Home Gaming Hackers claim they have access to Nintendo Switch Kernel

Hackers claim they have access to Nintendo Switch Kernel

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In December last year, Nintendo joined up with HackerOne to launch a vulnerability-squishing program. The bug bounty service offers cash rewards of up to $20 000 for information on vulnerabilities that could lead to its systems – like the Switch – falling foul of hacks. Nintendo’s 3DS and Wii U were both pulled apart by hackers, enabling not just homebrew, but also piracy. Obviously Nintendo wants to stop that.

Here’s a sample of the sort of thing Nintendo’s willing to pony up for:

  • System vulnerabilities regarding Nintendo Switch
  • Privilege escalation from userland
  • Kernel takeover
  • ARM® TrustZone® takeover

Right now, a handful of software exploiters have taken advantage of the program, but it seems the bounties just aren’t a big enough draw for some hackers. There are claims floating about that suggest that hackers have gained Kernel access to the Nintendo Switch, paving the way for hacks, homebrew – and very probably, piracy.

While this doesn’t mean that it’s open season on the Switch just yet, it may mean that the cat-and-mouse firmware update game is set to begin. When systems like this are hacked and opened up to piracy, they tend to have an initial hardware sales surge, that’s offset by a significant and sustained slump in software sales. Easy hacking and piracy is cited as one of the reasons SEGA’s Dreamcast died the way it did.

With the Switch booming in popularity right now, and third parties jumping back in to bed with the big N, this is exactly the sort of thing the Switch doesn’t need.

Last Updated: July 11, 2017

3 Comments

  1. Admiral Chief

    July 11, 2017 at 12:11

    Hehe, dat header (both here and on main CH page)

    Reply

  2. BakedBagel

    July 11, 2017 at 13:26

    Piracy has never been about money (From the pirates perspective)
    Its sport?

    R10 it gets a hack by the end of the year

    Reply

  3. Ottokie

    July 11, 2017 at 13:31

    and then you get banned from online use, yay… idiots

    Reply

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