The PlayStation 5, released in late 2020, has been a target for hackers eager to unlock its full capabilities. As hackers continuously search for vulnerabilities, recent developments could dramatically alter the hacking landscape for this popular console.
On the eve of the New Year, a major breakthrough occurred in the form of a data leak that could transform the PlayStation 5 hacking community. This leak potentially allows for permanent jailbreak, custom firmware, and emulation among other possibilities.
Unveiling the Leak
According to a thorough report by The CyberSec Guru, discussions began in late 2025 about a significant data dump found on psdevwiki.com and on private Discord channels. This data included the system’s Level 0 BootROM keys.
The BootROM is the initial program the PlayStation 5 executes upon power-up and forms a crucial part of its security framework. Obtaining these keys, which reside on a read-only chip and are decrypted during boot by the console’s APU, implies complete control over the console.
Exploits using these keys would exceed all past software-based exploits as the BootROM’s integrity is impervious to software updates.
| Feature | Software Kernel Exploits (Previous) | Level 0 BootROM Leak (Current) |
| Patchability | Fixable via System Update | Unpatchable (Silicon-bound) |
| Persistence | Lost after reboot | Permanent Custom Firmware potential |
| Access Level | User/Kernel land | Root of Trust (Deepest) |
| Hardware | Varies by Firmware version | All existing PS5 models vulnerable |
Though Sony might introduce a hardware update, the 60+ million consoles currently in use are now permanently unlocked.
Implications for Gamers
The leak’s impact on the gaming community is substantial. Even if the average gamer can’t immediately utilize the leaked keys, it accelerates the creation of Custom Firmware, allowing systems to boot modified operating systems without repeated software exploits and immune to firmware updates.
This revelation could benefit emulation developers, enabling them to improve compatibility and accuracy. The PlayStation 5 might soon support games from various platforms, possibly even running PlayStation 3 games natively with the RPCS3 emulator. However, this opens the door to piracy, as custom firmware can enable running pirated games.
The PlayStation 5 is now an open book, as noted in The CyberSec Guru’s report. This development has left the community buzzing with speculation and humor about Sony’s hypothetical turmoil.
As the situation evolves, it will be intriguing to observe how Sony addresses this critical security issue and any accompanying hardware challenges, such as liquid metal cooling concerns. This event is poised to be a landmark moment in console security history.