New PS5 jailbreak Relapse works on firmware up to 13.60
If your PS5 is still on firmware 13.60 or older, a new public jailbreak can now run unsigned code on it, and the only thing standing in the way is Sony's next update. Developer Nathan Fargo published the exploit, called Relapse, on GitHub. It covers firmware 7.00 through 13.60 on both the PS5 and PS5 Pro. Firmware 14.00, released in September, is not supported.
The speed
The previous public method, known as P2JB, could take up to 50 minutes to run. Relapse finishes in a few seconds, according to community reports. Fargo has not formally benchmarked it.
There is a catch. The jailbreak does not survive a restart, so it has to be run again each time the console reboots. It chains a browser flaw in WebKit, the engine behind the PS5's web browser, with a kernel-level exploit. The kernel is the core of the system software.
Owners of 13.60 get something new here. It is the first public kernel exploit for that version. Homebrew software (unofficial apps and mods) and game dumps become accessible on those consoles.
The limits
Running Linux on 13.60 is still off the table. It needs a separate hypervisor exploit, and enthusiasts on the PS5 Developer Wiki are working on one. On older firmware, Linux is already possible.
Stability is another issue. VGTimes notes that freezes have been reported during the exploit, and results vary from console to console.
The risk
Sony can and does ban consoles and accounts from PlayStation Network for modified hardware. Running unofficial code also breaks the terms of service and could complicate any warranty claim. Copying or running games you don't own is piracy, which is illegal in the US and UK. The legal status of jailbreaking a console you own is murkier and differs by country.
Anyone who wants to keep the option open should switch off automatic updates in the console's settings and avoid installing system software manually. Users on 14.00 have no route in for now. Fargo's project page shows failures on that version, and no patch has been released.
Sony has not commented on Relapse. The company has typically responded to past exploits with firmware updates, so the window for 13.60 owners may not stay open for long.
