Apple Accuses Ex-Engineer of Exploiting Zero-Day to Steal Files for OpenAI

Key Takeaways Lawsuit Filed: Apple sued OpenAI in the U.S. for reportedly trying to steal trade secrets, seeking a jury trial. Zero-Day Exploited: A former engineer allegedly used a rare, previously unknown authentication bug to access Apple's network storage in February 2026. Files Taken: He allegedly downloaded dozens of confidential hardware files, including unreleased product details and technical specs. Apple has escalated its trade-secret dispute with OpenAI, filing a lawsuit alleging that a former engineer repeatedly pulled confidential files from Apple's network long after he'd walked out the door, straight into a job at its AI rival.

At the center of the case is Chang Liu, a former Apple systems electrical engineer. The complaint alleges Liu " exploited a rare, previously unknown authentication bug " to access the company's shared network folders in February 2026, weeks after leaving for OpenAI.

A Zero-Day Bug No One Caught in Time Because the flaw was unknown to Apple before it was allegedly exploited, it's classified as a zero-day vulnerability , the kind of bug companies have zero advance warning to patch. Apple says it has since fixed the issue.

Apple alleges Liu accessed the systems partly through an Apple-issued laptop belonging to Yu-Ting Peng, who was still an Apple employee at the time and later also joined OpenAI . Apple's filing also cites Liu as allegedly texting, " I still have another computer, " and failing to return the work-issued laptop after leaving the company.

After discovering he still had access, Liu allegedly messaged Peng: “ LOL” and “So funny.”

Dozens of Hardware Files Allegedly Taken According to the complaint, Liu downloaded " dozens of Apple's confidential hardware-related files " over several weeks while already employed at OpenAI, including:

unreleased product information, engineering presentations, technical specifications, proprietary project data. “ Recently, significant evidence has emerged suggesting individuals employed by OpenAI wrongfully took Apple’s secret and confidential information regarding our unreleased technologies, processes, and products ,” an Apple spokesperson told 9to5Mac.

Where the Apple OpenAI Case Stands Now Apple has demanded a jury trial, and the case could begin as soon as this year, though the allegations have not yet been tested in court. Apple said that "this is the tip of the iceberg," signaling it expects more discoveries to surface.

As the complaint mentions Tang Yew Tan, OpenAI’s Chief Hardware Officer, who it says asked interviewees for “CAD/design artifacts” and “prototypes,” OpenAI pushed back publicly, stating it has " no interest in other companies' trade secrets ."

Judges last month dismissed the xAI trial targeting OpenAI over alleged trade-secret theft related to Grok. xAI has also sued Apple for allegedly conspiring with OpenAI to suppress rival platforms.

In early April, Apple released a security fix to defend devices from the DarkSword iOS exploit . In March, mobile security firm iVerify reported that a Coruna iPhone exploit kit was used by cybercriminals .

Apple Accuses Ex-Engineer of Exploiting ‘Rare’ Zero-Day to Steal Trade Secrets for OpenAI

A Zero-Day Bug No One Caught in Time

Dozens of Hardware Files Allegedly Taken

Where the Apple OpenAI Case Stands Now