An important source code for iPhone, labeled iBoot, was anonymously posted on GitHub to which Apple responded by issuing a copyright takedown to the said site.
According to Motherboard, iBoot, the source code for iOS 9, which is believed to be a vital component of the iPhone's operating system, was first posted on Reddit last year. However, it was not noticed and was soon buried. It was then reposted to GitHub and was reported by a Twitter user. What made the leak of this source code significant was that iBoot is the code responsible for loading iPhone's operating system. While it may have been taken from an old operating system, iOS security researchers believe that a part of the code is still being used in the latest iPhone operating system, iOS 11.
Motherboard discussed with Jonathan Levin, an iOS security researcher and author of books about iOS and Mac OSX internals, the consequences of the leak. Levin believed that the source code posted was real because it is apparently aligned with the source code he reverse-engineered. He acknowledged the fact that access to source codes can help hackers find vulnerabilities that they can use to compromise or jailbreak a device. Because the source code is accessible, hackers will find it easier to crack or decrypt an iPhone and at the same time, provide an avenue for advanced programmers to copy iOS on non-Apple platforms.
Furthermore, Levin stated that the presence of vulnerabilities may bring back the popularity of tethered jailbreaks — a form of jailbreak in which phones are connected to computers when booting. These jailbreaks are at present hard to accomplish after Apple successfully enhanced the security on updated iOS devices.
Apple confirmed that the source code posted was an important one when it issued a copyright takedown to GitHub, with which the site immediately complied. Apple also commented on the issue by telling Engadget that the security of its products does not depend on the source code. Moreover, Apple emphasized that there are many layers of hardware and software protection built for the Apple products and that Apple users are encouraged to update every time a new software is released to strengthen their products' protection.
