Reversing EA Games applications [The Sims 2 Example]

[Affix]

This was my first cracking tut. Made a video for it on youtube in bad quality.

Heres the text

EA Games could not have made serial fishing any more easier. In the support directory there is a file called xxx_code.exe (xxx = Name of the game).


To Succesfuly fish this application you only need to place a breakpoint on one call. This tutorial will walk you through Finding out the call, Setting your breakpoint and Getting your final Key

Once you have opened you need to search for all the referenced text strings. This can be done by using the right click menu as shown in the image below.


Once in the text strings reference Scroll up until you come to a value TEST under this value there is %s about 5 Times. Right click that value and select follow in Dissasembler.

You should be taken to a PUSH value with the ASCII Value %s%s%s%s%s or something similar.

Select the second call down from that as shown in the below image


Double click that and select the address (In my case it is 00404B20).

Now click the Buton that looks like an arrow pointing to 3 black dots. and paste in the address from the previous step.

You will be taken to the address in the disasembler. Select the address underneath the call in the function. It will most likely be an "add ESP, 8" code. See the below Image.



My address is highlighted in red because I already set my breakpoint. To set the breakpoint press F2.

Now Press F9 To run the application. In the text boxes type any number / leter combination you wish. For example I will do ASSH-OLEE-4G4M-35AF-FIXX

The application should pause on the breakpoint and allow you to search up in the window on the lowe right.

As you can see we are on the key we have entered in the box. Start scrolling up until you come to something similar to the image below. The highlighted in red is our Valid CD Key.



According to that my CD Key is AY3T-CLED-4G4M-V5AF-FIXX

Once tested in the application I get no error and the application terminates. This shows that the above IS a Valid Key.

Congradulations you have sucessfully Serial Fished Your first EA Game


VID :

http://rapidshare.com/files/163881157/SIMS_VID_TUT.avi

[Jordan]

Neat tutorial. Any suggestions on how EA could have prevented this from happening?

+rep

[Affix]

Simply just MD5 The Generated Key and compare the MD5 of the input

[amrosama]

nice tutorial

[arslan220]

nice tutorial.

[sheva249]

Plz tell me that in which Software, you have opened the exe file??? I wanna apologize for such silly question but I have to ask as I am a newbie. Thanks in advance.

[Jrb]

Thanks, man. I'm working on exploiting some offsets in a multiplayer game (Call of Duty - Black Ops). It's a bit harder than I expected. Maybe this could help.

[Smilex]

Not that I care if it is or isn't, but I'd like to know. Is this legal? This thread I mean.