New 'Relapse' Exploit Extends PS5 Jailbreaking to Far More Consoles
A new PS5 exploit called Relapse works on consoles running firmware up to version 13.6, allowing jailbreaking on any machine last updated before mid-September, according to Ars Technica.
The exploit, called Relapse, means jailbreaking is now possible on any PS5 that was last updated before the mid-September release of firmware version 14.00.00. Firmware 13.6 was released in July, the report said.
Until now, the PS5 hacking community had spent several years chipping away at a series of exploits that let users fully jailbreak the locked-down console, but those methods generally worked only with years-old versions of the PS5's frequently updated firmware. That limitation made them of little use to ordinary owners whose consoles had been kept current.
According to Ars Technica, Relapse makes use of a long-known WebKit vulnerability in the PS5's hard-to-access web browser. From that entry point, the exploit escalates to gain write access to the PS5 kernel and then installs an ELF loader, which streamlines the running of arbitrary code on the console.
The new method is also considerably more efficient than earlier PS5 jailbreak exploits, which could hang the system for 50 minutes per attempt. The report did not include a response from Sony Interactive Entertainment.
Jailbreaking a console typically removes the software restrictions its maker imposes, allowing users to run code and software that the platform would otherwise block. On the PS5, that process has been constrained by the pace of Sony's firmware updates, which close off the specific software flaws that each exploit depends on. The release of Relapse narrows that gap for consoles that have not yet received firmware version 14.00.00.