A newly released exploit called Relapse extends PlayStation 5 jailbreaking to any console running firmware up to version 13.6, which Sony shipped in July. That single compatibility figure matters more than anything else in the PS5 hacking scene this year: until Tuesday's release, publicly working jailbreaks functioned only on years-old firmware versions, locking out the vast majority of consoles that had received Sony's frequent security updates.

The practical cutoff is concrete. Any PS5 last updated before the mid-September release of firmware 14.00.00 is now potentially jailbreakable. Consoles on 14.00.00 or later remain out of reach — for now.

Relapse builds on a long-known WebKit vulnerability in the PS5's web browser. The browser itself is hidden and hard to access, but the vulnerability persists as an entry point. From that foothold, the exploit escalates to gain write access to the PS5 kernel. It then installs an ELF loader — specifically the elfldr payload — to streamline running arbitrary code on the console.

The efficiency gain is significant. Previous PS5 jailbreak exploits could hang the system for up to 50 minutes per attempt, a barrier that made even successful jailbreaking impractical for everyday users. Relapse removes that wait, making the process faster and more usable.

The exploit is public: the code is available on GitHub under the ntfargo account, alongside the underlying PS5 WebKit execution work by ChendoChap. This is not a private tool traded in closed circles; anyone with a compatible console and the technical knowledge can attempt it.

Why firmware versions matter

The PS5 hacking community has spent several years chipping away at the console's locked-down software stack, and the pattern has been consistent: Sony patches an exploited vulnerability, users who want jailbreak functionality must stay on old firmware, and the pool of usable consoles shrinks with each mandatory update. Because many games and online features require current firmware, most owners updated, sacrificing exploitability.

Relapse changes that equation by covering firmware up to 13.6 — a version current enough that consoles stuck on it can still run a large share of the software library. The result is a much larger installed base of potentially jailbreakable machines than any prior public exploit supported.

What the exploit chain does

Technically, the chain runs in three stages. First, the WebKit vulnerability executes code within the browser context. Second, the exploit escalates privileges to obtain kernel write access. Third, it installs the ELF loader so arbitrary payloads run without repeating the full exploit procedure each time.

This structure mirrors classic console exploit chains, where a userland entry point — here, the rendering engine — becomes the bridge to privileged kernel memory. Once kernel write access exists, the console's security model is effectively compromised, and unsigned code execution follows.

Development is still ongoing, according to community discussion of the release, and the jailbreak remains firmware-dependent. Sony will almost certainly patch the underlying WebKit flaw in a future update, restarting the familiar cycle.

Commercial context

For Sony, the calculus is straightforward. Firmware 14.00.00, released September 16, already closes the window for consoles that install it. Sony's rapid firmware cadence — the 14.00.00 update also carried PSSR image-quality improvements — doubles as a security mechanism, pushing users toward patched software.

The immediate commercial impact on Sony is limited: jailbroken consoles historically represent a small fraction of the installed base, and online services can flag or ban modified machines. But the widened firmware window increases the number of consoles that could permanently remain on old software, which affects Sony's ability to secure its platform and enforce its digital distribution model.

For the hacking community, Relapse is the biggest leap forward since public PS5 exploits first appeared. The combination of current-firmware coverage and drastically reduced exploit time transforms jailbreaking from a curiosity for consoles stranded on ancient software into something ordinary owners of recently updated machines can practically consider — provided they have not yet installed the September update.