Ars Technica
New bootloader lets you take the "Meta" out of the original Meta Quest
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
A bootloader developed by researchers allows users to modify the original Meta Quest headset without Meta's oversight or required software. The modification grants administrative-level access to the device's core systems. Users can install alternative operating systems or software not approved by Meta. The technique exploits a privilege escalation vulnerability in the headset's startup process. Meta has not publicly commented on the discovery.
