That changed dramatically in late 2017 with the emergence of —not a single hack, but a suite of web-based exploits that fundamentally rewrote the rules of PS3 modding. PS3Xploit didn't just open a door; it handed users the keys to the entire hardware.

The entry point for PS3Xploit was the integrated PS3 internet browser. The browser utilized a WebKit engine, a component known for a vast attack surface.

The PS3Xploit project has significant implications beyond piracy:

Sony has never sued the PS3Xploit developers (who largely remain pseudonymous). Unlike the GeoHot lawsuit (2011), PS3Xploit didn’t involve distributing Sony’s private keys – it exploited hardware/software vulnerabilities, which is generally protected security research.

Once the ROP chain established a foothold, the exploit targeted the LV2 kernel.

At this point, you can patch the kernel in RAM to disable signature checks on executables. This allows running homebrew .self and .sprx files, but only until the next reboot.

Sony released firmware updates (4.83, 4.85, etc.) that updated the WebKit engine, effectively patching the entry point.