Jailbreak Your Enemies with a Link: Remote Execution on iOS

The article discusses the Trident exploit chain, which consists of three zero-day vulnerabilities in iOS that allowed for the first remote jailbreak of iPhones. This exploit was particularly dangerous as it could be executed through a simple hyperlink, enabling attackers to install Pegasus spyware on victims' devices without their knowledge. The vulnerabilities stem from issues in the WebKit browser engine, specifically within the JavaScriptCore runtime. The first vulnerability involves memory corruption that allows arbitrary code execution, while the second and third vulnerabilities facilitate information leaks and root code execution, respectively. The article emphasizes the technical aspects of exploiting these vulnerabilities, detailing how attackers can bypass security measures like sandboxing to gain control over a victim's device. Although these vulnerabilities were patched in 2016, the underlying code remains accessible in open-source repositories. The author provides a deep dive into the mechanics of the exploit, including how JavaScript memory management can be manipulated to achieve remote code execution. The article serves as both a technical exploration of the exploit chain and a cautionary tale about the potential for state-sponsored surveillance and hacking.

- The Trident exploit chain consists of three zero-day vulnerabilities in iOS.

- Attackers can remotely jailbreak iPhones through a hyperlink, allowing the installation of Pegasus spyware.

- The vulnerabilities are rooted in the WebKit browser engine and involve memory corruption and privilege escalation.

- Although patched in 2016, the exploit's code is still publicly available.

- The article provides a detailed technical analysis of how these vulnerabilities can be exploited.