Wednesday, August 11, 2010, 03:10 pm

Apple releases iOS 4.0.2, 3.2.2 with fix for PDF exploit

By AppleInsider Staff

Apple on Wednesday patched a PDF exploit found in its mobile devices with iOS 4.0.2 for the iPhone and iPod touch, and iOS 3.2.2 for the iPad.

The updates address a security hole used by hackers to "jailbreak" the iPhone, iPod touch. The PDF exploit could also be used by hackers to gain remote control over an iOS device.

iOS 4.0.2 is available for the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and second- and third-generation iPod touch models. iOS 3.2.2 is for the iPad and iPad 3G.

Earlier this month, users released a browser-based hack that took advantage of a PDF exploit in Mobile Safari. The hack could allow users to run unauthorized code on their iOS devices through a process known as jailbreaking.

The jailbreak takes advantage of a PDF exploit that one prominent security expert called "scary." By tricking a user into simply visiting a website and loading corrupted PDFs through the iOS browser, a hacker could take control of an iOS device.

Apple quickly responded after the hack was made public, and said that it had already developed a fix for the issue. It said the PDF exploit would be plugged with a forthcoming update, which was released Wednesday in the form of iOS 4.0.2 and iOS 3.2.2.