Apple has come up with an interesting new technology that allows stores to install the latest updates to an iPhone without removing it from the box. If the technology works (and it looks like it does) it will remove one of the major hassles of buying a new phone or device which is to install the latest updates and patches on the phone.
This device can wirelessly turn on the iPhone, update its software and then power it back down. We still don’t have a full explanation on how it works but based on at a guess, it leverages the fact that the NFC chip in the phone can work potentially work even when the phone is switched off (it already works with a low battery). Placing the phone in the device would potentially trigger the NFC chip which would then start the phone in a special mode that allows it to connect to the WiFi and download the updates. Post completion the system would shutdown the phone and it would be ready to use.
In theory this sounds like a great enhancement but I fear that unless the system has sufficient controls and checks around it it will open up a whole new attack vector. Previously, there have been attacks where Nation States or Criminal organizations would intercept hardware being delivered to a target open the package, make changes and then reseal and send it on to the target. This is a sure shot way of ensuring that a device is compromised before it reaches the target, however it requires a lot of resources and manual effort to implement and there is a risk of exposure since multiple folks are involved. With this new update option an attacker just has to have physical access to the device and can be done by simply taking the packaged device and putting it in the updater for a little while.
This assumes that the security checks and authentication built around the process can be bypassed. That being said, once the tech is live there are going to be a lot of very smart people trying to bypass the checks to be able to update the phone. Keep in mind that there is nothing stopping anyone from updating the phone using this method even after someone is actively using it.
Source: Mastodon.social: arstechnica