Security researcher closes vulnerabilities for hacking PlayStation 5

Gaming consoles are powerful computers that, in recent versions, have grown to be comparable to desktop PCs in terms of hardware and capabilities. Despite all of that power, though, these gaming machines are as restricted as smart TVs or other home appliances. That includes the PlayStation 5, which Sony tries its best to prevent any system modifications. That hasn't stopped hackers of all sorts from attempting to exploit the console's power for their own benefit, either. One such hack was recently revealed, which has the PS5 and PS4 modding communities enthralled with possibilities for more open PlayStation consoles - unofficially of course.

Andy Nguyen, a security expert, revealed this news at a conference (via GameRant), demonstrating how it's possible to execute arbitrary code on the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 systems. The "hack" takes advantage of the console's Blu-Ray disc system, similar to how an old PS2 hack exploited the way DVDs were read. It's no surprise that console manufacturers are eager to remove optical discs and physical media because of such breaches, especially when the exploit is built into the hardware they can't patch. The hack has been tested on the PS5 and PS4, but it may also work on the PS3, which was the first PlayStation to support Sony's Blu-ray disc. The next major issue is how long this hack will stay effective.

Given that these consoles have been notoriously difficult to break, the news of an exploitable hole in the PS4 and PS5 has elicited a lot of celebration and optimism. The ability to execute arbitrary code via the way the console reads Blu-ray discs opens up a world of possibilities for tinkerers, but it also creates several problems. Modding is a gray area that Sony and other console manufacturers have attempted to eliminate.

Although such hacks are often associated with hacking and criminal activities, the modding community is more interested in allowing homebrew game development to brew on consoles. It's especially appealing given how much power these systems have inside and how difficult it is to produce games for them.

Modding, on the other hand, allows gamers to play games that are no longer compatible with modern gaming consoles or simply play games without needing original discs or even the console itself. It has only been in recent years that video game producers and console manufacturers have begun to become more interested in allowing new players access to old titles, but they've also managed to turn it into a business. In many situations, you'll need to pay a subscription fee in order to gain access to a collection of "classic" games, particularly if the consoles for which they were created no longer exist on the market.