Free60: Dangerous Xbox360 Update Killing to-be released Homebrew Hack

wozzo

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Think i mite wait to update, this could be interesting.

On Tuesday, Microsoft has released an Xbox 360 software update that overwrites the first stage bootloader of the system. Although there have been numerous software updates for Microsoft's gaming console in the past, this is the first one to overwrite the vital boot block. Any failure while updating this will break the Xbox 360 beyond repair. Statistics from other systems have shown that about one in a thousand bootloader updates goes wrong, and unless Microsoft has a novel solution to this problem, this puts tens of thousands of Xboxes at risk.

It seems that this update is being done to fix a vulnerability already known to the Free60 Project. This vulnerability has been successfully exploited to run arbitrary code, and a complete end user compatible hack has been in development for some time and is planned to be released on free60.org shortly. It will allow users to take back control of their Xboxes and run arbitrary code like homebrew applications or Linux right after turning on the console and without the need of a modchip, finally opening up the Xbox 360 to a level of hacking as the original Xbox.

Because of the dangerousness of the update and the homebrew lockout, the Free60 Project advises all Xbox 360 users to not update their systems to the latest software version. The Project website at Main Page - Free60 Project will provide the latest information on this ongoing topic, including the final hack software.

Free60 (Main Page - Free60 Project) is a project that aims to enable Xbox 360 users to run homebrew applications and operating systems like Linux on their consoles. The effort is headed by Felix Domke and Michael Steil, who have a background in dbox2, Xbox and GameCube hacking, and who have spoken at various conferences about their findings. Two years ago, Free60 released a hack that allowed arbitrary code execution using a game ("King Kong Hack") as well as an adapted version of Linux, but this possibility has been disabled by Microsoft in subsequent updates of the Xbox 360 software.

Felix and Michael have repeatedly argued that game console manufacturers should open up their platforms to Linux and homebrew, similar to what Sony has done with the PlayStation 3.

Main Page - Free60 Project
 
Would have been nice if they had issued a warning BEFORE the update was released, too late for me one of my consoles has already updated the other one hasn't though.:)
 
Would have been nice if they had issued a warning BEFORE the update was released, too late for me one of my consoles has already updated the other one hasn't though.:)

its that reason wht im thinking its scare-mongerey mate, ive updated 1 of mine and ive had no probs yet i hope it is scare-mongerey lol

edit: sorry i miss read the op i thought it was the bit of bull i read the other day about if you update your 360 it will turn into a spectrum 48k or something like that.
 
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Updated mine as well, could not go on live unless I did :( fkrs ! but working fine, or so it seems.
 
The article is saying how the update is killing a vulnerability which is apparently going to be released which will allow homebrew, Linux ect to be run on 360s which haven't taking the just relesed update without the need for a modchip.

So if you have updated you wont be able to try it when its released.

It isnt saying anything about the update killing Firmware mods ect.
 
The article is saying how the update is killing a vulnerability which is apparently going to be released which will allow homebrew, Linux ect to be run on 360s which haven't taking the just relesed update without the need for a modchip.

So if you have updated you wont be able to try it when its released.

It isnt saying anything about the update killing Firmware mods ect.

yeah mate it was me not reading properly ive got another 2 360's the one i took the upate on is on its way to e74 when i heard about the update i didnt put my new one online and my 3rd one is allready banned so when this comes out ill probably try it on that one you never know they may work around getting banned consoles online when they sort homebrew.
 
From Xbox-Hacker?
We kept on working on this idea, and it worked out. pretty well. We use JTAG to program the DMA target addr, and then SMC to trigger the DMA read. The exploit itself is based on the old 4532 exploit.

The magic is how we launch 4532 - there is a "backdoor" for manufacturing since CB 1920. We have been able to restore the newer CD versions for all hardware types.

This means:
- We can boot own code in HV context ~5s after boot, before any video output, right after the kernel runs.
- we need to reflash the flash, and add 3 resistors for the JTAG (no modchip required! but you might want a dual-nand modchip),
- 8498 kills this by updating the bootloader - it blacklists 4532/4548. it also does hw init stuff which might interefere with the jtag hack, we don't know yet.
- we have a proof of concept hack, we will release it SOON (a matter of hours/days, not more - promised.).
- DON'T UPDATE to summer 09. Did i already say this?
- you don't need to know your cpu key. You can update to all BUT summer '09. you don't need a dvdrom.
- It works on all xenon, zephyr, falcon, opus, jasper. Unless you have updated to 849x. Then you're screwed.
 
So will it be like the original XBOX in which you could just put the games onto a hard-drive and boot off there instead of buying all those discs lol, would like to see if it works and what the final outcome is ... too late for me though unless I get another 360 :)
 
thats my understanding mate only time will tell if you will get the options you posted above and like anything else thats been hacked you wont be able to install it if you have taken the new update but that will probably get fixed in time too.
 
frmo what ive red on the wiki is cureently designed to run linux on your system

tho this explot could lead developers in to being able to run custom dash's as well as other simialy ""homebrew" mods..

will just have to see
 
Well the main homebrew app that most people want too see on the 360 is xbmc and why not it's a great piece of software, no more my 360 won't play this i need to convert to this format crap, it will play any file you throw at it.


xbmc already works on Linux so could be easily ported over unlike any other homebrew apps. If you have not tried xbmc before you can try it right now on windows Here. remember that it is normally meant to go under your huge TV in the front room but will also work ok on a normal windows pc.

BTW I updated my 360
 
if they can sort loading games from a hdd like the original xbox id be well happy, save buying discs :)
 
here is a video:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KgTWJUbToM&feature=player_embedded]YouTube - new jtag hack booting off a Cygnos360 NAND[/ame]
 
great, only last night i updated my main flashed console :(

but i have a non modded console that hasnt been updated yet though :)
 
Is it out yet? Any progress or is it .. a work in progress still?

:Cheers:
 
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