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Lawsuit Filed After Apple's A12 and A13 Chips Hit With New Unpatchable Exploit

Last month, cybersecurity research firm Paradigm Shift published details about a boot ROM vulnerability affecting Apple's A12 and A13 chips, but it has since removed the blog post after being sued by digital forensics firm Magnet Forensics.

iPhone 11 Pro Feature Green
In a complaint filed in Georgia federal court this month, Magnet Forensics alleged that the security vulnerability revealed by Paradigm Shift was substantially the same as the one its former employee Mario Del Gaudio worked on before joining Paradigm Shift. Accordingly, Magnet Forensics alleged that Del Gaudio exposed its trade secrets.

Apple's A12 and A13 chips power the iPhone XS and iPhone 11 series, along with select other devices. A boot ROM vulnerability cannot be patched with an iOS update, as it involves code permanently embedded in the chip's read-only memory.

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Top Rated Comments

EugW Avatar
2 hours ago at 08:17 am

The iPhone 11 came out in what, 2019? That's 7 years ago. Who cares?
As of mid 2026, it is estimated that about 1/5 to 1/4 of all iPhones in active use are actually iPhone 11 series and earlier.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
2 hours ago at 08:00 am
What a colossal waste of time for everyone.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
allpar Avatar
2 hours ago at 08:17 am

The iPhone 11 came out in what, 2019? That's 7 years ago. Who cares?
Since we're using one, I guess we do. I just moved on from my XR.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PBG4 Dude Avatar
2 hours ago at 08:30 am
iPhone 11 is getting iOS 27. Apple wouldn’t upgrade the 11 if no one was using it.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
danpass Avatar
2 hours ago at 08:39 am
well, well ....

"Why Companies Keep Flaws Secret
Forensic firms like Magnet Forensics operate under a strict commercial zero-day model. They intentionally do not disclose vulnerabilities to vendors like Apple for two reasons: [1 ('https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-07-17/iphone-hacking-firm-sues-ex-worker-over-alleged-theft-of-secrets')]

* Product Utility: Their entire business model relies on selling hardware boxes (like GrayKey) to law enforcement and intelligence agencies to extract evidence from locked iPhones. If they disclose a vulnerability to Apple, Apple may find architectural or software mitigation techniques that render the forensic tools obsolete. [1 ('https://www.mayhemcode.com/2026/06/usbliter8-iphone-exploit-what-it-is-and.html')]
* Competitive Edge: Keeping unpatchable SecureROM capabilities secret ensures that rival forensics firms cannot copy the technique and implement it into competing law enforcement tools. [1 ('https://financialpost.com/cybersecurity/iphone-hacking-firm-sues-worker-theft-secrets'), 2 ('https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/magnet-forensics-sues-former-contractor-for-leaking-iphone-exploit/39224')]"
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zarmanto Avatar
2 hours ago at 08:34 am
Hot take: I just think it's vaguely refreshing to see an article about legal action on MacRumors that doesn't directly involve Apple's own lawyers in some way. 😅
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)