Xbox 360 Reset Hack Yields Unsigned Code Execution

walshy007 writes "A new exploit has been shown which allows unsigned code execution on the Xbox 360 for all current models. It functions by pulsing the reset pin at a critical time during the checksumming/crypto boot process. The exploit enables the running of Xell, a boot loader which facilitates the running of Linux, amongst other programs."

Two 1 h GoogleTechTalks

[AHuxley]

Deconstructing The Xbox Security System
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NqLljaHc80 [youtube.com]
Xbox 360 Security System and its Weaknesses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxjpmc8ZIxM [youtube.com]

Re:Finally!

[neokushan]

Interesting, I hadn't seen this before.

I've read more than once that the XboxOS was based on Win 2000. I'm sure I can find some examples -

http://www.windowsfordevices.com/c/a/News/The-scoop-on-the-Xbox-360s-embedded-OS/ [windowsfordevices.com]
"The original Xbox ran an OS that had its roots in Windows 2000. Granted, by the time you strip out everything that is not needed in a console like the Xbox and replace some of the parts with stuff specific to that device (like the file system), and add a few pieces, it hardly resembles anything remotely like Windows 2000 at all. But you could say that's where its original roots lie, even if 95 percent of it has been cut or heavily altered."

http://www.xbox365.com/stories/xdkcomplete.shtml [xbox365.com]
"The kernel is based on Microsoft® Windows® 2000."

Granted, neither of those sources are remotely "official", but this one is interesting -
http://www.caustik.com/cxbx/progress.htm [caustik.com]
"The Xbox uses a stripped down and partially modified Windows 2000 Kernel."

That's from a developer of cxbx, an Xbox emulator. Surely he of all people would have figured if the kernel was completely different? Then again, who knows how relevant that is to emulation itself. With people like that making the same claim, it's no wonder the misconception is so common.