A new exploit called ShadyShader can cause Apple and Tesla devices to freeze or crash temporarily. Despite the patches, the issue remains relevant for a wide range of GPU devices.
The ShadyShader vulnerability was first discovered by researchers at Imperva, who noticed that the code running the shaders could overload the GPU on Apple devices. Patches were released in 2023, but the threat remains relevant as other devices may also be vulnerable to similar attacks.
ShadyShader can be delivered via websites, messages or QR codes, without the need for user permission, as GPU access to content processing is automatic. Despite Apple’s fix, Imperva researchers warn that the GPU resource-intensive problem remains and could be exploited in future attacks. Although Apple has already released an update to address this issue, the ShadyShader vulnerability continues to pose a threat to many devices.