Xbox 360 Reset Hack Yields Unsigned Code Execution

walshy007 writes "A new exploit has been shown which allows unsigned code execution on the Xbox 360 for all current models. It functions by pulsing the reset pin at a critical time during the checksumming/crypto boot process. The exploit enables the running of Xell, a boot loader which facilitates the running of Linux, amongst other programs."

Comments

Why?

[Gojira Shipi-Taro]

I can already run unsigned code on any of half a dozen PCs or similar devices I have that are not the 360 and are FAR more powerful. This is interesting-ish in that it's a neat kind of hack, but really... why would I want to do this now?

Re:Why?

[gman003]

You're obviously not a real geek, then. Running arbitrary code on a device designed to not let you run arbitrary code is, to a geek, a worthy goal in and of itself.

In other words, "it's not about WHY, it's about WHY NOT!".

Re:Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

Because its your hardware, and you should have the right to do so, whether or not you have a reason to at the moment. It's about preserving that right, which seems to be going away on more and more devices over time.

Re:Why?

[gman003]

You're still focusing on the wrong thing. The people doing this aren't doing it because they need a computer to do useful tasks. They're doing it because breaking into a system designed to keep you out is fun. Getting a decent machine (the CPU on it is actually fairly impressive, even if the graphics processor isn't that hot, and the memory system opens some interesting opportunities) is just icing on the cake.

Some people, in their leisure time, collect stamps, others play war games, others still read ancient Greek political satire. And some people hack game consoles.

Sure beats arguing on /.

Two 1 h GoogleTechTalks

[AHuxley]

Deconstructing The Xbox Security System
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NqLljaHc80
Xbox 360 Security System and its Weaknesses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxjpmc8ZIxM

Re:Finally!

[Pseudonym Authority]

I'm installing ReactOS as we speak!

Re:Would be nice if

[_133MHz]

It does! Xell spits out the CPU key and the DVD key at the boot console. Just have a digital camera handy!

NO IT DOESN'T!

[definate]

Sure beats arguing on /.

NO IT DOESN'T!

Re:Finally!

[cbackas]

According to MS, neither XBox is based on the Windows kernel at all contrary to popular belief.
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/xboxteam/archive/2006/02/17/534421.aspx

Re:Finally!

[neokushan]

Interesting, I hadn't seen this before.

I've read more than once that the XboxOS was based on Win 2000. I'm sure I can find some examples -

http://www.windowsfordevices.com/c/a/News/The-scoop-on-the-Xbox-360s-embedded-OS/
"The original Xbox ran an OS that had its roots in Windows 2000. Granted, by the time you strip out everything that is not needed in a console like the Xbox and replace some of the parts with stuff specific to that device (like the file system), and add a few pieces, it hardly resembles anything remotely like Windows 2000 at all. But you could say that's where its original roots lie, even if 95 percent of it has been cut or heavily altered."

http://www.xbox365.com/stories/xdkcomplete.shtml
"The kernel is based on Microsoft® Windows® 2000."

Granted, neither of those sources are remotely "official", but this one is interesting -
http://www.caustik.com/cxbx/progress.htm
"The Xbox uses a stripped down and partially modified Windows 2000 Kernel."

That's from a developer of cxbx, an Xbox emulator. Surely he of all people would have figured if the kernel was completely different? Then again, who knows how relevant that is to emulation itself. With people like that making the same claim, it's no wonder the misconception is so common.