invoxiplaygames.uk
my research and reverse engineering notes/utilities relating to the Xbox 360 (Mirrored from https://github.com/InvoxiPlayGames/x360-research)
update
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README.md
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README.md
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* [DrSchottky's X360 Reversing tutorials](https://www.razielconsole.com/forum/guide-e-tutorial-xbox-360/943-%5Bx360-reversing%5D-intro.html)
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* [TEIR1plus2's Xbox-Reversing](https://github.com/TEIR1plus2/Xbox-Reversing)
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* [ihatecompvir's x360-hv-notes](https://github.com/ihatecompvir/x360-hv-notes)
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I likely wouldn't know nearly as much as I do if not for all the great open source
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projects detailing how parts of this system work, and all the people behind them.
···
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* [DrSchottky's X360 Reversing tutorials](https://www.razielconsole.com/forum/guide-e-tutorial-xbox-360/943-%5Bx360-reversing%5D-intro.html)
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* [TEIR1plus2's Xbox-Reversing](https://github.com/TEIR1plus2/Xbox-Reversing)
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* [ihatecompvir's x360-hv-notes](https://github.com/ihatecompvir/x360-hv-notes)
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* [Grimdoomer's Xbox 360 hypervisor article](https://icode4.coffee/?p=1047)
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I likely wouldn't know nearly as much as I do if not for all the great open source
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projects detailing how parts of this system work, and all the people behind them.
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homebrew/README.md
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homebrew/README.md
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homebrew/xebuild/patch_format.md
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homebrew/xebuild/patch_format.md
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**Emma's Xbox 360 Research Notes - Homebrew - xeBuild**
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Updated 7th March 2025.
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Stub page.
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# Patch Format
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| Offset | Type | Description |
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| ------ | -------- | ----------------------------------- |
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| `0x0` | uint32 | Address in boot section to patch |
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| `0x4` | uint32 | Number of 4-byte words to patch |
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| `0x8` | uint32[] | Array of words to insert at address |
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Patch sets are delimited by `0xFFFFFFFF` to signify the end of the current
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section.
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For SMC hacked images, patches are structured in this order:
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* 1BL patches
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* CB patches
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* CD patches
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* Hypervisor/kernel patches
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For RGH images, patches are structured in this order:
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* CB_B patches
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* CD patches
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* Hypervisor/kernel patches
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## Recommended reading
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* `about_patches.S` included in xeBuild.
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* DrSchottky's "X360 Reversing" guide about xeBuild's hacked images:
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https://www.razielconsole.com/forum/guide-e-tutorial-xbox-360/943-%5Bx360-reversing%5D-intro.html
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-7
official-software/networking/system_link.md
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-7
official-software/networking/system_link.md
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**Emma's Xbox 360 Research Notes - Networking**
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Updated 24th October 2024.
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Stub page.
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···
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with a source IP of 0.0.0.1 and a destination IP address of 255.255.255.255.
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The destination MAC address is FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF.
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**Cross-Platform:** TODO
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### General Structure
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| Offset | Type / Size | Description |
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| -------- | ----------- | ----------------------------------- |
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| `0x0` | uint32 | Header flags *(TODO: Check?)* |
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| `0x4` | variable | Encrypted packet data |
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| variable | Footer | Metadata about the packet |
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Note that parts of the footer will be encrypted depending on the length of the
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packet data.
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**Emma's Xbox 360 Research Notes - Networking**
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Updated 7th March 2025.
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Stub page.
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···
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with a source IP of 0.0.0.1 and a destination IP address of 255.255.255.255.
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The destination MAC address is FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF.
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**Cross-Platform:** (From GfWL) Broadcast messages are sent over IPv4 UDP
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port 3074, with a source IP of the local network adapter and a desination
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address off 255.255.255.255.
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### General Structure
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| Offset | Type / Size | Description |
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| -------- | ----------- | ----------------------------- |
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| `0x0` | uint32 | Header flags *(TODO: Check?)* |
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| `0x4` | variable | Encrypted packet data |
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| variable | Footer | Metadata about the packet |
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Note that parts of the footer will be encrypted depending on the length of the
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packet data.
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-3
official-software/system/security_overview.md
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-3
official-software/system/security_overview.md
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**Emma's Xbox 360 Research Notes - System Software**
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Updated 12th September 2024.
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"Stub" page, not in-depth, just trying to put some notes and thoughts here:
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···
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As of 2024, every console manufactured before 2011 is subject to trivial
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piracy, and cheating online in many games is possible with savegame exploits,
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patched game files on burned DVDs, or network exploits.
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The last method to run homebrew without soldering a modchip was patched in 2007.
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## Security Features
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* Small hypervisor, small attack surface
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* Hypervisor exposes only 120 syscalls to the kernel (as of 17559), each of
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them serve a specific purpose and are easy to audit and analyse. None are
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* Random AES keys are chosen at startup by 2BL, with help from hardware RNG.
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The 2BL also checks to make sure there's sufficient randomness so the RNG
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can't be rigged or disabled in hardware.
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## Security Pitfalls
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meaning it can be replaced to modify the behaviour or be used to attack the
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CPU (see: SMC Hack, RGH3 - as well as all other RGH variants rebooting rather
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than RRoD on failed boots)
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## References
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* Memory encryption/hashing:
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https://github.com/GoobyCorp/Xbox-360-Crypto/blob/master/MemCrypto.py
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I must've got some more of this info from other places, but I can't remember.
···
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**Emma's Xbox 360 Research Notes - System Software**
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Updated 7th March 2025.
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"Stub" page, not in-depth, just trying to put some notes and thoughts here:
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···
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As of 2024, every console manufactured before 2011 is subject to trivial
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piracy, and cheating online in many games is possible with savegame exploits,
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patched game files on burned DVDs, or network exploits.
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As of 2025, there have been two demonstrated vulnerabilities allowing for
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software-only hypervisor mode code execution:
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- "King Kong" syscall handler exploit in 2007 (4532/4548), patched in 2007
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- https://free60.org/Hacks/King_Kong_Hack/
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- Patched in kernel version 4552.
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- Hypervisor versions 4532/4548 blacklisted in the bootloader with 8498.
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- "Xbox360BadUpdate" exploit chain in 2025 (??-17559), **unpatched**
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- https://github.com/Grimdoomer/Xbox360BadUpdate
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- https://icode4.coffee/?p=1047 - "System Overview"
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- https://icode4.coffee/?p=1081 - "The Bad Update Exploit"
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## Security Features
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* Very small and simple boot chain
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* Several stages, each one small and very easy to analyse.
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* All are RSA signature checked by secure code burned into the CPU (1BL).
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* Execution is done from within either SRAM or encrypted and hashed main
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memory, preventing any outside attacks.
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* Vulnerable hypervisor versions are blacklisted, even if an exploit is used
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to attempt a downgrade.
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* E-fuses prevent any and all attempts at downgrading the bootloader,
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permanently.
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* Small hypervisor, small attack surface
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* Hypervisor exposes only 120 syscalls to the kernel (as of 17559), each of
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them serve a specific purpose and are easy to audit and analyse. None are
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* Random AES keys are chosen at startup by 2BL, with help from hardware RNG.
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The 2BL also checks to make sure there's sufficient randomness so the RNG
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can't be rigged or disabled in hardware.
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* (2014+) Hardware protection against glitching
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* "Winchester" motherboards have POST output disabled by e-fuses, and the
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reset line is latched to prevent RGH.
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## Security Pitfalls
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···
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meaning it can be replaced to modify the behaviour or be used to attack the
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CPU (see: SMC Hack, RGH3 - as well as all other RGH variants rebooting rather
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than RRoD on failed boots)
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* The hypervisor does not check userland page permissions before writing data
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to a user-controlled pointer, allowing for userland exploits to overwrite the
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(unencrypted view of) memory in any write-protected page. Related ...
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* ... the memory management unit only hashes the hypervisor's memory space,
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allowing for userland exploits to corrupt kernel, XAM and game ciphertext in
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ways that may result in a favourable plaintext when decrypted. (See:
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Xbox360BadUpdate's "Stage 2" - as well as yet-to-be-disclosed kernel patching
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by [ihatecompvir](https://wetdry.world/@ihatecompvir/113359460700460045))
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## References
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* Free60 wiki:
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https://free60.org/
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* Memory encryption/hashing information:
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https://github.com/GoobyCorp/Xbox-360-Crypto/blob/master/MemCrypto.py
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* Ryan Miceli's "Hacking the Xbox 360 Hypervisor Part 1: System Overview":
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https://icode4.coffee/?p=1047
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I must've got some more of this info from other places, but I can't remember.