Just minutes earlier, Apple released iOS 4.3.4 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The reason behind this firmware release is that Apple wanted to patch the PDF exploit that JailbreakMe 3.0 used for iOS 4.3 - 4.3.3 untethered jailbreak. With iOS 4.3.4, this exploit has been patched, which means that JailbreakMe 3.0 will not work on the latest iOS firmware.
The reason behind JailbreakMe 3.0 being so popular is the fact that it brings the long awaited iPad 2 jailbreak. Apple changed the hardware in the iPad 2, the A5 processor is not vulnerable to the Limera1n bootrom exploit to which previous generation iOS devices are susceptible to. Due to this, it has nearly taken four months after iPad 2 release, to get an iPad 2 jailbreak.
There's another catch. As iPad 2 jailbreak does not use a hardware based exploit, its easy for Apple to patch the exploit which causes the jailbreak. Its easier for Apple to patch it because it is found in the software, a new version of which it can release whenever it wishes to. An hardware based exploit is impossible to patch as Apple can not recall devices that it has already shipped to millions of users around the world. Hence the iOS 4.3.4 firmware release.
Actually, JailbreakMe 3.0 uses a vulnerability present in mobile Safari to gain root access to your device and install Cydia. While Comex, the developer of JailbreakMe 3.0 has no devious intentions, other hacks can very well use this vulnerability present in mobile Safari running on all supported iOS devices, to gain root level access to your device and wreak havoc. Comex himself released PDF Patcher 2 in Cydia, which patches this vulnerability. However, its obvious that Apple would themselves release a new iOS firmware upgrade, so that the vulnerability is taken care of. The speculation regarding iOS 4.3.4 release started coming up when JailbreakMe beta got leaked, prematurely.
Member of the iPhone Dev Team, MuscleNerd has advised everyone, specially iPad 2 owners to not upgrade to the latest iOS 4.3.4 firmware as the jailbreak will be lost. He tweeted:
iOS 4.3.4 is out...please don't update, or you'll lose your jailbreak! And back up your 4.3.3 blobs soon!
Even if you are on a device that is susceptible to the Limera1n bootrom exploit, you will also lose your jailbreak if you upgrade to iOS 4.3.4 right now. However, there are greater changes that iOS 4.3.4 jailbreak for A4 based devices will be released soon.
We can't be sure when JailbreakMe 3.0 will support the iPad 2. Though its back to square one for Comex, as now he has to work all over again to discover a new vulnerability in iOS 4.3.4.
We'll upgrade you about the iOS 4.3.4 jailbreak status, as we hear more. Stay tuned to iPhoneism for the latest jailbreak related news.