PS5 Jailbreak Exploit Now Works on Most Consoles Through Firmware 13.6

The PS5 hacking community achieved a major milestone this week with the release of the Relapse exploit, which dramatically expands the range of consoles vulnerable to jailbreaking.

The exploit works on any PS5 running firmware version 13.6 or earlier, released in July. This covers every console updated before the mid-September release of firmware 14.00.00, when Sony patched the vulnerability. For years, PS5 exploits have required outdated firmware versions, forcing jailbreak enthusiasts to hunt for old, unupdated hardware on the secondary market. Relapse changes that equation.

The exploit leverages a long-known WebKit vulnerability in the PS5's web browser, escalating to gain kernel write access and install an ELF loader for running arbitrary code. It also solves a major usability problem: previous jailbreak methods could hang the system for up to 50 minutes per attempt. The new approach is significantly more efficient.

Broader firmware compatibility matters because most PS5 games require the console to run the latest firmware version available when the game released. With Relapse supporting firmware through 13.6, jailbroken systems can now run many more titles, including digital backups of legitimate purchases. Beyond backups, jailbroken PS5s can run homebrew applications, emulators, and unofficial mods for PS4 games. Developers continue working on a full Linux implementation, though it remains limited to systems with firmware 7.61 or earlier.