Nintendo Switch just released last week, and we’re already seeing evidence of a userland hack that might pave the way for a jailbreak. Can the Switch’s browser be exploited like it was for iOS 9.3? It certainly seems that way.
Hardware tinkerer qwertyoruiopz is most recently known for working on the JBME website exploit for iOS 9.3, and it appears that same Webkit flaw might have some relevance to Nintendo Switch. After spending a few days poking around the Switch OS to design a unique hack, the covert developer noticed something interesting. Apparently the identical iOS code works just as well on Switch as long as the Apple-specific references are removed.
Read: Switch Skins Don’t Damage The System, Skinit GM Says
The coder proved the findings through a tweet Friday evening. “That’s just how it goes,” the message reads. Below is a picture of the finished iOS hack supposedly running within the Switch’s limited browser. The test was performed on the console’s latest firmware, 2.0.0.
that's just how it goes pic.twitter.com/ztkFrbjz5u
— qwertyoruiop (@qwertyoruiopz) March 11, 2017
In the absence of a deeper investigation, we still don’t know just how viable this particular exploit actually is. Userland holes like this one don’t leave much room for exploration, but were often the gateway to more significant jailbreaks on Wii U and 3DS. In all fairness, it’s hard to tell if this development will have the same impact.
In case you’re confused, the Switch web browser isn’t included in the hardware’s main feature set. A preliminary version of it can be accessed by going to User Settings and clicking the button to link with a Facebook or Twitter account.
If a Switch jailbreak is something you’re after, it may be helpful to go to System Settings > System and disable Auto-update Software. Turning off Wifi may not be a bad idea either. If this flaw can be leveraged, a future firmware update will likely patch it. These steps ensure that won’t happen.
Nintendo Switch is available now for $299. Read our full hardware review here.
Will qwertyoruiopz’s iOS hack be the start of the Switch jailbreak scene? Tell us in the comments section!
