Security News > 2022 > February > Another Israeli Firm, QuaDream, Caught Weaponizing iPhone Bug for Spyware

A now-patched security vulnerability in Apple iOS that was previously found to be exploited by Israeli company NSO Group was also separately weaponized by a different surveillance vendor named QuaDream to hack into the company's devices.

The zero-click exploit in question is FORCEDENTRY, a flaw in iMessage that could be leveraged to circumvent iOS security protections and install spyware that allowed attackers to scoop up a wealth of information such as contacts, emails, files, messages, and photos, as well as access to the phone's camera and microphone.

QuaDream's spyware, named REIGN, functions in a manner similar to NSO Group's Pegasus, granting its users full control of the device.

On top of that, the new system, dubbed Phantom, is believed to have been equipped with capabilities to target phone numbers located in the U.S., going against the company's previous claims that its spyware cannot be used on phone numbers with a +1 country code.

NSO Group, which was also blocklisted by the U.S. government in November 2021, has been besieged by numerous setbacks in recent months, what with its spyware linked to numerous instances of political surveillance targeting diplomats and government officials in Finland, Poland, and the U.S. "The continuous revelations around the advanced spyware programs over the last year show the world just how much development is behind sophisticated mobile attacks," said Richard Melick, director of product strategy at Zimperium.

"These attacks are not just one vulnerability and exploit; they encompass fully developed toolsets designed to deliver the most effective spyware for its customers coming from known and unknown organizations."

News URL

https://thehackernews.com/2022/02/another-israeli-firm-quadream-caught.html