Project: Resident PS3 Devs Are Seeking a RE Specialist

FYI I moved this from the PS3 Dev section to the public PS3 Hacks one so that more users can read and reply to it. ;)2

As stated above, if anyone is interested, contact CJPC on IRC or E-Mail Us and we will send you a tiny "test" file to reverse and send back to us... privately, of course.

I could maybe aspire to x86 or Java but not this one. However one question here: are you looking for MIPS (as MIPS architecture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIPS_architecture) reverser? I'd expect it would be PowerPC (MIPS is used in PSP whereas PS3's PPU is PowerPC). Or am I missing something?

Hi,
this sounds interesting..
As I gave my 'resume' in the previous thread, I'll just copy/paste some of that info here :
So yeah, I've worked on many things, lots of reverse engineering (protocols, raw data, etc..), as well as ASM to C RE. I'm used to read ASM (x86) code without problems, I've also had to do some RE for ARM processors (RE-ed and wrote the first code ever to access the microphone on the iPhone on the very first firmware, but it was closed sourced by the contractor).
I also wrote something along the lines of oSpy in a previous job (closed source too), and then contributed some stuff to oSpy itself (http://code.google.com/p/ospy)..

Never done MIPs, but the transition probably won't be very hard (just like when I did ARM RE for the first time, it took an hour or two to get used to the new calling conventions and instruction set).

I'm not sure how much time I can spend on this, but I'm interested in the project, I can probably help you out a little. Send me that test file, I'll try to RE it and see if I can do it and how hard I find it.. also tell me how much time you're expecting me to have available for you, so I can tell you whether or not I can take on that task.

Thanks,
KaKaRoTo

CJPC passed out for the night, but he will clarify it for ya tomorrow. :)
OK, I sent a relatively harmless test file to you via your registration e-mail... just be sure to send it back to my e-mail and not post it here of course. ;)2

There is no rush to get it done/back to us as the news post was actually prepared from last week so it's already dated.

Since then, CJ was actually able to work with someone (who may join the Dev Team) and ended up getting done what he needed to... however, the reason we decided to roll with the news post anyway is because (as he mentioned) things come up in people's lives and so those who can RE may not always be available, meaning it can't hurt to have a few reliable people to help out. :tup3:

Cool, thanks, I got the file and sent you something in return in your email.. but I sent it from a different email than the one I received it from (I updated my profile here to my new email). So make sure you don't miss it (subject is very helpful).
I'll try to do some more RE tomorrow to finish it off, I didn't expect the file to be a full application like that.

Thanks again!
KaKaRoTo

Got it- Thanks kakarotoks! I will forward it to CJPC so that at least he's on the same page as we are with what you've done and what you plan to do, etc.

And ya, believe it or not that test file is the very least 'interesting' one he could find to offer so when CJPC does begin the PS3 Dev updates I'm sure many who can actually comprehend what's going on will be quite excited with what they've done with the TOOL so far. :D

Would you be willing to send it to me as well? I will have a look at it in IDA and see what comes out of it...

Sure.. you've got mail. :)2

If anyone else is proficient in RE'ing and would like to take a peek at it just reply and I will send it to ya later today... or message CJPC on IRC directly. :cheers:

Any progress is better than no progress! Best of luck! :tup4:

hi there,

i pretty much got no clue about RE on other platforms than PC, but i have got some experience with Sony DADC Securom RCE and other copy protections on PC... prolly not what you guys need tho :-D

also i'd like to know about more about the real deal infos from the PS3 like executable structure, hypervisor deeper infos... would be nice if you guys can tell some more about it here.

greetz :-)

Copy to here would be cool too :)

Hi PS3NEWs / CJPC,

As i discussed with ps3news the other night, don't think this is something I could help you out with - but if you don't mind, i would be interested in taking a look at the 'test' file - you never know ;)

(Contact me via my profile addy)

Cheers,
PSPSwampy
p.s. Shoutbox gone now?

OK, I sent it to r3pek and PSPSwampy via your registration e-mail... as for the chatbox, we are doing load-balance testing this week so it's offline.

The chatbox is a resource hog (as we all know) and so the Mods now have a Forum they can use to communicate with... it may come back in a week or two though.

Really only about 10 non-Staff people used it, so that is another factor to consider for us... is it worth slowing down the site navigation for everyone just so a few people can shout out "hi" every day while the rest never use it. :wacky:

Hey Ps3news,
You've got mail, the test app is now fully reverse engineered into nice C code and I just sent it to you.
Let me know what you think.

EDIT: btw, was that file reverse engineered already (or the devs had the source) and the devs want to compare my code with the one they have? Or will my RE-ing of it actually be useful (would be nice if it was useful to you) and they'll just read the code and test if the functionality is the same?

Thanks,
KaKaRoTo

Got it.. and forwarded it to CJPC to check out- Thanks kakarotoks!

PS: Nah, they already did it and coded an app to expedite the process (not reversing, something else) for their more immediate work... but if yours is correct also then it will be great to know we have someone here who can assist us with RE'ing should the need arise. :cheers:

Cheers PS3NEWs - i've replied to your email.

Sounds like kakarotoks's the guy for the job anyway, but hoping this might help me to help you in future ;)

PSPSwampy.

Hey Guys,

Just want to thank those who wanted to help - got a few reversals - they are looking excellent! It's a bit late here, so will have more tomorrow - but thanks guys, and keep up the good work!

kakarotoks @ Glad to see you getting involved in PS3 Dev area man.

Yeah, kakarotoks its the man for this, his work is damn clean and actually pretty fast i have know him for about 3 years even tho he doesnt know me. :shhh:

Keep it up guys!

FYI: I never got the reply... if it was important you may want to try resending it, or you can always /msg CJPC on IRC EFnet as well. ;)

hehe, thanks xplozion (and PSPSwampy who also said I'm the guy for the job, hehe)

But I'm curious, how have you known me for 3 years and I don't even know you? lol... Is it from my aMSN project involvement ?
and thanks for the praise btw :)

KaKaRoTo

Yeah sorry - just checked my email again tonight and it had bounced (don't use that email much!)

It wasn't that important anyway, i'll try resending tho just so you know where i stand on this stuff ;)

Hey see you on IRC - I dropped you a line, just shoot me back a message!

CJPC,

how is it with target platform? Why is it MIPS reverser you're looking for? Is there any MIPS in PS3?

@xplozion: I'm still curious on how do you know me and my work! lol, care to answer? :)

There is, the debugging hardware built into the PS3 TOOL uses a MIPS based CPU!

Hello,
i would be willing to take a look at this test file and see what i can make of it. i am doing and have done plenty of reversals of the mips code for games on the ps2, and have used it in my reverse engineering efforts for a number of games, including Final Fantasy X and Metal Gear Solid 2. i am definitely interested in seeing whether or not my skills would be of use to the devs.

OK, I sent it to your registration e-mail... if you make any headway with it you can send it back to the mail address I used to send it from. ;)

We haven't forgot about ya.. CJPC is currently waiting on SamY to check your work. If it's kosher, we can add ya to the Dev Team if you'd like of course! :cool2:

No problem... I just got back home today, I was on a business travel for the past 2 weeks! Can't wait to get 'the results' :)
Of course I'd like to be on the team and help out as much as I can! Just msg me, email me, IRC me or whatever :)

By the way, in my case, my work would probably be 'Halal' and not 'Kosher' :p