Jailbreak

This is the process by which full execute and write access is obtained on all the partitions of the iPhone. It is done by patching /etc/fstab to mount the System partition as read-write. This is entirely different from an unlock. Jailbreaking is the first action that must be taken before things like unofficial activation (hacktivation), and unofficial unlocking can be applied.

The original jailbreak also included modifying the AFC service (used by iTunes to access the filesystem) to give full filesystem access from root. This was later updated to create a new service (AFC2) that allows access to the full filesystem.

Modern jailbreaks also include patching the kernel to get around code signing and other restrictions.

Exploits which were used in order to jailbreak 1.x

1.0.2

• Restore Mode (iBoot had a command named cp, which had access to the whole filesystem)

1.1.1

• Symlinks (an upgrade jailbreak)
• libtiff exploit (Adapted from the PSP scene, used by JailbreakMe)

1.1.2

• Mknod (an upgrade jailbreak)

1.1.3 / 1.1.4 / 1.1.5

• Soft Upgrade (an upgrade jailbreak)
• Ramdisk Hack

Exploits which are used in order to jailbreak 2.0+

Userland (used for all devices)

• MobileBackup Copy Exploit + Incomplete Codesign Exploit + BPF_STX Kernel Write Exploit (together for Spirit)
• Malformed CFF Vulnerability + Incomplete Codesign Exploit + IOSurface Kernel Exploit (together for Star)
• Packet Filter Kernel Exploit (together with limera1n's bootrom exploit or the usb_control_msg(0xA1, 1) Exploit, for untethered jailbreak)
• HFS Legacy Volume Name Stack Buffer Overflow (together with limera1n's bootrom exploit or the usb_control_msg(0xA1, 1) Exploit, for untethered jailbreak)
• ndrv_setspec() Integer Overflow (together with limera1n's bootrom exploit for untethered jailbreak)

iPhone / iPhone 3G / iPod touch

• Pwnage and Pwnage 2.0 (together)

iPod touch 2G

• ARM7 Go (used for some tethered jailbreaks)
• 0x24000 Segment Overflow (used on "MB" models for an untethered jailbreak)
• usb_control_msg(0x21, 2) Exploit (tethered for units with the new bootrom)
• usb_control_msg(0xA1, 1) Exploit (tethered on its own, untethered with an additional exploit)

iPhone 3GS

• 0x24000 Segment Overflow (used on older devices for an untethered jailbreak)
• iBoot Environment Variable Overflow
• usb_control_msg(0x21, 2) Exploit (tethered for newer devices)
• limera1n (tethered on its own, untethered with an additional exploit)

iPod touch 3G

• usb_control_msg(0x21, 2) Exploit (tethered only)
• limera1n (tethered on its own, untethered with an additional exploit)

Apple TV 2G / iPad / iPhone 4 (GSM and CDMA models) / iPod touch 4G

• limera1n's bootrom exploit (tethered on its own, untethered with an additional exploit)

Jailbreak Tools

Apple TV 2G

NOTE: The version on the right is what the Apple TV reports on TV while the left is the true version.

Jailbreak Tool	Works with firmware...
	4.1/4.0	4.2/4.1	4.2.1/4.1.1	4.3/4.2	4.3/4.2.1	4.3/4.2.2
limera1n	no package management GUI	No	No	No	No	No
sn0wbreeze	no package management GUI	No	No	No	2.5-2.7.1	No
greenpois0n	no package management GUI	No	RC6-RC6.1	No	No	No
PwnageTool	no package management GUI	Restore from a custom firmware with unofficial bundle1	4.2	No	4.3-4.3.3.1	4.3-4.3.3.12
Seas0nPass	No	No	Yes	No	0.7.4 (Mac) 0.3.7 (Windows)	No
redsn0w	No	No	No	No	0.9.6rc16	No

¹ Tethered jailbreak.
² User needs to manually add PwnageTool firmware bundle into application.

iPad

Jailbreak Tool	Works with firmware...
	3.2	3.2.1	3.2.2	4.2.1	4.3	4.3.1	4.3.2	4.3.3
Spirit	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Star	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
limera1n	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
greenpois0n	No	No	RC4	RC5-RC6.1	No	No	No	No
redsn0w	No	No	0.9.6b2-0.9.6rc16	0.9.6b41-0.9.6rc16 or 0.9.7b61 2	0.9.6rc91-0.9.6rc161	0.9.6rc91-0.9.6rc16	0.9.6rc131-0.9.6rc16	0.9.6rc16
PwnageTool	No	No	4.1-4.1.3	4.2	No	4.3	4.3.2	4.3.3-4.3.3.1
sn0wbreeze	No	No	2.1	2.2	2.3b41	2.5	2.6-2.6.1	2.7-2.7.1
Saffron	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

¹ Tethered jailbreak.
² If SHSHs were saved for iOS 4.2b3 and if you have a developer access to its IPSW, Jailbreak Monte can be used.

iPad 2

Jailbreak Tool	Works with firmware...
	4.3	4.3.1	4.3.2	4.3.3
Saffron	Yes	No	No	Yes

iPhone

Jailbreak Tool	Works with firmware...
	1.0.0	1.0.1	1.0.2	1.1.1	1.1.2	1.1.3	1.1.4	2.0	2.0.1	2.0.2	2.1	2.2	2.2.1	3.0	3.0.1	3.1	3.1.2	3.1.3
iBrickr	0.5-0.91	0.5-0.91	0.6-0.91	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
AppTapp Installer	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
AppSnapp	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
OktoPrep	No	No	No	No	Update from jailbroken 1.1.1	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Soft Upgrade	No	No	No	No	No	Update from jailbroken 1.1.2	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
ZiPhone	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
iLiberty / iLiberty+	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
QuickPwn	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
PwnageTool	No	No	No	No	No	No	1.1.4	2.0/2.0.3	2.0.1/2.0.3	2.0.2/2.0.3	2.1	2.2	2.2.5	3.0	No	3.1/3.1.3	3.1.4	3.1.5
redsn0w	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	0.9.3	0.9.3	0.9.3	0.9.3	0.9.4
Star	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
blackra1n	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
purplera1n	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No

iPhone 3G

Jailbreak Tool	Works with firmware...
	2.0	2.0.1	2.0.2	2.1	2.2	2.2.1	3.0	3.0.1	3.1	3.1.2	3.1.3	4.0	4.0.1	4.0.2	4.1	4.2.1

This table needs to be completed.

iPhone 3GS

Jailbreak Tool	Works with firmware...
	3.0	3.0.1	3.1	3.1.2	3.1.3	4.0	4.0.1	4.0.2	4.1	4.2.1	4.3	4.3.1	4.3.2	4.3.3
purplera1n	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
redsn0w	0.8	0.8	0.9.21 or 0.9.31	0.9.21 or 0.9.31	No	No	No	No	0.9.6b2-0.9.6rc16	0.9.6b41-0.9.6rc16	0.9.6rc91-0.9.6rc161	0.9.6rc91-0.9.6rc16	0.9.6rc131-0.9.6rc16	0.9.6rc16
blackra1n	No	No	Yes1	Yes1	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Spirit	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Star	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
PwnageTool	No	No	Restore from a custom firmware2	3.1.42	Restore from a custom firmware2		Restore from a custom firmware with unofficial firmware bundle2		4.1-4.1.3	4.2	4.21 3	4.3	4.3.2	4.3.3-4.3.3.1
sn0wbreeze	No	No	No	2.0.21 2	2.0.21 2	2.0.21 2	2.0.21 2		2.1	2.2	2.3b41	2.5	2.6-2.6.1	2.7-2.7.1
limera1n	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
greenpois0n	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	RC4	RC6.1	No	No	No	No
Saffron	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

¹ Tethered jailbreak on devices with the new bootrom.
² Only applicable for devices with the old bootrom. Requires the device to have signature checks disabled (pwned).
³ Requires an unofficial firmware bundle.

iPhone 4 (GSM model)

Jailbreak Tool	Works with firmware...
	4.0	4.0.1	4.0.2	4.1	4.2.1	4.3	4.3.1	4.3.2	4.3.3
Star	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
limera1n	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
greenpois0n	No	No	No	RC4	RC5-RC6.1	No	No	No	No
redsn0w	No	No	No	0.9.6b2-0.9.6rc16	0.9.6b41-0.9.6rc16 or 0.9.7b61 2	0.9.6rc91-0.9.6rc161	0.9.6rc91-0.9.6rc16	0.9.6rc131-0.9.6rc16	0.9.6rc16
PwnageTool	No	No	No	4.1-4.1.3	4.2	4.21 3	4.3	4.3.2	4.3.3-4.3.3.1
sn0wbreeze	No	No	No	2.1	2.2	2.3b41	2.5	2.6-2.6.1	2.7-2.7.1
Saffron	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

¹ Tethered jailbreak.
² If SHSHs were saved for iOS 4.2b3 and if you have a developer access to its IPSW, Jailbreak Monte can be used.
³ Requires an unofficial firmware bundle

iPhone 4 (CDMA model)

Jailbreak Tool	Works with firmware...
	4.2.5	4.2.6	4.2.7	4.2.8
greenpois0n	No	RC6.1	No	No
PwnageTool	No	4.2	No	No
redsn0w	No	0.9.6rc9-0.9.6rc16	No	0.9.6rc18
sn0wbreeze	No	2.2	2.6-2.6.1	2.7-2.7.1
Saffron	No	Yes	Yes	Yes

iPod touch

Jailbreak Tool	Works with firmware...
	1.1	1.1.1	1.1.2	1.1.3	1.1.4	1.1.5	2.0	2.0.1	2.0.2	2.1	2.2	2.2.1	3.0	3.1	3.1.2	3.1.3
AppSnapp	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
OktoPrep	No	No	Update from jailbroken 1.1.1	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Soft Upgrade	No	No	No	Update from jailbroken 1.1.2	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
ZiPhone	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
iLiberty / iLiberty+	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
QuickPwn	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
PwnageTool	No	No	No	No	1.1.4	No	2.0/2.0.3	2.0.1/2.0.3	2.0.2/2.0.3	2.1	2.2	2.2.5	3.0	3.1/3.1.3	3.1.4	3.1.5
redsn0w	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	0.9.3	0.9.3	0.9.3	0.9.3	0.9.4
Star	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
blackra1n	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
purplera1n	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No

iPod touch 2G

This table needs improvement. (Particularly, information for redsn0w and anything notable for 2.x.)

Jailbreak Tool	Works with firmware...
	2.1.1	2.2	2.2.1	3.0	3.1.1	3.1.2	3.1.3	4.0	4.0.2	4.1	4.2.1
purplera1n	No	No	No	Yes1	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
blackra1n	No	No	No	No	Yes3	Yes3	No	No	No	No	No
PwnageTool	No	No	No	No	3.1.32	3.1.41	3.1.51	4.01/4.011	No	No	No
redsn0w	Tethered1	No	No	0.9.21/0.9.31	0.9.21/0.9.31	0.9.21/0.9.31	0.9.41	0.9.5b3/0.9.6b31	0.9.5b3/0.9.6b31	0.9.6b13/0.9.6rc181	0.9.6b41/0.9.6rc181
Star	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
greenpois0n	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	RC4	RC5/RC6.1

¹ Only applicable for devices with the old bootrom.

² Only applicable for devices with the old bootrom. Requires the device to have signature checks disabled (pwned).

³ Tethered jailbreak on devices with the new bootrom.

iPod touch 3G

Jailbreak Tool	Works with firmware...
	3.1.1	3.1.2	3.1.3	4.0	4.0.2	4.1	4.2.1	4.3	4.3.1	4.3.2	4.3.3
blackra1n	Yes1	Yes1	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
redsn0w	0.9.31	0.9.31	No	No	No	0.9.6b2-0.9.6rc16	0.9.6b41-0.9.6rc16	0.9.6rc91-0.9.6rc161	0.9.6rc91-0.9.6rc16	0.9.6rc131-0.9.6rc16	0.9.6rc16
Spirit	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Star	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
sn0wbreeze	No	2.0.21	2.0.21	2.0.21	2.0.21	2.1	2.2	2.3b41	2.5	2.6-2.6.1	2.7-2.7.1
limera1n	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
greenpois0n	No	No	No	No	No	RC4	RC5-RC6.1	No	No	No	No
PwnageTool	No	No	No	No	No	4.1-4.1.3	4.2	No	4.3	4.3.2	4.3.3-4.3.3.1
Saffron	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes

¹ Tethered jailbreak.

iPod touch 4G

Jailbreak Tool	Works with firmware...
	4.1 (both builds)	4.2.1	4.3	4.3.1	4.3.2	4.3.3
limera1n	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
greenpois0n	RC4	RC5/RC6.1	No	No	No	No
PwnageTool	4.1/4.1.3	4.2	No	4.3	4.3.2	4.3.3/4.3.3.1
sn0wbreeze	2.1	2.2	2.3b41	2.5	2.6/2.6.1	2.7/2.7.1
redsn0w	0.9.6b2/0.9.6rc18	0.9.6b41/0.9.6rc18 or 0.9.7b61 2	0.9.6rc91/0.9.6rc18	0.9.6rc91/0.9.6rc18	0.9.6rc131/0.9.6rc18	0.9.6rc15/0.9.6rc18
Saffron	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

¹ Tethered jailbreak.

² If SHSHs were saved for iOS 4.2b3 and if you have a developer access to its IPSW, Jailbreak Monte can be used.