Claims of PlayStation 5 ROM Key Leak Spark Fresh Jailbreaking Fears
Unverified claims circulating online have raised concerns about the security of Sony’s PlayStation 5, after reports suggested that the console’s so-called “ROM keys” may have been leaked.
According to posts shared on social media in early January, the alleged leak involves the PS5’s BootROM – a deeply embedded component that forms part of the console’s hardware-level security. If confirmed, such a breach could significantly lower the barrier for hackers attempting to bypass the system’s protections, as BootROM vulnerabilities are widely considered impossible to fix through software updates.
Cybersecurity commentators warned that access to ROM keys represents a far more serious threat than previous exploits, which typically relied on firmware or kernel-level weaknesses that Sony could address with patches. One widely shared analysis described the ROM layer as the “root of trust” for the console, noting that control over it would theoretically grant unrestricted access to the hardware.
Further speculation linked the reported vulnerability to an exploit associated with Star Wars Racer Revenge, with claims that a limited-edition disc version of the game may have played a role in triggering the issue. However, technical details surrounding this assertion remain unclear, and no independent verification has been provided.
Members of the console modding and jailbreaking community have weighed in cautiously. While some acknowledged that a ROM-level leak would be a major breakthrough, others stressed that it does not automatically mean fully jailbroken PS5 consoles will appear immediately, as additional security layers still exist.
As of publication, no publicly available repository has surfaced containing the alleged ROM keys or BootROM data. Sony has also not issued any official statement addressing the claims.
Until further confirmation emerges, the reports remain speculative. However, the discussion has reignited long-standing debates around console security and the potential implications of hardware-level exploits for both manufacturers and users.
