Ziphone author demos iPhone crash to Forbes

Ziphone creator Piergiorgio Zambrini has discovered a bug with the iPhone that causes the phone to crash when it starts to play a specially-created video. Forbes.com recorded a demonstration.

The bug apparently affects the audio track of the video, which takes down the iPhone operating system. I could not independently verify the bug, because the links to the movie (and the movie file itself) shown to Forbes were no longer available online.

The bug does not permanently damage devices, according to Zambrini. He said he hasn't yet contacted Apple's security response team. Forbes.com informed an Apple spokesman about the flaw and is still awaiting an official comment.

Zambrini claims he emailed Steve Jobs personally about the bug; around the same time, he applied for employment at Apple. Apple has not yet responded to his resume. It strikes me that Zambrini is trying to appeal to Apple in the same way that your ex-girlfriend tries to appeal to you by spray painting the front of your house.

In the Forbes.com article, Zambrini now claims his goal "...is not to work for Apple."

Zambrini created Ziphone, a popular iPhone unlocking tool.

Thanks, Taylor!

Update: A tipster sends word that he's been in touch with Apple's Product Security Team, and says the crash has been fixed as of iPhone OS 2.1. There is no threat to users as long as your iPhone software is up-to-date.

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Source: http://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/11/03/apple-iphone-bug…

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Security iPhone iPod touch

Ziphone creator Piergiorgio Zambrini has discovered a bug with the iPhone that causes the phone to crash when it starts to play a...

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Alan

Bull shit. I just crashed my iPod touch 2G running firmware 2.2 with the video. LOL. I sent it to my friends who have an iPhone or iPod. LOL. They were so scared, then I told them that a reboot would fix it. LOL.

January 18 2009 at 11:13 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mathue taxion

I can't fathom why one would email Jobs in such a fashion! If I had a prospective employee show up having shown they could cause havoc with my product they'd be led right back out the door. What next, rob a bank and then ask to be a teller?

November 05 2008 at 1:16 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

bdot

that's it?

his link causes safari to open, then the phone crashes when a non-supported video gets launched?

that doesn't seem like a bug.

i am not a computer-smart guy, but that could happen on MANY websites, couldn't it?

the "report", (all exhausting 15 seconds of it), doesn't go into very much detail, does it?

November 04 2008 at 10:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

dif

I remember my first jailbreak.... you guys remember ibrickr? NateTrue?
That was a bitch.... then came the soft upgrade , thanks Nate.
Ah yes... I remember Ziphone's release, the break up, and the drama...
But oh what ease it brought to us all. One click , five minutes... done.
I remember the blogs... the praise, the pleading. Yes there were many from a certain "Team" begging... demanding for yet another release. The Key.

November 04 2008 at 4:05 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

chaise

That's the exploit ? A simple crash ?
The iPhone doesn't need a malicious video for that !

November 04 2008 at 3:10 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

neoteny

fredrik grevstaad or something of iphone.unlock.no wrote the GUI for peephone, not zibri.

November 04 2008 at 10:56 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

rob

whoopty f*ing do, I can demo my iPhone crashing every 5 seconds just by browsing safari. Why don't they fix that, instead forbes is doing a story on some video that makes it crash... How many people even have this video? Now how many people have iPhones that crash 24/7!!! F*** forbes and zibri and mobile safari ever since 2.0 the iPhone is an unstable piece of crap

November 04 2008 at 10:53 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jash Sayani

Oh! Now I know what Zibri was upto all this time......

November 04 2008 at 8:37 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Anonymous Guy

Normally I post with my real name, this time, I'll stay anonymous.

I will say that this guy had the technical ability to work for Apple. But, he doesn't have the professional tact. There were other ways to demonstrate this to Apple... some of which, probably would have landed him the job he was looking for.

November 04 2008 at 6:34 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Dave

This whole thing is almost surreal. Hopefully Apple responds publicly to him. :)

November 04 2008 at 12:05 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply