And they said it couldn't be done. Almost seven years after its release, @Fullmetal5 (the same developer behind str2hax and flashhax) has finally managed to find an exploit compatible with Nintendo's so-called "unhackable" Wii Mini and crack it wide open! Instead of using internet browsers or loading code from the SD card slot, both of which are (in)famously absent from the Mini, this new approach takes advantage of a vulnerability found in Broadcom's Bluetooth driver to gain arbitrary code execution and run a payload from the included USB port. This finally lets homebrew enthusiasts have fun with the console, and may also open the door to online play as well with the help of hacks and a LAN adapter!

While the exploit is making good progress, having already reached 90% completion for the Bluetooth stager and also being consistent enough to be called usable, there's still a lot of work to be done before a public release is available. There's also the possibility of HackMii Installer being incompatible with the Mini's version of IOS, in which case further new exploits will need to be found in order to make it work. You can get an idea about the state of the project in the roadmap below, which was written and shared by the dev itself:

Just to give a small roadmap: (So that people can get an idea as to what needs to be done now)

1. Write a bluetooth stager to upload payloads (%50 complete) (Note: this was stated to have reached 90% in later posts)
2. Write something to load larger payloads from usb.
3. See if the HackMii Installer's exploits work against the versions of IOS that are there (If they are similar to the Wii U's then it may already have exploits but it's possible they are different)
4. If the HackMii Installer's exploits don't work then I will need to write my own. (Shouldn't be too bad, IOS is known to be buggy. Also I'll probably do this step anyway for the fun of it.)

The exploit doesn't have an official name yet, but it's currently being referred to as "bluehax". Right now it's being tested on some specific games, however, there's a real possibility it will work out of the box with the Wii's System Menu alone due to its nature, thus removing the need of a dedicated game. It only takes a computer with a Bluetooth interface to make it work: there's no definitive usage guide just yet, but it should be as easy as running a program on your PC, hitting the SYNC button on the console, et voila - you're good to go! There is a small catch, however: development is targeting just Linux and no Windows version is planned. If you can get behind that, you'll soon be able to enjoy that sweet, sweet homebrew on the tiniest Wii Nintendo has ever made!

Source 1 (Twitter)
Source 2 (Discord server)

 

[loler55]

i have buyed a wii mini years ago and then i see what i buyed a wii without internet or hax

i bring it back next day naturaly without the wiimote included



here in germany we can buy a normal used wii for 20 euros thats so cheap that i think hacking the wii mini is a waste of time or buying it .
or anyone here get a wii mini cheaper then 20 euros?

alone the lanadapter cost more....


a waste of bluetoothenergy

 

[KonamiKitten]

So then Bluetooth and Linux... mmhh ok... Android someone?

Would like to see the source code.

It doesn't have a public release yet. So I cannot give the source code since i'm a lazy dummy bamboozle-head weeaboo.

 

[Silent_Gunner]

The Chad Hackers DESTROY the Fortress of "Security" the Virgin Nintendo tried to instill into the Wii Mini with CRAFTINESS, BLUETOOTH, FACTS, LOGIC, and COMMON SENSE!

 

[Moon164]

That would be amazing a few years ago, the Wii Mini in 2014 was extremely cheap (only $ 99 and still came with the Wii Remote Plus and Mario Kart Wii, here in Brazil it was cheaper to buy the Wii Mini than these two things yet. more because at that time the dollar was not that expensive here).

Still, it's good to see that now all versions of Wii are hackable.

 

[StrayGuitarist]

I totally adore the look of the Wii Mini, but the lack of internet access, and lack of hacks for it was what kept me from buying one.

But even though one of those barriers is (almost) gone, I'm already pretty invested in my regular 'ol white Wii, so I can't see myself picking one up and modding it unless it just sorta.. falls into my lap.

 

[Moon164]

Maybe you can make the Wii Mini compatible with the Wii Lan Adapter and install the Wii Ware/Virtual Console games on it now?

 

[StrayGuitarist]

Neat! And... Please give it a decent name... Anything without the "Hax" It's sooooooo overused...

I sort of miss the old iPhone jailbreak tool names, like "RedSn0w", "Greenpois0n", "Limera1n".. Maybe something along those lines?

 

[KonamiKitten]

I sort of miss the old iPhone jailbreak tool names, like "RedSn0w", "Greenpois0n", "Limera1n".. Maybe something along those lines?

Blues3a? (I used my idea but added 3 in it!)

 

[StrayGuitarist]

Blues3a? (I used my idea but added 3 in it!)

Hey, "BlueS3a" has a nice ring to it. I feel like "DeepBlue" could work, too.

 

[KonamiKitten]

Hey, "BlueS3a" has a nice ring to it. I feel like "DeepBlue" could work, too.

DeepBlue sounds alot better, I think it matches well since the exploit is related to Bluetooth. And the exploit... I dunno, is it like deep in the roots of the Wii Mini?

 

[Mythical]

Hey, "BlueS3a" has a nice ring to it. I feel like "DeepBlue" could work, too.

Deepblue is already a chess computer iirc

 

[Shubshub]

If it all works out great then the Wii Mini could become the preferred way to play Wii Games.

 

[KonamiKitten]

Deepblue is already a chess computer iirc

Whoops, I guess, hmm...

Maybe.. MizuOcean? (Mizu "
水"
means water in japanese.)

 

[HarveyHouston]

This. Is. AWESOME! I knew it could happen eventually, if someone worked on it hard enough. Interesting that it's a Bluetooth hack; this exploit probably would work with all Wiis perhaps even the Wii U.

 

[Bimmel]

Okay. I totally expected Foez to open his yap because he went full psycho. But this is just lol-worthy.

Dude contacted me asking if he could have a front page post about his Wii mini adventures. I said it sounded interesting and he could send me a little summary of what he did so I could understand what the topic was. E3 came up mere days later, so I was already had my hands full and was on a plane to LA. Ended up not doing the post because I needed to cover E3, and was far too busy to read any PMs. I have no idea what he’s on about with the N/A thing. I never changed any settings lol. Could just be the inanity talking.

I took a week off to relax after E3, and he ended up contacting me with a frothing furious message about how I’d ruined his only chance of talking to his kids by not talking about the Wii Mini. ??? I owned up to saying I messed up by not posting it, but he already went full psychopath. No way was I going to go back and cover it after he’d gone nutso with screaming and name calling. Then a few random months later he sends like, 4 full drunken wacko ramblings about how much he wishes I would die in another hurricane. Yeah no. That kind of unstable psychotic reaction is disgusting behavior. Cutesy Wii mini soddering tricks or no.
View attachment 179192

There was a new word in his message I didn't know the meaning of. He kept repeating it in almost every sentence. Looked the word up. Now I wish I didn't.

I'm sorry you had to receive such a message.

 

[ertaboy356b]

to honor the mighty broadcom, let's name it BroadcomHax! lol

 

[NoNAND]

I guess there is light at the end of the tunnel. I'm impressed, it's nothing short of amazing how they managed to pull this off.
Good thing those dusty abandoned Wii minis serve a purpose on the homebrew side of things.

Wait... there's a Wii Mini??

Hah, that's a good one!

inb4 some fun comments.... (those who knows, knows)

inb4 someone crosses the line with those jokes and gets a warning.

 

[KonamiKitten]

to honor the mighty broadcom, let's name it BroadcomHax! lol

BlueS3A sounds better since it is associated with the fact bluehax has Bluetooth capabilities, Broadcom had nothing to do with this at all.

 

[eyeliner]

Hack the thing and make it portable. It has the potential to become a massive toy for enthusiasts.

The Wii Mini looks great, and now has has a boost in popularity because of the hack and portabilization potential.

I'd get one just for it.

 

[Dogson]

My question now is, can it be modded to give out component or RGB scart video signals? One of the systems biggest flaws.