Hacker runs Debian Linux on Sony Bravia TV, soon XBMC enabled?

If there’s something we like here at Myce.com, then it’s fiddling around with firmwares. We’ve released many firmwares here, which allowed you to purchase a 16x CD/DVD writer and overclock it using a firmware of a faster model. This means that with purchasing a 16x writer, thanks to our firmware patchers, you could end up with a burner writing at 32x. So if someone is able to patch firmwares for TV’s, then we can only admire them. If then Sony is the victim, the fun factor is only increased.

A hacker has found a way to get root access to the Linux based firmware of Sony Bravia TV’s. The root access was gained by using a Python script that goes by the name Nimue and which is available on Github. Due to a buffer overflow initialized by the script, it is possible to get root access and start a telnet server.  According to the hacker he was able to run a working Debian version, on an USB flash on the USB port of the TV with all Debian programs running correctly.

To try the hack yourself, you’ll need an USB network adapter connected to the TV and a telnet client to connect to the TV. While there isn’t much you can do at the moment, it should enable the possibility to run e.g. XBMC on the TV.

Also discuss this in our Televisions Forum.