A hacker has managed to access the kernel of Sony’s PlayStation 5. However, it cannot yet run its own code.
The security system of the PlayStation 5 is crumbling: a hacker using the pseudonym Specter successfully exploited a security hole in outdated firmware and thus gained access to the kernel.
However, this is not a full-fledged jailbreak, as the hacker says it is not yet possible to run your own code. In addition, the exploit is unstable and the console is said to crash regularly. Nevertheless, hackers can start at the vulnerability for further insights into cracking the security system of the game console.
Vulnerability closed long ago
The vulnerability (CVE-2020-7457) affects firmware 4.03 and was reported to Sony in early 2020 via the Hackerone bug bounty program. The vulnerability is found in the WebKit implementation of IPv6 in the web browser. As per Specter’s Github website, the exploit triggers a memory error (use-after-free). But that should only work in about 30 percent of the cases. According to Specter, after a successful attempt you have read access to the kernel of the console. You can also access a debug menu and even have root privileges.
At first glance, you can’t do much in this position. In this position, however, experienced hackers can, with a high degree of probability, collect further information on how to crack the system. Specter assumes that the exploit also works with the PS5 firmware 4.50. The current firmware is 6.00. The vulnerability has been closed since 2020.
More PS5 Hacks
In the recent past, further hacks of the game console made headlines. It was possible to jailbreak PS4/5 by plugging in a manipulated USB stick. Another vulnerability affects the PS2 emulator that plays older titles on PS4/5.
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