Homebrew Scene Buzzes as Hackers Release PS4 Jailbreak for Firmware 11.00

The PlayStation 4 homebrew and modding community is abuzz with excitement as reports emerge of a new jailbreak released by hackers, allowing users to unlock additional features and run unauthorized software on their consoles running Firmware 11.00.

While Sony has traditionally taken a firm stance against jailbreaking and modding of its gaming hardware, a determined group of hackers and developers have managed to find an exploit known as “PPPwn” that can bypass the security measures implemented in Firmware 11.00.

The jailbreak, dubbed “GoldHEN 2.4b17,” is said to have been developed by a hacker going by the online moniker “Sistr0.” This custom firmware allegedly grants users access to a suite of advanced features, including the ability to install homebrew applications, modify games with cheats and patches, and transfer files using an FTP server.

How to run GoldHEN on PS4 11.00

1. Download TheFlow’s PPPwn.
2. (optional) Make sure you run PPPwn Vanilla at least once
   1. This step isn’t required, but in general you should be familiar with how to run PPPwn before attempting top run goldHEN. This will make any troubleshooting easier for you down the road. Instructions on how to run PPPwn are on the project’s github here. Once you’ve managed to run PPPwn “as is” and are confident you understand the process, move on to the next step.
3. Replace PPPwn’s stage2.bin with Sistr0’s special stage2.bin which can be found here. (there are two files in the archive. Pick the one that matches your firmware, and rename it to stage2.bin)
   • Important: this stage2.bin file is required to run GoldHEN, and only works on Firmwares 9.00 and 11.00 at the time of writing. Whether you want to update to Firmware 11.00 at this point is up to you. If you choose to wait, I’m guessing this version of stage2.bin will eventually be ported to more firmwares between 9.00 and 11.00
4. Download goldhen.bin and copy it at the root of a usb stick (do not rename it. Name should be exactly goldhen.bin. If in doubt, check this file)
5. Insert the usb stick in your PS4
6. Run the PPPwn exploit. At this point this should automatically:
   1. Run PPPwn stage 1
   2. trigger stage2.bin from Sistr0 which will look for goldhen.bin on your usb stick
   3. stage2.bin will copy goldhen.bin from the usb to /data/GoldHEN/payloads/goldhen.bin on your console’s hard drive.
      • Note: From that point, the usb stick shouldn’t be necessary, even next time you want to trigger the exploit ,as a local copy of goldhen is now on your hard drive (if you use the usb in the future, it will overwrite the local copy again. Probably useful for updates of goldhen, etc…)
   4. GoldHEN should start at that point

The release of the GoldHEN 2.4b17 jailbreak has sent shockwaves through the PlayStation  homebrew community, with many users expressing excitement at the prospect of exploring new possibilities with their consoles. Nonetheless, it’s crucial to approach such hacks with caution and to respect the intellectual property rights of Sony and game developers.

As the cat-and-mouse game between console manufacturers and the homebrew community continues, it remains to be seen how Sony will respond to this latest jailbreak and what countermeasures, if any, will be implemented in future firmware updates.

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