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Ps5 security keys leaked in unfixable hardware flaw
Critical security keys for the PlayStation 5 have surfaced online, leaving the console vulnerable to hardware-level hacking that Sony cannot patch through software updates. This breach echoes the PlayStation 3 security crisis from over a decade ago, when similar flaws enabled widespread modifications.
The leak emerged on December 30, 2025, involving the console's level 0 BootROM keys, as reported by The Cybersec Guru. These cryptographic keys are permanently etched into the PS5's custom AMD processor chip and verify the boot loader each time the system starts. Details spread briefly on X and private Discord servers before removal, with modding community figure BrutalSam among those sharing them.
Unlike software vulnerabilities, this hardware defect defies remote fixes. Tom's Hardware notes the keys are hardcoded in the APU, so the CPU runs BootROM code at startup to authenticate the boot process using them. Now public, the keys let hackers decrypt and reverse-engineer Sony's official boot loader, mapping the console's startup security.
Sony cannot issue firmware updates to alter these keys without bricking existing hardware. Its only recourse lies in producing new chips with fresh keys for future consoles. All current PS5 models standard, digital, and Pro in homes worldwide remain exposed to potential exploits.
While not enabling instant widespread jailbreaks, the keys mark a pivotal advance. PlayStation LifeStyle reports they could pave the way for custom firmware, bypassing Sony's checks entirely. This might lead to "coldboot" hacks like those on modded PS3s, activating automatically on startup without repeated intervention.
The PS5 has seen limited jailbreaks on older firmware versions, but these ROM keys could fast-track more advanced ones. Hackers must still navigate additional Sony safeguards, yet the leak offers what The Cybersec Guru calls a blueprint for the rest.
The incident mirrors Sony's 2011 PS3 debacle, where a crypto flaw exposed the console's private signing key, unleashing homebrew software and piracy that persisted on existing hardware. That year also brought a PlayStation Network breach affecting 77 million users' data. As of January 1, 2026, Sony has issued no statement, but it may pursue legal action against key distributors and tighten PSN checks to ban modded consoles. Industry watchers anticipate quiet hardware revisions with new keys later in 2026, safeguarding only new production units.
