Nintendo takes Wii U games 'Mario Kart 8' and 'Splatoon' offline over security issues<p><a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="
https://www.engadget.com/tag/nintendo/">
Nintendo[/url] has taken Wii U titles <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="
https://www.engadget.com/tag/mario%20kart/">
Mario Kart 8[/url] and <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="
https://www.engadget.com/tag/splatoon/">
Splatoon[/url] offline indefinitely while it attempts to resolve security issues. "This network service is currently unavailable due to urgent maintenance required to fix a vulnerability related to online play," reads <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="
https://www.nintendo.co.jp/netinfo/en_GB/index.html">
a message[/url] posted to Nintendo's website at 11:30PM ET on Thursday. "We do not yet have information on when network services can be restored. We apologize for any inconvenience caused."</p><p>As <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/nintendo-has-taken-wii-u-games-mario-kart-8-and-splatoon-offline-for-security-reasons/">
VGC[/url] notes, the vulnerability could be related to an exploit that allows an attacker to take control of a victim's system simply by way of being matched with them in an online multiplayer game. Dataminer OatmealDome <a data-i13n="cpos:6;pos:1" href="
https://twitter.com/OatmealDome/status/1631515908219842560">suggested[/url] the issue is “almost certainly” due to ENLBufferPwn.</p><span id="end-legacy-contents"></span><p>
Mario Kart 7 on the 3DS was previously vulnerable to that exploit. Several Switch games apparently were too, including
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Nintendo Switch Sports and
Splatoon 2 and
3. Nintendo has seemingly patched all of those titles to protect them against the exploit.</p><p>A <a data-i13n="elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:YouTube;elmt:;cpos:7;pos:1" href="
https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=89f68c82-f255-44fa-8db9-03fec996b93a&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=YouTube&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsInN0b3JlSWQiOiI4OWY2OGM4Mi1mMjU1LTQ0ZmEtOGRiOS0wM2ZlYzk5NmI5M2EiLCJsYW5kaW5nVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_dj1QTEFWbXA1a3ktayIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiNDMzYzY0ZmYtNjhlOC00NDI2LThhYzktZGUxMGQwMDhmNTJhIn0&signature=AQAAATT2nr--yLBEHydK6CpsQbyJAlYJ0yP6lKMVbggKSEQ1&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DPLAVmp5ky-k" class="rapid-with-clickid">
video[/url] posted by YouTuber PabloMK7 in December shows ENLBufferPwn in action on
Mario Kart 7. It's used to inject custom firmware onto the targeted console. PabloMK7 <a data-i13n="cpos:8;pos:1" href="
https://github.com/PabloMK7/ENLBufferPwn">
wrote on GitHub[/url] that "it would be theoretically possible" to steal an account or credit card information and to record a victim using the 3DS' mic and cameras.</p><p>With nearly 8.5 million copies sold,
Mario Kart 8 was the biggest-selling game on the <a data-i13n="cpos:9;pos:1" href="
https://www.engadget.com/tag/wii%20u/">
Wii U[/url]. The original
Splatoon sold almost 5 million. Those who are still playing the games on the discontinued system might be disappointed that the online features are currently unavailable, but it seems Nintendo was left with little choice but to take them offline for now.</p><p>The issue emerged only a few weeks before Nintendo <a data-i13n="cpos:10;pos:1" href="
https://www.engadget.com/nintendo-shutting-down-3ds-wii-u-shops-2023-082014166.html">
shuts down the Wii U and 3DS eShops[/url]. After March 27th, owners of the systems won't be able to make purchases on the digital storefronts, but they'll still be able to download titles they previously bought. Meanwhile, Nintendo just revealed the latest courses that are <a data-i13n="cpos:11;pos:1" href="
https://www.engadget.com/the-next-batch-of-mario-kart-8-deluxe-tracks-arrives-on-march-9th-171713387.html">
coming to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Switch next week[/url] as part of the Booster Course Pass.</p>This article originally appeared on Engadget at
https://www.engadget.com/nintendo-takes-wii-u-games-mario-kart-8-and-splatoon-offline-over-security-issues-183052954.html?src=rssSource:
Nintendo takes Wii U games 'Mario Kart 8' and 'Splatoon' offline over security issues
