Security researchers at Corellium have released a version of Linux to the Apple Silicon M1 chip that will eventually be released under an open source license.
The Linux version is a full-fledged Ubuntu desktop operating system powered from USB, according to Corellium Chief Technology Officer Chris Wade. Although details are scarce, he said Linux is now “fully deployed” on Apple Silicon devices.
Network compatibility is possible through a USB-C dongle, and the standard update to the platform will support USB, I2C, and DART. Ubuntu operating system as a single means first for ARM-based Raspberry Pi, Wade added.
Linux is now fully used on the Mac mini M1. Booting from Ubuntu full desktop USB (rpi). Network works via USB dongle c. Update includes support for USB, I2C, DART. We’ll be pushing changes to our GitHub and tutorials later today. Thanks to @CorelliumHQ team pic.twitter.com/uBDbDmvJUG
– Chris Wade (@cmwdotme) January 20, 2021
There are some limitations to the port. While it will take full advantage of the M1 CPU, it will not support GPU acceleration. That means graphics are currently set to software delivery mode, which results in much slower graphics performance compared to native performance in macOS.
The Correllium team ported a Linux port to Apple Silicon earlier in January, although they provided only a few more details. Earlier versions of the port on Github were for “advanced users only,” as they did not support USB and other major systems.
Members of the team that developed the jailbreak checkra1n for iPhone devices were also working on a Linux port, including Longhorn security researchers and qwertyoruiopz. On Friday, Longhorn said that a Linux port is “very promising,” but noted that more aggressive kernel modifications would be needed since the system – on – chip is “unusual.”
Wade also noted that Linux users could kick off an Apple Silicon chip using pongoOS, which is a pre-boot execution environment built on top of checkra1n. The checkra1n jailbreak itself takes advantage of a checkm8 message found in 2019.
On January 16, qwertyoruiopz tweeted several images of pongoOS hitting the Mac M1.
Corellium is a software virtualization company with a focus on simulating ARM-based technologies. The company is also famous for its legal battle with Apple. The Cupertino tech giant has filed a lawsuit against copyright infringement against Corellium in 2019 over its iOS emulation software. In December 2020, Apple lost that lawsuit.
As he writes, Corellium has made the latest changes to the Linux port for M1 to its Github account. Wade also said tuition would arrive Friday.