 features a whole new design material that Apple calls Liquid Glass, with a focus on transparency that lets the content on your display shine through the controls. If you're not a fan of the look, or are having trouble with readability, there is a step that you can take to make things more opaque without entirely losing out on the new look. Apple has multiple Accessibility options that ...
maxresdefault

Everything Apple Announced at WWDC 2025 in 10 Minutes

Monday June 9, 2025 5:21 pm PDT by
At today's WWDC 2025 keynote event, Apple unveiled a new design that will inform the next decade of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS development, so needless to say, it was a busy day. Apple also unveiled a ton of new features for the iPhone, an overhauled Spotlight interface for the Mac, and a ton of updates that make the iPad more like a Mac than ever before. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel ...
CarPlay Liquid Glass Dark

Apple to Let iPhone Users Watch Videos on CarPlay Screen While Parked

Thursday June 12, 2025 6:16 am PDT by
Apple this week announced that iPhone users will soon be able to watch videos right on the CarPlay screen in supported vehicles. iPhone users will be able to wirelessly stream videos to the CarPlay screen using AirPlay, according to Apple. For safety reasons, video playback will only be available when the vehicle is parked, to prevent distracted driving. The connected iPhone will be able to...