Live in Your World, HAX in Ours!
Hello World! I've been reporting on Sony PlayStation hacking news since 2000 and started PSXHAX in 2014 to cover PlayStation (PSX), PlayStation 2 (PS2), PlayStation 3 (PS3), PlayStation 4 (PS4), PlayStation Portable (PSP), PlayStation Vita (PS Vita), PlayStation TV (PS TV) and next-gen PlayStation 5 (PS5) platforms along with anything else of interest.
Click on my UserName author link above and you'll be able to view a curated list of all the articles I've contributed thus far to PSXHAX.COM!
Click on my UserName author link above and you'll be able to view a curated list of all the articles I've contributed thus far to PSXHAX.COM!
Essential Picks PlayStation Store Promotion Live for July 2023
Sony's Essential Picks Promotion starts today, July 5th, on PlayStation Store featuring deep discounts of up to 70% off on a wide variety of PSN titles through July 19th, 2023.
Here's the full scoop on the latest Essential Picks PSN Promotion from PlayStation Digital Promotions Specialist Zack Garvey, to quote:
The Essential Picks promotion is now live on PlayStation Store, bringing with it discounts off up to 70% on a wide variety of titles for a limited time.
That includes 50% off PGA Tour – Deluxe Edition, 45% off Dying Light 2 Stay Human and 60% off Subnautica for PS4 & PS5.
The Essential Picks promotion is live on PlayStation Store from 00.00am local time on Wednesday July 5 until 23:59pm local time Wednesday July 19.
Here's the full scoop on the latest Essential Picks PSN Promotion from PlayStation Digital Promotions Specialist Zack Garvey, to quote:
The Essential Picks promotion is now live on PlayStation Store, bringing with it discounts off up to 70% on a wide variety of titles for a limited time.
That includes 50% off PGA Tour – Deluxe Edition, 45% off Dying Light 2 Stay Human and 60% off Subnautica for PS4 & PS5.
The Essential Picks promotion is live on PlayStation Store from 00.00am local time on Wednesday July 5 until 23:59pm local time Wednesday July 19.
Create Emulator FPKGs for PS4 / PS5 Mast1c0re Exploit in 1-Click by Markus95
Following his PS2 Emulators for Mast1c0re Exploit on PS4 & PS5 and Saturn2PS4 v1.1 to Create Saturn PS4 FPKGs, homebrew developer @Markus95 (aka @Kus00095) released via Twitter a pair of RetroArch PS2 for Mast1c0re PS4 / PS5 1-click utilities for Windows to create emulator packs for both Jailbroken PS4 consoles (PS4 5.05 / 6.72 / 9.00) in the PS4Scene alongside PS4 9.00+ and PS5 6.50 consoles in the PS5Scene via the previously released Mast1c0re Exploit. 
Download: Retroarch_PS2_on_PS4.rar (39.18 MB) / Retroarch_PS2_for_Mast1c0re_PS4-PS5.rar (39.18 MB) / Markus00095's PayPal Page
From his initial article on Logic-Sunrise.com, roughly translated: [PS4] Create emulator FPKG in one click
Here is a small program that will make it easier for you to create FPKG PS4, so that you can play your retro emulators on your PS4 5.05/6.72 and 9.00.
Indeed, thanks to this small GUI (still in batch) it will be very very simple for you to create an emulator FPKG for your PS4, a simple click on the desired emulator and everything will be done automatically, just wait... I can't make it easier ^^
In one click, you can therefore create an FPKG including a GameBoy - Color, Nes, Snes, GameGear, Master System, Megadrive, Atari 800, Lynx, WonderSwam, NeoGeo Pocket emulator, or an all-in-one...
Download: Retroarch_PS2_on_PS4.rar (39.18 MB) / Retroarch_PS2_for_Mast1c0re_PS4-PS5.rar (39.18 MB) / Markus00095's PayPal Page
From his initial article on Logic-Sunrise.com, roughly translated: [PS4] Create emulator FPKG in one click
Here is a small program that will make it easier for you to create FPKG PS4, so that you can play your retro emulators on your PS4 5.05/6.72 and 9.00.
Indeed, thanks to this small GUI (still in batch) it will be very very simple for you to create an emulator FPKG for your PS4, a simple click on the desired emulator and everything will be done automatically, just wait... I can't make it easier ^^
In one click, you can therefore create an FPKG including a GameBoy - Color, Nes, Snes, GameGear, Master System, Megadrive, Atari 800, Lynx, WonderSwam, NeoGeo Pocket emulator, or an all-in-one...
Balan Wonderworld v1.01 PS4 FPKG by Opoisso893 / Golemnight
PlayStation 4 Scene backporter @opoisso893 on Twitter with help from @golemnight released a backported Balan Wonderworld v1.01 PS4 FPKG for use with PS4 Jailbroken consoles to enjoy on this Independence Day 2023 holiday. 
Those interested in supporting these ongoing PS4 game backporting efforts can do so via the private area release topics for Verified Members, or by following and sending backport893 a DM on Twitter for current donation options.
Here are the PS4 FPKG file details from the ongoing discussion topics for Verified Members (Verification Guide) and related Tweets:
BALAN WONDERWORLD - CUSA24813 v1.00 [7.50]
Release with original keystone by @opoisso893/@golemnight
Works with @opoisso893/@golemnight
Works with @opoisso893/@golemnight
Those interested in supporting these ongoing PS4 game backporting efforts can do so via the private area release topics for Verified Members, or by following and sending backport893 a DM on Twitter for current donation options.
Here are the PS4 FPKG file details from the ongoing discussion topics for Verified Members (Verification Guide) and related Tweets:
BALAN WONDERWORLD - CUSA24813 v1.00 [7.50]
Release with original keystone by @opoisso893/@golemnight
- BALAN.WONDERWORLD_CUSA24813_v1.00_[7.50]_OPOISSO893.rar (9.49 GB)
Works with @opoisso893/@golemnight
- BALAN.WONDERWORLD_CUSA24813_v1.01_[7.50]_OPOISSO893.rar (9.49 GB)
Works with @opoisso893/@golemnight
- BALAN.WONDERWORLD_CUSA24813_v1.01_BACKPORT_[5.05-6.72-7.02]_OPOISSO893.rar (9.49 GB)
Latest PS4 Fake PKG Games and PS4 DLC FPKGs in PS4Scene
Here's the latest PS4 Fake PKG Games and PS4 DLC FPKGs for those with a Jailbroken PS4 console to try out thanks to @CyB1K (Twitter) with help from @Archi55, @d33j4y, @mrBOOT (Fugazi's Ko-fi / PayPal / 1Fichier / Uptobox), InvestigatorFar8811, TRIFECTA (@Grief247allday, @jwooh and @stripnwild), @Vika2364 and Zeca alongside @opoisso893 (Twitter) with help from @golemnight in the PlayStation 4 Scene. 
Those who'd like to support these ongoing PS4 game backporting & DLC efforts can do so via the private area release topics for Verified Members, or by following and sending backport893 and Cyberpt1000 a DM on Twitter for current donation options.
Below are the related file details from the ongoing discussion topics for Verified Members (Verification Guide) and Tweets:
CUSA34179
[CUSA34179] WWE 2K23 Icon Edition Update v1.12 + All DLC Fully Backported
Update Backported:
Those who'd like to support these ongoing PS4 game backporting & DLC efforts can do so via the private area release topics for Verified Members, or by following and sending backport893 and Cyberpt1000 a DM on Twitter for current donation options.
Below are the related file details from the ongoing discussion topics for Verified Members (Verification Guide) and Tweets:
CUSA34179[CUSA34179] WWE 2K23 Icon Edition Update v1.12 + All DLC Fully Backported
Update Backported:
- UP1001-CUSA34179_00-000000000WWE2K23-A0112-V0100-TRIFECTA-CyB1K.pkg (19.64 GB)
- WWE.2K23.CUSA34179.DLC.v4.PS4-Arczi-CyB1K.rar...
PS5 In-Kernel Hypervisor Details by SpecterDev for PS5Scene
Proceeding his Exploring the PS5 Security Landscape Hardwear.io 2023 presentation and Slideshow, @SpecterDev (Twitter) recently updated PSDevWiki with details on the PS5 In-Kernel Hypervisor present in PlayStation 5 Firmware 2.50 and below for PS5Scene developers to examine. 
According to @zecoxao on Twitter, "he only has a full dump from a version from those ranges, so it's normal."
Here's further details on the In-Kernel PS5 Hypervisor from the PS5 Developer Wiki, as follows: In-Kernel Hypervisor (<= 2.50)
On 2.50 and lower, the hypervisor is integrated as part of the kernel binary. This is the "first iteration" of the hypervisor, later versions have the hypervisor as a separately loaded component. The hypervisor's main goals are to protect kernel code integrity and enforce xotext (aka. eXecute Only Memory or "XOM") on the kernel.
To accomplish this, Sony takes advantage of various features provided by AMD Secure Virtual Machine (SVM), such as; Nested Page Tables (NPT), Guest Mode Execute Trap (GMET), and intercepting reads/writes to Control Registers (CRs) as well as Machine State Registers (MSRs).
Furthermore, xotext seems to be hardware-backed as a collaboration with AMD, named "nda feature". The hypervisor also manages the I/O Memory Management Unit (IOMMU), as hinted by the fact that it exposes various hypercalls for configuring it.
It's worth noting the hypervisor is very small, especially when compared to that of the PS3. It only supports a handful of hypercalls and mainly exists to protect the kernel. It doesn't run multiple VMs or use nested virtualization, it only...
According to @zecoxao on Twitter, "he only has a full dump from a version from those ranges, so it's normal."
Here's further details on the In-Kernel PS5 Hypervisor from the PS5 Developer Wiki, as follows: In-Kernel Hypervisor (<= 2.50)
On 2.50 and lower, the hypervisor is integrated as part of the kernel binary. This is the "first iteration" of the hypervisor, later versions have the hypervisor as a separately loaded component. The hypervisor's main goals are to protect kernel code integrity and enforce xotext (aka. eXecute Only Memory or "XOM") on the kernel.
To accomplish this, Sony takes advantage of various features provided by AMD Secure Virtual Machine (SVM), such as; Nested Page Tables (NPT), Guest Mode Execute Trap (GMET), and intercepting reads/writes to Control Registers (CRs) as well as Machine State Registers (MSRs).
Furthermore, xotext seems to be hardware-backed as a collaboration with AMD, named "nda feature". The hypervisor also manages the I/O Memory Management Unit (IOMMU), as hinted by the fact that it exposes various hypercalls for configuring it.
It's worth noting the hypervisor is very small, especially when compared to that of the PS3. It only supports a handful of hypercalls and mainly exists to protect the kernel. It doesn't run multiple VMs or use nested virtualization, it only...