The PS4 may have just been jailbroken

The PS4 is one of the most popular current-generation gaming consoles with impressive sales numbers and a loyal following across the globe.

With great popularity, however, comes attention, not all of it good. Let’s face it, programmers are going to attempt to exploit the console, and in a most recent case it appears one programmer has been successful.

A programmer known as CTurt claims to have finally exploited the PS4’s kernel, resulting in RAM dumping from other processes.

With this kernel exploit, the PS4 could finally be jailbroken, which means a hacker could bypass the DRM of the PS4 install and run custom software, and even play pirated games.

CTurt shared all of this information via Twitter.

PS4 kernel exploit finally working! Thanks to everyone involved!

— CTurt (@CTurtE) December 6, 2015

The exploit in question allows CTurt to dump RAM to other processes like SceShellUI. He is now attempting to patch the RAM, as revealed by some of his most recent Tweets.

Just broke WebKit process out of a FreeBSD jail (cred->cr_prison = &prison0). Guess you could say the PS4 is now officially “jailbroken” 😛

— CTurt (@CTurtE) December 12, 2015

Can successfully dump RAM from other processes (like SceShellUI) using ptrace! Next step: patching RAM…

— CTurt (@CTurtE) December 12, 2015

@endrift @frwololo This isn’t a jail vulnerability. It’s only possible because I’m executing in kernel mode.

— CTurt (@CTurtE) December 13, 2015

At the moment, CTurt is playing with RAM in the console.

He hopes to at some point release a full video explaining the whole process behind the kernel exploit.

@Jamie_Adams17 At the moment I am playing with the RAM of other processes, (think cheats). Hoping to make a nice PoC video some time.

— CTurt (@CTurtE) December 13, 2015

Currently, the kernel exploit only works on PS4 firmware 1.76 and most PS4 owners are using firmware version 3.11.

So, for as much as pirates want the exploit to mean that the PS4 can now play pirated games, this may not be possible at the moment.

But kernel access to the system will allow hackers and programmers to analyse the PS4’s system and vulnerabilities more accurately.

What do you think about the possibility of the PS4 being jailbroken? Do you feel it’s an eventuality for both the PS4 and Xbox One?