Exploring the Halo 1 System Link Protocol
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Re: Exploring the Halo 1 System Link Protocol
#2This is a well written, in depth analysis of the system. Why do you think the packets are encrypted?
Re: Exploring the Halo 1 System Link Protocol
#3This is a well written, in depth analysis of the system. Why do you think the packets are encrypted?
The LAN code is probably the same code as the online multiplayer.
Re: Exploring the Halo 1 System Link Protocol
#4Re: Exploring the Halo 1 System Link Protocol
#5Re: Exploring the Halo 1 System Link Protocol
#6This is a well written, in depth analysis of the system. Why do you think the packets are encrypted?
Probably for the reason the author speculates about in the article:
> For example, would it not be cool if there was a game with a stack buffer overflow bug that allowed us to run arbitrary code remotely? That could potentially enable us to softmod an Xbox over the network, without the need of any special hardware.
Re: Exploring the Halo 1 System Link Protocol
#7This is a well written, in depth analysis of the system. Why do you think the packets are encrypted?
Thanks, I was initially surprised that they were encrypted but I can speculate on a few potential reasons:
- The Xbox was designed to be able to play online via Xbox Live (e.g. with Halo 2 that came out later in 2004), and they might have simply reused the network stack for System Link over LAN. I looked a little bit at Halo 2 system link, it uses the same system calls from the kernel but the protocol seems to be more complicated (e.g. the IV is never sent in plaintext, the two consoles derive it somehow). I haven't looked at Xbox Live, but Halo 2 could potentially use the same for System Link and Xbox Live.
- The Xbox also really tried to lock down its security in order to prevent game piracy and homebrew games. This might have been another attempt to reduce the attack surface.
- They also might have just wanted to keep their game protocols secret for trade secrets or simply avoiding scrutiny. In this case, we were able to create a kind of cheat, which they might have also wanted to avoid. Even though it is rarely an issue at LAN parties, it might have simply looked bad for the brand.
Re: Exploring the Halo 1 System Link Protocol
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
Halo 1 on original Xbox does not have online multiplayer. It launched before Xbox Live did.
They were probably already working on it
The game was actually close to ship without multiplayer, it was an afterthought. Some devs have talked about this (iirc, Marty O’Donnell was one of them).
Re: Exploring the Halo 1 System Link Protocol
#9Earlier quoted context omitted.
They were probably already working on it
The game was actually close to ship without multiplayer, it was an afterthought. Some devs have talked about this (iirc, Marty O’Donnell was one of them).
I’ve heard this was also the case for Goldeneye on the N64
Re: Exploring the Halo 1 System Link Protocol
#10This is a well written, in depth analysis of the system. Why do you think the packets are encrypted?
There are cheats for certain online games that just listen to traffic. Sometimes games use bad encryption (static key) and cheats decrypt on the fly.