iTunes – How to Stop iPhone/iPad Asking for Passcode for Each Backup

backupipadiphoneitunespassword

iMac 2019 MacOS Mojave; iOS 15.7.1

Sometime after I updated my iPhone 8 and iPad (9th gen) I get a message on the iPhone/iPad every time I connect via USB to provide a passcode to back up the device.

"Enter passcode to Start a Backup"

On the iMac I get the following message about the passcode requirement with the choices Cancel or Try Again.

"iTunes could not back up the 'device' “device name” because it is locked with a passcode. You must enter your passcode on the 'device' before it can be backed up."

I believe the behavior started with iOS 15.7 for both devices.

I tried both settings for the "USB Accessories" preference under "Touch ID and Passcode" without success and I couldn't find any information about this change.

Any ideas how to turn off this persistent passcode prompting without disabling the passcode?

Edit: Devices are synced if Cancel is selected for prompts, just no backup.

Best Answer

This looks to be a result of CVE-2022-32929.

From Apple's release note for 15.7 and for 16.1...

Backup

Available for: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: An app may be able to access iOS backups

Description: A permissions issue was addressed with additional restrictions.

CVE-2022-32929: Csaba Fitzl (@theevilbit) of Offensive Security

So... it's deliberate. Maybe they'll back down, maybe they won't.

Edit... complete analysis here.

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