| Tool | Description | |------|-------------| | (original) | Full exploit implementation by axi0mX. May be picky with USB ports/hubs. | | ipwnder_lite | A streamlined version used by palera1n. More reliable on modern Linux distros and Apple Silicon Macs. |
If you have ever used or palera1n , you have likely used ipwnder—whether you knew it or not. What is ipwnder? ipwnder is a command-line utility designed to exploit the Checkm8 bootrom vulnerability (CVE-2019-8917). Discovered by axi0mX, Checkm8 is a permanent, unpatchable exploit affecting hundreds of millions of devices (iPhone 4s through iPhone X). ipwnder
./ipwnder If successful, the device screen will stay black, but the computer will detect a new USB device in PWNDFU mode. There are two common variants: | Tool | Description | |------|-------------| | (original)
However, Checkm8 doesn’t work automatically. To trigger it, you need to send specific USB control transfers to a device in DFU (Device Firmware Upgrade) mode. That is precisely what ipwnder does. More reliable on modern Linux distros and Apple Silicon Macs
You can use this as a blog post, guide, or informational article. In the world of iOS security research, few tools operate as close to the silicon as ipwnder . While most modern jailbreaks focus on userland exploits or web-based vulnerabilities, ipwnder reaches back to the hardware level. It is the go-to utility for entering PWNDFU (Pwned Device Firmware Upgrade) mode on vulnerable iOS devices.