How real is the possibility of a softmod exploit?

[Ondrashek06]

I'm not talking about "now" or even in the Switch 2's lifespan, I'm talking about the general probability of the console ever getting a softmod exploit.

As the Switch 2 uses the same HorizonOS as the original Switch uses, we can rule out the possibility of any exploits in features that were present on the Switch 1. The new features include the ability to stream games via the new Download Play feature, the entire Gamechat thingy, and the emulator/compatibility layer/whatever the Switch 2 uses to play Switch 1 games.

Game-based exploits are also ruled out due to the sandboxing that HorizonOS uses.

With there only being barely any new possible entrypoints + the fact that Nintendo can sniff out MiG Switch users on Switch 2 and permanently ban the consoles associated, I honestly don't give it much hope. After all, absolutely nothing has been discovered on Switch 1 besides Fuseé-Geleé (nVIDIA's fault) and some exploits runnable only on really old images of HorizonOS.

 

[isoboy]

Now there's a question I've never seen before.

 

[InsaneNutter]

I'm not talking about "now" or even in the Switch 2's lifespan, I'm talking about the general probability of the console ever getting a softmod exploit.

Nothing is totally impossible is the best answer you'll get.

Almost 20 years after release the Xbox 360 recently got a software only exploit, so if the Switch 2 gets one before 2045 the community are doing well.

 

[linuxares]

My 8-Ball say its not very likely

 

[sojournmain]

Its probably between 0% - 100%

 

[M7L7NK7]

You just gotta believe

 

[EpikJimmer]

You just gotta believe

Like parappa the rapper........

 

[sudeki300]

how long is a piece of string, is your answer OP

 

[a_username_that_is_cool]

there was a poll, personally I think we'll find one in 10 years hardware wise using modchips, then in 20 years we'll have a software exploit using what we know from the modchip. yes, this means i think we'll be able to softmod patched switches eventually, nothing is unhackable.

 

[Hanafuda]

The possibility is very real.

 

[TheZander]

it's just a skinned up android tablet. the only reason software exploits arent being found is because the government cant tax them.

 

[fast0eddy]

"the fact that Nintendo can sniff out MiG Switch users on Switch 2 and permanently ban the consoles"

I don't believe that's a fact... I'm pretty sure nobody has been banned from using the MiG Switch in almost 2 months now.

 

[hippy dave]

If you're not putting any time limit on it, then wait for quantum computing and crack the encryption. Otherwise, outlook not so good.

 

[Renos44]

If were not including a time frame then eventually maybe in a few decades computers get so fast they can number crunch fast enough to brute force encryption setups of today. Excluding that its likely we will never see a viable one ever again.

Bad Update on the 360 like most software exploits uses a save game exploit to even start that exploit chain. Well you need another entry point to inject a save file on the switch 2. You also needed another method to dump everything about the 360 to even begin work on reverse engineering the hypervisor. We have no such method at the moment for the switch 2.

Now that i think about there is almost no avenues to inject something on switch 2
No way to inject saves without another exploit, You could in theory use a modded switch 1 and save transfer but nintendo can just as easily disable save transfers from a switch 1,
Good luck going in through the web browser
I'm sure the image gallary has been made fool proof.

The switch 2 also uses a a custom security processor that likely operates on assuming the console is compromised. So if you find a software exploit the security processor likely stops you dead in your tracks before any real damage can be done. like what happened with collateral damage on the xbox one.

Another thing is software exploits are quick for companies to patch. and if Nintendo really wanted to be petty just take a page from the MS playbook. Change initial setup to only allow you to leave once you connect to the internet and get the latest firmware. Then disable turning off auto updates and offer large payout for bug bounties with the clause of you can't mention its existence at all until its fixed if you wanna get paid.

Thus if an exploit is found it gets reported to you because the hacker will want that huge payout, you quietly fix it in a firmware update. and the only people who can make use of it is the small % of people who leave there consoles unplugged and disconnected from the internet for months on end. And for extra security if needed just start printing all your physical releases on GKCs thus forcing people that want new games to update off the exploitable firmware.

Really Nintendo has a clever setup here.

 

[Specker]

Really Nintendo has a clever setup here.

Pretty sure they thought the same thing when the first Switch came out.

 

[Mayo1990]

Possible it may be possible. When? That's another good question.

 

[xbmcuser]

Its probably between 0% - 100%

No it is 0% or 100%

 

[Axido]

No it is 0% or 100%

We're reaching quantum physics levels of probability here, huh?

 

[Viatesin]

Pretty sure they thought the same thing when the first Switch came out.

And their were right, the only problem is that Nvidia said no no

 

[RyanTheArchivist]

With the current build of HOS? Basically zero. Really only chance is if they somehow fuck up a future update. But chances are they have some people who's entire job is to review code just to check for exploits.