LV0 Hack Threatens The PS3 And Sony's Security

Written by: Stephen Vagus (@svagus) | October 25, 2012 12:20 pm

LV0 Hack Threatens The PS3 And Sony's Security

27 Comments

LV0 Decryption Leaked

The PlayStation got hacked, again. This time is different, though, because it may be the last time the platform ever gets hacked. Earlier this week, the notorious hacking group known as The Three Musketeers released the so called LV0 decryption keys for the PS3. If you’re not really familiar with what this could mean, let me break it down for your real quick: The LV0 decryption key is just like a skeleton key that can open every door that the PS3 has. This is going to cause a major problem for Sony.

The Three Musketeers claim that they released the LV0 hack was released due to the threat of the hack being used by another hacking group that would have made money off the decryption key. The group suggests that it would have never released the hack if not for such a threat. The release of the hack means that any updates that Sony releases for the PS3, from now until forever, can be decrypted with little to know trouble.

While the hack has a lot to do with the PS3, there is a good chance that it will evolve to tackle Sony’s entire security structure. As with all things technology, hacks tend to get a lot of attention from dubious parties interested in such things trying to make something bigger and better. Sony, as we know, does not have a presence in only console gaming, but also the MMOverse. Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) has been under siege by hackers in the past, and this problem has cost the company a lot of money. If the LV0 hack turns out to be as serious as it seems, and if it’s picked up by an intrepid hacker with their sights set on SOE, Sony may find itself in the midst of a security nightmare that may not be simple to fix.

Sony Has Limited Options, None Decisive

Sony is likely to introduce new security features for the PS3 that will mitigate hacking within the coming weeks. Make no mistake, Sony has several options in terms of security that can help offset the LV0 hack. The problem is, however, that none of these options can be considered decisive, as the hack will be able to break its way through these measures in short order.

Sony is caught in a dangerous cat and mouse game, where the odds are far more in favor of the mice.

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http://profiles.google.com/grayni Nick Gray

*no

*now
http://www.facebook.com/justin.pfeifer.58 Justin Pfeifer

Just another reason not to own a Ps3 shit security
- http://www.finallevelradio.com Double Aught Code
  
  Most the real exploits are just like this one… discovered but kept secure by those that have discovered it. The X-Box is just as done, just not as public. You can bet that over the years ID thiefs, pedophiles, and other miscellanous garbage from around the world learned to not share these; like GeoHot did. They arent doing it for fame or to get some chicks cause they got cancer in their butts.. They have their own motoves, and while I believe the three musketeers were ‘solid’ and ‘pure’; we can never be to sure.
  
  Since the days of ‘chatrooms’ and ‘autodialers’; the e-world has become the breeding ground for all sorts of wads that should have been wiped up with a towel from the hookers back.
Jason Hall

So, you guys are no longer using a spell checker? Or how about someone with some syntax? Professional…this story is not.
http://www.facebook.com/psnart Paul Snart

So many things wrong with this article – and I don’t mean the content.
Emilio Aguinaldo

So in future its possible to install another OS into ps3?
- http://www.finallevelradio.com Double Aught Code
  
  This may be the only REALLY decent thing that comes from this… it’d sure be nice to have a backup computer like I used to…
http://www.facebook.com/psnart Paul Snart

LV0 Decryption Leaked
The PlayStation got hacked, again. This time is different though, because it may be the last time the platform ever gets hacked. Earlier this week, the notorious hacking group known as The Three Musketeers released the so called LV0 decryption keys for the PS3. If you’re not really familiar with what this could mean, let me break it down for you real quick: The LV0 decryption key is just like a skeleton key that can open every door that the PS3 has. This is going to cause a major problem for Sony.

The Three Musketeers claim that they released the LV0 hack due to a threat of it being used by another hacking consortium, which could have made money from it. The group suggests that it would have never released the hack if not for such a threat. The release of the hack means that any updates that Sony releases for the PS3, from now until forever, can be decrypted with little to no trouble.

While the hack has a lot to do with the PS3, there is a good chance that it will evolve to tackle Sony’s entire security structure. As with all things technology, hacks tend to get a lot of attention from dubious parties wishing to take advantage of them for illegal activities. Sony, as we know, does not have a presence in only console gaming, but also the MMOverse. Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) has been under siege by hackers in the past, and this problem has cost the company a lot of money. If the LV0 hack turns out to be as serious as it seems, and if it’s picked up by an intrepid hacker with their sights set on SOE, Sony may find itself in the midst of a security nightmare that may not be simple to fix.

Sony Has Limited Options, None Decisive
Sony is likely to introduce new security features for the PS3 that will mitigate hacking within the coming weeks. Make no mistake, Sony has several options in terms of security that can help offset the LV0 hack. The problem is, however, that none of these options can be considered decisive, as the hack will be able to break its way through these measures in short order.

Sony is now caught in a dangerous cat and mouse game, where the odds are far more in favor of the mice.

– Did my best with it
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1653322492 Kevin J. Redmond
  
  You barely made any changes, except for changing a few words that didn’t need to be changed. You made at least one incorrect correction, and completely missed the one of the few real mistakes he made to begin with (which is negligible anyway).
  
  I have a secondary education degree specialized in English, and you guys are just being ostentatious. It might not have been perfect, but it was fine.
  
  @Stephen — ignore these prats and go about your business.
  - http://www.facebook.com/psnart Paul Snart
    
    That’s because the original has been changed. Thought that may have been obvious with your level of education.
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1653322492 Kevin J. Redmond
      
      Yeah edited that out, as I realized *I* was also being ostentatious. My apologies. Anyway, how is it obvious? All I see is the current article and your version of it. Did you post a change log that I’m missing? From my perspective it just looks like you made all the changes in your version.
      
      But hey, if they did make mistakes at least they are correcting them. That’s not a bad thing.
      - http://www.facebook.com/psnart Paul Snart
        
        Just by the timing of the posts and original comments made about the article. There were plenty of areas where it just didn’t make any sense at all, and the typos where just things such as “know” rather than “no” etc…
        
        My English is awful, as I’m a programmer; The original article however was just painful.
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1653322492 Kevin J. Redmond
        
        I’ll take your word for it, then.
      - http://twitter.com/llothos llothos
        
        I agree that the grammar was pretty bad on this article, now I have know illusions that I could right a good article but eye also don’t right for a reputable gaming news sight.
Kagitaar

New guy, if you want to work writing articles, you might want to start re-reading them for mistakes.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1653322492 Kevin J. Redmond
  
  Like what?
  - Kagitaar
    
    Just the myriad typos.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_F6AZP42EYWGF5ZRW7FRIRNFDG4 Johnny Bravo

WOOHOO more free games when its fixed, keep it up, my PS3 library just keeps getting bigger
ZackForester

Grammar and typos aside, does this mean hackers could remotely access any of your personal data you may have stored on your PS3?
- http://www.nexusdevelopment.org/ TheDragonfiend
  
  nah that would require that they have these things a) a server accesible by your ps3 b) a target stupid enough to use the server and c) a way to use the key from the server end on the ps3 (easier said then done as that would require a code injection on your end)
  
  What they can do however is just hack into the sony severs and be done with it (assuming the lvl0 hack evolves that way)
  - http://www.finallevelradio.com Double Aught Code
    
    But they can make their own PS3 a server as well as creating their own on a PC now. Didnt you read they can do all the above on a PC?
    
    Also, your comment on hacking the PSN servers themselves gives me concern as I got a lot of DLC content Iv paid for since buying my SE model for $600+.
    
    Sony still has no comment on any of this… kinda stinks like last years PSN debacle. I call every day to find out if they have a comment just to mnake sure they know there are those who arent stupid.
    
    Personally, I hope 2KGames, EA, or another one of their many game producers sue the piss out of them for puting their code at risk. The method of obtaining these keys has been out for over 80 weeks now; which means SCEA is to ignorant AND/OR arrogant to do the right thing. Iv posted the article link so any game manufacturer knows SCEA just sat on this one and put the games propietary code at risk with full knowledge.
    
    BTW… do you PSN?
    - http://www.nexusdevelopment.org/ TheDragonfiend
      
      Nah I drink pc with an xbox chaser.
      
      If the ps3 was cheaper i might pick one up so i can tinker with it but apart from that it poses no appeal to me… The hardware is crap (ps3 is about 4 yrs old now? Due to compatibility reasons sony is not allowed to make major upgrades so the performance compared to a pc is absolute crap… Plus you know it doesnt do hd (720p is not full hd… 1080p is full hd)
      
      Or anti aliasing (hate those jaggies)
      
      Etc etc.
      
      I hate xbox just as much but it has exclusives that i want to play
- http://www.finallevelradio.com Double Aught Code
  
  There is already chatter to create such an app, so this could be MUCH more than saving someone from making money. I dont think to much thought went into their decision… and if it did, someone seemed to not care of the consequences they just forced on EVERY SWIINGIN D!CK who spent their OWN money on their PS3.
http://profile.yahoo.com/HEYVKFAYCSLSSZIWRQXVUMD65E shadowkan

ok, and this is why the xbox doesnt get hacked. lol. and i love the people that made that hack. lv0 ftw
- http://www.nexusdevelopment.org/ TheDragonfiend
  
  Actually ever heard of a jtag? yeah lvl0 is pretty much a software low level jtag? only a jtag is where you jtag (an actual technical term outside of xbox hacking btw) into the box and reflash it… then add some extra wires to bypass the signature check on the… i think its the second level bootloader? correct me if im wrong guys.
  
  This is almost the equivelent of having the signing keys (assuming these arnt the signing keys) as you can just go… you know what fuck trying hard to find a secruity hole and blah blah blah… lets just decrypt the thing and repackage it.
http://www.finallevelradio.com Double Aught Code

While I enjoy the idea of being able to create a ‘custom’ FW that has a firewall and malicous code scanning technique, I really wonder how this may impact younger audiences and their safety. Ill be optomistic and say that most the custom FW creators are NOT interested in anything but their own creativity; but today we got a lot of people looking to ‘trick’ kids into lot s of things.

So, do the Three Musketeers now accept responisibility of any children that are exploited and led away from the safety of their parents via the release of these keys… or did they not even consider that when they made their choice(s), or more over do they even care that this is something they have INSURED is a possibility?

Im not trrying to start any wars here, but seriously… what does this mean as far as creating a ‘custom’ store where users can then “trojan” a console to only fetch from their ‘custom’ store server?

What does this mean as far as the overall security of a console and should I now take mine offline for good?

These are the questions Im sure will be answered in the next four months or so… and if the initial query comes to be; you can bet three musketeers will be hunted by a team of striaght leather necked fools.

…meanwhile, in fantasy ‘X’ land, our hero’s have no where to run…
- http://www.finallevelradio.com Double Aught Code
  
  If now there game is to stay monitoring all known pedo IP’s against mirroring PSN IP’s then everything will be fine… but thats a lot of work and they wont have much time for much else.
  
  If you need help, you know how to get in touch with some REAL shiz billy.

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