Nintendo disables Splatoon and Mario Kart 8 online features on Wii U due to security vulnerability
Nintendo has suspended the online features of Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon on Wii U due to a security vulnerability. On 2 March at 23:30 EEC, both games were taken offline and it is likely to take several days to fix the problem. Note that this did not affect the Nintendo Switch versions.
At the time of writing (the evening of 4 March), the following message is displayed on the server status page:
A Nintendo dataminer who goes by @OatmealDone wrote on Twitter that the security issue is a malware flaw that allows a hacker to take over a victim's console simply by connecting to it in a game:
The security vulnerability is almost certainly ENLBufferPwn, which could allow an attacker to take over your console just by connecting to them online.
- OatmealDome (@OatmealDome) 3 March 2023
This exploit affected many of Nintendo's games on the Switch, along with Mario Kart 7 on the 3DS.https://t.co/GWR6alQVy4
The production of the Nintendo Wii U was stopped in 2017 and it has sold only 13.56 million copies, so many consider it a failure. For comparison: The Nintendo Switch has sold the same number of units in 10 months.
Source: The Verge
