Researcher Claims To Have Successfully Jailbroken Nintendo Switch 2

Security researcher Sammy Hajhamid, also known as pepsipu on X, claims to have successfully jailbroken the Nintendo Switch 2 console. To demonstrate their accomplishment, they modded the avatars of Cinnamoroll, Peter Griffin, and Hatsune Miku into Mario Kart World. The jailbreak was achieved using an exploit called NS2JB, which reportedly works on firmware 23.0.1, the latest version on the Switch 2.

Unlike traditional hardware modifications, this method does not necessitate physically disassembling the console or installing a mod chip; instead, it utilizes AI. According to Hajhamid, they employed OpenAI Codex to identify vulnerabilities in SmileBNASIC, a programming app initially released for the first Nintendo Switch. The exploit, which is software-based and tethered, allows for the execution of arbitrary native code as any regular sysmodule and the built-in fs sysmodule.

It enables the execution of homebrew, reverse engineering, and modification of Switch 2 games, as well as backup of save files and access to most of the console's peripherals via MMIO. However, it is important to note that the exploit does not fully jailbreak the Switch 2; it requires a connected computer, can be reactivated after restarting the console, and does not grant complete control over the system's OS.

Hajhamid has shared the exploit on GitLab, including instructions for activation, to allow the homebrew community to explore its potential.