GTA 5's remote code execution (RCE) exploit was one of the biggest issues in GTA Online, which has left a sour taste in gamers' mouths ever since it started affecting the community in January 2024, before it was fixed about a month ago. Rockstar has prepared and launched a title update and several patches since the exploit took place for Grand Theft Auto Online. The RCE exploit effectively locks out gamers of GTA Online, as they are perpetually stuck in a loading screen.
The issue was first spotted earlier this year, as the remote code execution aided cheaters to corrupt GTA Online accounts. Gamers who were victims of the exploit found themselves stuck in the GTA loading screen with no fixes to look for.
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Remote Code Execution is an Exploit That Haunted GTA 5 and Online Gamers for Long
Most online titles like GTA Online are not strangers to issues like hacking or exploits. However, the remote code execution exploit took annoyance to a whole another level for gamers, as it completely ruined the game for many.
Unlike traditional exploits that aid hackers in money-glitching and more, the RCE takes away the ability to play the game from the victim, as the gamer will not even be loading into the game. When it was first spotted in January, Rockstar Games took their time to understand what the issue was, as it was still unclear at the time how the hackers were running the exploit.
Soon after a few weeks, developers released a patch to counter the dangerous RCE vulnerability in Grant Theft Auto Online. The exploit was only plaguing the PC player base, as there was no other way to remotely disrupt the online game through code executions on consoles.
Remote Code Execution in GTA 5 Could Have Led to Bigger Problems Outside the Game
The remote code execution was considered a dangerous threat, to not only gamers but also general PC users. The exploit also received a CVE identifier (CVE-2023-24059), that reinforced the statement. CVE or common vulnerabilities and exposures is a term publicly known for identifying security problems.
Experts stated that the error allowed remote arbitrary code execution, which could lead to hacking of GTA Online accounts, and also more information from the computers running the game. Such a compromise of data was a huge deal to Rockstar Games.
Fast forward to March 2024, the RCE issue has been fixed by the developers through the title update. The patch implemented a new data transfer protocol in GTA Online that improved the security of network sessions and messaging between players.
The patch notes also stated that it fixed the issue of GTA Online accounts being modified by third parties. This included changing of GTA$ balance, RP level, Bad Sport status, and other characteristics.