Jailbreaking is the process of hacking an iOS device to break through software restrictions put in by Apple for security purposes. The new jailbreak, which the group named “Unc0ver 5.0.0,” exploits a zero-day vulnerability in the iOS operating system that Apple had not been aware of.
On its website, the team said the jailbreak utilizes "native system sandbox exceptions,” so security remains intact. Programs keep running separately so they can't access unauthorized data.
"This jailbreak basically just adds exceptions to the existing rules," Unc0ver told WIRED. "It only enables reading new jailbreak files and parts of the file system that contain no user data."
The jailbreak is said to be the first zero-day jailbreak release since iOS 8.
Apple hasn’t released a statement on the discovery, but the company has a history of working quickly to deliver a patch for vulnerabilities as soon as possible following their discovery.