PSP 3000 HEN Exploit: Fake or Legit?

Kris Erickson • May 4, 2009 • Comments ()

The PSP homebrew community was rocked last week by news that independent developers Davee and Bubbletune have perfected their Homebrew Enabler (HEN). This PSP 3000 homebrew hack potentially allows hackers direct access to kernel mode on the device, bypassing Sony's tough new security measures and allowing all kinds of code to run on the machine.

So far the only proof that this exploit works is a YouTube video (below) showing the TIFF Image Exploit running on Firmware 5.03, changing the firmware version and MAC address on a PSP 3000 unit. This comes after a picture purporting to show a Gameboy SP emulator running on a PSP-3000 via the HEN exploit. According to the developers, the video proves that their code survives a reboot and the system software and MAC address can be changed. This is something that only can be done with a kernel exploit. However, the blurry quality of the video and the lack of any more substantial proof has many wondering if this exploit actually works, and if it can deliver on the promise of fully unlocking the PSP 3000.

After all, if you were a developer who'd just cracked the PSP 3000 once and for all, wouldn't you choose something more exciting to show off rather than a MAC address change?

We wait impatiently for more definitive proof that the PSP 3000 has been hacked. In the meantime, it seems like we might have to wait a bit longer. Here's what one hacker forum posted up regarding progress of the HEN loader:

"Davee and crew have been hard at work on getting HEN for us however they have ran into quite a few problems and have been working diligently to solve them. We ask for your patience at this time, we do not have an estimate for the release date (Davee originally said "by Tuesday" but that was before the complications arose). We will update you on any progress we get notified of!"