New iOS Vulnerability Can Change Number From Which You Are Receiving Texts

An iOS Hacker or better called Jailbreak-contributor has discovered a new vulnerability in iOS that can enable hackers to change the mobile phone number you are receiving texts from. You might think you're getting a text from a trusted source, but it would actually be someone else entirely. pod2g mentioned it in his twitter account earlier and believe this security hole is known by some security researchers and some pirates as well.

He explains it in his Blog:

In the text payload, a section called UDH (User Data Header) is optional but defines lot of advanced features not all mobiles are compatible with. One of these options enables the user to change the reply address of the text. If the destination mobile is compatible with it, and if the receiver tries to answer to the text, he will not respond to the original number, but to the specified one. Most carriers don't check this part of the message, which means one can write whatever he wants in this section: a special number like 911, or the number of somebody else.

What Does It Mean To Us?

It can be a lot bad to us. Suppose if you received a text from a pirate which is masked as a bank text asking your private information or getting you on a particular website. Or one could send a spoofed message to your device and use it as a false evidence. Anything you can imagine that could be utilized to manipulate people, letting them trust somebody or some organization texted them. 

What Should I Do Now?

You should be patient on this topic. You should not give any private info directly from a text to anyone. And now you are alerted, never trust any SMS you received on your iPhone at first sight.

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