When it comes to iPhones, the term “jailbreak” combines technology and the concept of breaking free from restrictions. The term “jail” represents the limitations imposed by Apple on third-party apps that run on their iOS operating system, while “break” means escaping or freeing oneself from these confines.
Apple maintains strict control over what users can and cannot do with their devices through their App Store policies and system security measures. These limitations include restrictions on installing apps from sources other than the App Store, customizing the device’s appearance and functionality, and accessing the operating system’s inner workings.
Jailbreaking an iPhone involves exploiting vulnerabilities in the iOS system to gain root access, giving users the ability to customize the device in ways that Apple does not typically permit. This essentially allows users to break free from the restrictions and limitations imposed by Apple’s iOS, giving them more control over their devices and the ability to customize them.
While jailbreaking is not illegal, it can void warranties and may have legal implications, so it’s not something Apple officially supports or encourages. However, there is a community of hackers, curious users, and threat actors who share jailbreaking tips, techniques, and procedures.
Companies like NSO, Cellebrite, and Paragon offer sophisticated jailbreak techniques for a fee, and law enforcement agencies and governments around the world almost surely avail themselves of these services. Apple has consistently put time, money, effort, and ingenuity into preventing jailbreaks altogether, leading to new innovations in the jailbreak “community” and within Apple itself.
During the evolution of jailbreaking, attackers have shifted their focus from bootROM exploits to bootloader vulnerabilities, kernel-level vulnerabilities, and process-specific exploits. Apple, on the other hand, has introduced new security measures such as Kernel Patch Protection (KPP), Pointer Authentication Code (PAC), and Page Protection Layer (PPL) to prevent jailbreaks.
Jailbreaks have become more complicated over time, often requiring multiple exploits to fully jailbreak the iOS device due to Apple’s security improvements. Detecting jailbroken phones is integral to any application hardening solution to ensure the security of publicly available applications.