If you've been following the PS3 scene then you may already be familiar with PS3Xploit, a collection of tools which either allows you to install a fully fledged CFW on compatible models or act as a HAN enabler for the previously called "unhackable" ones. The tools were able to work under firmware 4.82, aka the latest OFW when they were originally released, however when 4.83 dropped (and later 4.84) it initally looked like the exploit they relied upon was patched. Still, it didn't take long for the dev team to figure out that wasn't the case, as Sony had just removed a webkit flaw that the team used as an entrypoint: if they found a way around it, the exploit could have been brought back and reused.

Today, they managed to do just that: the team has released a so-called "Hybrid Firmware" (HFW) which can be installed on top of Sony's Official Firmware and bring back the previously mentioned webkit exploit, thus making you able to use the already existing PS3Xploit tools again. The HFW is distributed as a PUP file and it can be installed via USB as any official update.

It should be underlined that the Hybrid Firmware is not a Custom Firmware by itself: it only acts as an enabler for the webkit exploit. Further modifications are required to either install a CFW (if possible) or use the HAN - if you need instructions on how to do that, you can use any previously written PS3Xploit guides. The HFW can also be uninstalled at all times, thus bringing you back to a clean system.

Follow the links below for more information, installation instructions and download links!

Sources:
PS3Xploit.com
Official HFW 4.84 Discussion Thread (PSX-Place.com)
Official 4.84 Flasher/Dumper Discussion Thread (PSX-Place.com)

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

Originally the devs wanted to call it Hybrid, Hackable, HAN ready - then they settled for just Hybrid Firmware.

Triple HHH. That used to be a wrestler name... or something lewd.

I don't mean to sound unimpressed. I just don't get it so much. It's the same thing but with a unpatched exploit without downgrading. It's already confusing that

1. if you can install a update.pup without modification already, why not just make it a firmware downgrade
2. if you can install a update.pup without modification already, why isn't it CFW

Other than that I get the idea of the whole thing, its useful, just confused on the idea of it.

 

[Impossible_Igntiz]

In the end, that's just a naming convention. Originally the devs wanted to call it Hybrid, Hackable, HAN ready - then they settled for just Hybrid Firmware.

In a way, yes, for all intents and purposes it's a modded (customized) firmware. Still, I think they didn't call it just "CFW" to avoid confusion as it doesn't allow for backup loading/homebrew by itself.



For PS3Xploit, compatibility is the same as it was before. Most Slim models can install CFW, only a few CECH-25XX and all of CECH-3XXX can not. You cannot install CFW on a Super Slim.
Regarding HAN, it's compatible with all current models and you don't need to downgrade in order to use it.

Ah okay, thanks for the explanation

 

[Valery0p]

This remembers me about the "FrankenFirmware" semi-brick on the 3ds, when only some modules were installed during an arm11 downgrade... Good times
Ps: I think they have released it?

 

[Impossible_Igntiz]

Triple HHH. That used to be a wrestler name... or something lewd.

I don't mean to sound unimpressed. I just don't get it so much. It's the same thing but with a unpatched exploit without downgrading. It's already confusing that

1. if you can install a update.pup without modification already, why not just make it a firmware downgrade
2. if you can install a update.pup without modification already, why isn't it CFW

Other than that I get the idea of the whole thing, its useful, just confused on the idea of it.

Think of it as an homebrew enabler patch for use on official firmware

 

[Owenge]

What’s next, that’s the real question

 

[Impossible_Igntiz]

What’s next, that’s the real question

This: https://www.psx-place.com/resources/han-toolbox.628/

 

[Deleted member 388531]

why does $ony even try or care anymore jesus

 

[Techjunky90]

Triple HHH. That used to be a wrestler name... or something lewd.

I don't mean to sound unimpressed. I just don't get it so much. It's the same thing but with a unpatched exploit without downgrading. It's already confusing that

1. if you can install a update.pup without modification already, why not just make it a firmware downgrade
2. if you can install a update.pup without modification already, why isn't it CFW

Other than that I get the idea of the whole thing, its useful, just confused on the idea of it.

My understanding is, the latest official firmware patched the exploit for Han, so developers patched that firmware with files from older firmware which allows Han to be enabled, and this worked because all files used are official firmware files that are officially signed.

 

[Sakitoshi]

grab it while it's hot, I bet sony is going to release a new firmware in the later half of this year.
why you may ask. because sony is still supporting the ps3 as a bluray movie player and bluray keys need to be renewed.

 

[Impossible_Igntiz]

grab it while it's hot, I bet sony is going to release a new firmware in the later half of this year.
why you may ask. because sony is still supporting the ps3 as a bluray movie player and bluray keys need to be renewed.

I can see that but i feel there's no need too really and is honestly a waste of time, they should focus on the PS4 as they normally do and leave the PS3 as it is.

 

[codezer0]

why does $ony even try or care anymore jesus

Revisioning is Sony's fetish. Do you have any idea how many internal iterations there have been of the consoles thus far? Per last count, there were twenty diffetent revisions of the original PlayStation before the mini sized PSOne was a thing. And the ps2 was something around 19 major revisions. Or the alphabet soup that is the ps3. The limited amount of revisions on the ps4 is actually a surprise by comparison.

 

[Ryccardo]

Though if it can just install like a regular update.pup file, shouldn't just be a custom firmware? Or is it cause not all systems can use custom firmware?

I don't mean to sound unimpressed. I just don't get it so much. It's the same thing but with a unpatched exploit without downgrading. It's already confusing that

1. if you can install a update.pup without modification already, why not just make it a firmware downgrade
2. if you can install a update.pup without modification already, why isn't it CFW

Other than that I get the idea of the whole thing, its useful, just confused on the idea of it.

The contents of the update that should be signed (executable code) are indeed 100% signed with the appropriate official key, that's why once installed it can run on an unmodified console (even if you somehow decrypted the nand of an official 4.84 console and manually downgraded the browser)

The update package itself, which is obviously modified, is accepted by an unmodified console thanks to... a still secret exploit that was first used for this release (though I think I have an unverified idea on how it works)

You can't downgrade unless you have the QA flag enabled or (not sure) are running a CFW that bypasses that check, which is partially implemented in hardware (indeed the questionable award of the first brick linked to 4.84 hybrid is of someone who ported (incorrectly) the 4.82 flash writer and used it to flash a CFW-update-accepting 4.82 coreOS)

 

[raxadian]

Revisioning is Sony's fetish. Do you have any idea how many internal iterations there have been of the consoles thus far? Per last count, there were twenty diffetent revisions of the original PlayStation before the mini sized PSOne was a thing. And the ps2 was something around 19 major revisions. Or the alphabet soup that is the ps3. The limited amount of revisions on the ps4 is actually a surprise by comparison.

My Original Playstation has that useless port that was supposed to be used for Online games and can be used for a Printer. Newer versions lack that port.

And to be fair there is like 20 versions of the Sega Genesis, about a dozen are officially licenced. That's because the Sega Genesis keep getting games regularly until the year 2000.

 

[smf]

why does $ony even try or care anymore jesus

AFAIK all they had to do was update the outdated web kit.

there were twenty diffetent revisions of the original PlayStation before the mini sized PSOne was a thing.

How are you counting those? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_models

But sure, Sony like to do constant cost reduction. Commodore used to be the kings of cost reduction, they came up with metalised cardboard for shielding in the final c64 revisions.

 

[Impossible_Igntiz]

AFAIK all they had to do was update the outdated web kit.

Good thing they're stupid

 

[smf]

Good thing they're stupid

It probably took them an hour and it's blocked ps3xploit for 5 months. Seems like time well spent.

 

[brollikk]

so basically ALL ps3 can either be cfw'd or HAN'd?

if you use ps3 han, are you able to load up multiman by any chance?

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

nevermind I just looked it up. looks like CFW is what we really need for all the good stuff

 

[codezer0]

My Original Playstation has that useless port that was supposed to be used for Online games and can be used for a Printer. Newer versions lack that port.

And to be fair there is like 20 versions of the Sega Genesis, about a dozen are officially licenced. That's because the Sega Genesis keep getting games regularly until the year 2000.

And Now that "useless port" can be used with a gameshark or similar to flash unirom to it and make it a soft-modchip, not unlike how Pseudo Saturn became a thing for the Sega contemporary.

I missed my Gameshark Pro when i was forced to replace my ps1's with a model lacking the parallel port. It had the cheat system, the ability to hack my own codes, and v-mem, which basically was a virtual memory card and saved a crap ton of money right there.

 

[raxadian]

And Now that "useless port" can be used with a gameshark or similar to flash unirom to it and make it a soft-modchip, not unlike how Pseudo Saturn became a thing for the Sega contemporary.

I missed my Gameshark Pro when i was forced to replace my ps1's with a model lacking the parallel port. It had the cheat system, the ability to hack my own codes, and v-mem, which basically was a virtual memory card and saved a crap ton of money right there.

On a chipped Playstation you can just use a CD with a program that loads cheat codes and then play the game you want the cheat on.

That's the only Gameshark I had for the system, typing the cheats manually for some games was a pain but it worked.

 

[retrofan_k]

Was excited for 1 minute thinking Super Slim (when I read all Consoles) has a kernel exploit then saw it was just HAN