iCloud Calendar Abused to Send Phishing Emails from Apple Servers

Cybercriminals have found a way to exploit Apple’s iCloud Calendar service to send phishing emails that appear to come directly from Apple’s own servers.

What Happened?

Security researchers discovered that attackers are creating fake calendar invites that are then delivered to users via email. Since these invitations are routed through Apple’s legitimate infrastructure, they appear authentic and trustworthy.

The malicious invites typically contain:

Fake “You won a prize” messages,
Links to phishing websites designed to steal credit card information,
Urgent prompts urging the recipient to take immediate action.

Because the messages originate from Apple’s trusted domain, they can bypass many spam and phishing detection systems.

Why This Matters

This type of attack is far more dangerous than standard phishing campaigns because:

Emails appear to come from apple.com,
Users are more likely to trust calendar invites from Apple,
Spam filters often whitelist Apple servers, allowing the messages through.

As a result, the chances of users falling victim are significantly higher.

Risks for Users

If a recipient interacts with the malicious calendar invite and clicks the embedded links, they may:

Compromise their Apple ID credentials,
Expose banking or credit card details,
Unknowingly install malware on their device.

What Users Should Do

Experts recommend that iCloud Calendar users take the following precautions:

Never accept suspicious calendar invites.
Disable the option to automatically receive calendar invites via email in iCloud settings.
If an email seems suspicious, do not click the embedded links — instead, manually type Apple’s official website address into the browser.
Never provide Apple ID or payment details through unverified forms.

Apple’s Response

Apple has not yet issued an official statement on the abuse of its calendar system. However, security researchers stress that Apple should consider adding stricter verification and filtering mechanisms to prevent such attacks.

Conclusion

This incident highlights how even trusted platforms can be weaponized by cybercriminals. Users must remain cautious not only of obvious phishing attempts but also of seemingly legitimate messages from well-known providers.