Apple fixing iPhone root vulnerability; patents new technologies

Apple is working to fix an iPhone SMS exploit that could give an attacker root access to vital phone services. IDG News reports that the vulnerability could allow a hacker to monitor an iPhone user's GPS coordinates, activate the phone's microphone for eavesdropping, or turn the device into a denial-of-service attack bot.

Binary code can be stored in multiple SMS messages that are automatically reassembled without user interaction. Security researcher Charlie Miller made the discovery and is working with Apple to fix the exploit.

In related Apple news, MacRumors reports that Apple has patented several new mobile technologies that include tactile haptic feedback, fingerprint identification, and an RFID reader embedded in the display of the device.