Tutorial KindleBreak - Software Jailbreak for (almost) any Kindle <= 5.13.3

[katadelos]

Originally Posted by iamagloworm

Hi, I have a PW3 (Serial G090LK) on firmware 5.8.10

Should I upgrade to firmware 5.13.3 to use KindleBreak?

Just want to be sure I do the right thing.

Thanks!

You don't need to upgrade to 5.13.3 specifically:

[*]If you did, then make sure it's running one of these firmwares:
(You can check your firmware version in Settings->Device Options->Device Info->Firmware Version)

• 5.13.3
• 5.13.2
• 5.13.1
• 5.12.5
• 5.12.4
• 5.12.3
• 5.12.2.1.1
• 5.12.2.1
• 5.12.2
• 5.12.1.1
• 5.12.1
• 5.11.2
• 5.11.1.1
• 5.11.1
• 5.10.3

[grimmoires]

Originally Posted by tryol

Amazon silently pushed the version 5.12.2.2.2 either late Dec or this month. (I've checked on wayback machine and this version didn't exist on 2021 Dec 22nd.)



Unfortunately it seems like this is exactly what happened , they fixed the vulnerability for some older devices.

I've updated the OP accordingly.

HI. 3 weeks ago my 10th generation kindle (G090VB) give the latest 5.14.2 firmware. Is any way to downgrade or jailbreak?

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by grimmoires

HI. 3 weeks ago my 10th generation kindle (G090VB) give the latest 5.14.2 firmware. Is any way to downgrade or jailbreak?

Watch for an announcement in the thread:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=346037

[re4om]

Finally I've jailbroken my kindle voyage 5.13.6 according to instruction. The hardest part was to use "secret gestures" )) Thank you for the explaining picture. For me it was one tap by two fingers.

[re4om]

Originally Posted by iamagloworm

Hi, I have a PW3 (Serial G090LK) on firmware 5.8.10

Should I upgrade to firmware 5.13.3 to use KindleBreak?

Just want to be sure I do the right thing.

Thanks!

Yes. For me kindleBreak is easier than this "WatchThis" jailbreak. You can download firmware that you need from this link "FIRMWARE UPDATE TUTORIAL"

[locutus2000]

Ok so I feel really stupid, I connected my Kindle KT4 to my computer over USB, it was running a supported firmware and I never connected it to my wifi. I had a meeting first and 30 minutes later I copy the jailbreak files to the kindle and disconnect it. Only to find out that the damn thing upgraded it's firmware to 5.13.4 and now I can't jailbreak it any longer. Downgrades are impossible right?

Never mind, I was in the wrong topic, I will now proceed with the new instructions :P

[oldman20]

Originally Posted by re4om

Finally I've jailbroken my kindle voyage 5.13.6 according to instruction. The hardest part was to use "secret gestures" )) Thank you for the explaining picture. For me it was one tap by two fingers.

jb 5.13.6? how u can?

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by oldman20

jb 5.13.6? how u can?

See the first post in this thread:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=346037

It is the latest jailbreak, different from the one in this thread.

[SirTomate]

Hey you,

I read almost the whole thread, and I am a little confused. It is possible to jailbreak a Paperwhite 6. Gen with the firmware 5.12.2.2. ? I really don't want to brick it. 😅

[amriadhitya]

Originally Posted by SirTomate

Hey you,

I read almost the whole thread, and I am a little confused. It is possible to jailbreak a Paperwhite 6. Gen with the firmware 5.12.2.2. ? I really don't want to brick it. 😅

I did it this morning. But still have a bug, when installing MR Package, the screen goes blank white.

I follow this tutorial for hack my Paperwhite 6 gen, 5.12.2.2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO2zQXvVuJY

[ominostanco]

Kindle Oasis Serial G000P11 firmware 5.11.1.1 it's jailbreakable? As the profile is also corrupted (bought on Ebay 2nd hand)

Thanks for your answer

Originally Posted by tryol

A huge thank you to katadelos, yparitcher, SKK, jp12323 for helping me develop and debug this exploit!
Thanks to NiLuJe for customizing his jailbreak to work with it and everyone from the KindleDrip thread who helped me test it!


KindleBreak is based on KindleDrip, discovered by Yogev Bar-On, who did an amazing job finding and documenting this vulnerability.
They were not involved in the making of KindleBreak in any way.

Start here!

First of all, if you're here from the Open Sesame! thread, then welcome, keep reading! If you're not, you should go there and read it from the beginning until it directs you to come back here.

If you have any questions, consult the FAQ!
Even though this method has been extensively tested by every supported device / firmware version, you may encounter technical issues (none that may harm you device in any way), in that case consult the Technical FAQ!

Check if your device is supported using the steps below:

1. Use the Wiki to identify your device and make sure that its nickname is on this list:
   
   Spoiler:

   • KOA3
   • KT4
   • PW4
   • KOA2
   • KT3
   • KOA
   • KV
   • PW3
   • KT2
   • PW2
   
   If you didn't find your device and you're wondering if it'll ever get added, consult the FAQ!
   
   
2. If you did, then make sure it's running one of these firmwares:
   (You can check your firmware version in Settings->Device Options->Device Info->Firmware Version)
   
   Spoiler:

   • 5.13.3
   • 5.13.2
   • 5.13.1
   • 5.12.5
   • 5.12.4
   • 5.12.3
   • 5.12.2.1.1
   • 5.12.2.1
   • 5.12.2
   • 5.12.1.1
   • 5.12.1
   • 5.11.2
   • 5.11.1.1
   • 5.11.1
   • 5.10.3
   
   Versions that don't work:
   
   Spoiler:

   • Anything above 5.13.3
   • 5.12.2.2.2 : (With this version you can't upgrade either, it's actually newer than 5.13.3 despite the name.)
   • Anything below 5.10.3
   
   
   Keep in mind that versions >= 5.12.x DON'T have a sure-proof way to block automatic updates right now. There is a method but I'm not sure it's been tested extensively enough for me to recommend it. If you still want to try it, check this thread for more info. Please report your results to either that thread or this one if you end up trying it! Without an OTA blocker, you'll have to keep airplane mode on if you want to be sure to avoid updates that can possibly remove your jailbreak.
   
   If your firmware is not on this list that can be for 3 reasons:
   
   
   1. It's higher than 5.13.3: Your device is not supported by this jailbreak.
   2. It's lower than 5.10.3: You can update it to one of the versions on the list. If you want to stay on your current version for some reason, consult the FAQ! If you want to update to a later version and you don't know how to, check the Firmware updating tutorial!
   3. It's neither, but still not on the list: I might have missed some firmware versions, so please reply to this thread and I'll make sure to get your specific version tested. If you don't want to wait, then feel free to update to one of the higher versions that are on this list. If you don't know how to do that, check the Firmware updating tutorial!

If your firmware is on the list, let's begin the Jailbreaking process:

Even though this method uses your browser, you DO NOT NEED WIFI enabled for it. Turning airplane mode off / wifi on will just risk your device updating.

1. Download this: jb-kindlebreak.zip
   
   
2. Connect your kindle to your PC with an USB in USBMS mode and unpack the contents of the archive you've just downloaded to the top-level of the visible USB storage. (It's the same directory where the documents folder is.)
   
   It should look like this:
   

   ... (other folders and files)
   kindlebreak.jxr
   kindlebreak.html
   jb.sh
   jb
   documents/
   ... (other folders and files)

3. Unplug your USB, open your Kindle's "Experimental Browser" from the top right menu, and navigate to:
   

   file:///mnt/us/kindlebreak.html

   (make sure it's 'file:///', not 'file://')
   
   Your browser should freeze, crash and after some time (this can range from few seconds to several minutes depending on your device) your Kindle will reboot. It'll probably give you some kind of error window with the title along the lines of "Application Error" or "Collecting Debug Info".

After your device has rebooted, you're done with this thread.
The jailbreak will delete all of its own files to clean up after itself. The only thing that will be left behind is the debug log, kindlebreak_log.txt. Please keep that file until you managed to install the Jailbreak hotfix, for debugging purposes!

Now, head back to the Open Seasame! thread and continue the jailbreaking process starting from the "Making sure your JB survives updates." section!

If you've ran into any technical issues, please consult the Technical FAQ!


FAQ

Spoiler:

Q. What does this jailbreak do exactly? Is there any chance of it harming my device in any way or bricking it?

A. There are zero risks involved. The worst case scenario is that nothing will happen. The only thing this jailbreak does is it puts a developer key on your device, essentially jailbreaking it.


Q. I didn't find my device on the list, will it ever be supported?

A. The only other device that might get supported is PW. I'll start working on that after the initial burst of people trying this method slow down. The older devices are immune to this exploit. Kindles releasing after KOA3 will almost definitely have firmware versions above 5.13.3, they won't be supported.


Q. I didn't find my firmware on the list, will it ever be supported?

A. Technically it's possible to generate new jailbreaking kits for any firmware version between 5.3.0 and 5.13.3. If your firmware is in that range and you have a good reason why you'd refrain from updating (not something like "I'm too lazy / don't know how to update"), then leave a reply in this thread and explain your point. Testing a new kit - especially if it's for a really old firmware - takes a long time, but if there is demand, I'm willing to try.


If you didn't find an answer to your question, feel free to ask in this thread!

Technical FAQ

Spoiler:

Q. My browser successfully loads the website and it won't crash, what am I doing wrong?

A. Double check step 2 and 3 of the jailbreaking process. Maybe you've made a typo or put the files to the wrong location. Make sure that your browser has images enabled in the Browser Settings menu on the top right!


If you ran into any issues not present here, please leave a reply to this thread where you describe your problem! Make sure to include answers to these questions before your problem description:

1.) What device were you using?
2.) Which firmware version is on that device?
3.) What did the browser do when you navigated to kindlebreak.html?
4.) Do you have a file called kindlebreak_log.txt in your USB's root directory? If so, what's in side it?

Firmware updating tutorial (If your current firmware is not supported)

Spoiler:

1. Choose your device from the list below, copy the URL displayed next to its nickname and replace 5.XX.X with your desired firmware version. Make sure that the firmware you chose is on the list of supported versions above! PW2 and KT2 don't have firmwares above 5.12.2.1.1, you won't be able to download them.
   
   
   • KOA3: https://s3.amazonaws.com/firmwaredownloads/update_kindle_all_new_oasis_v2_5.XX.X.bin
   • KT4: https://s3.amazonaws.com/firmwaredownloads/update_kindle_10th_5.XX.X.bin
   • PW4: https://s3.amazonaws.com/firmwaredownloads/update_kindle_all_new_paperwhite_v2_5.XX.X.bin
   • KOA2: https://s3.amazonaws.com/firmwaredownloads/update_kindle_all_new_oasis_5.XX.X.bin
   • KT3: https://s3.amazonaws.com/firmwaredownloads/update_kindle_8th_5.XX.X.bin
   • KOA: https://s3.amazonaws.com/firmwaredownloads/update_kindle_oasis_5.XX.X.bin
   • KV: https://s3.amazonaws.com/firmwaredownloads/update_kindle_voyage_5.XX.X.bin
   • PW3: https://s3.amazonaws.com/firmwaredownloads/update_kindle_all_new_paperwhite_5.XX.X.bin
   • KT2: https://s3.amazonaws.com/firmwaredownloads/update_kindle_5.XX.X.bin
   • PW2: https://s3.amazonaws.com/firmwaredownloads/update_kindle_paperwhite_v2_5.XX.X.bin
   
   
2. Connect your kindle to your PC with an USB in USBMS mode and put the downloaded update.bin file to the top-level of the visible USB storage. (It's the same directory where the documents folder is.)
   
   
3. Unplug your USB, go to Settings on your Kindle, then from the top right menu, choose Update Your Kindle. Your kindle will restart and update to the new firmware version. Now go back to the supported firmware versions section and continue from there!

[wash]

I get I don't need to upgrade to 5.13.3. Are there any recommendations as to which firmware has the best features and security that I should upgrade to without having to deal with a potential OTA mishap?

[mergen3107]

OTA mishap can happen on any FW after 5.11.x, so just make sure to use Rename OTA bins stuff…

[MultiKoopa]

I've got a Kindle Oasis on 5.14.3.0.1. am I 100% out of luck?

Hadn't used it in months, updated it, and found out there was a finally a jailbreak after years of nothing

[dhdurgee]

Originally Posted by MultiKoopa

I've got a Kindle Oasis on 5.14.3.0.1. am I 100% out of luck?

Hadn't used it in months, updated it, and found out there was a finally a jailbreak after years of nothing

I seem to recall someone finally located the serial ports on the Oasis models. If so, you should be able to do a serial jailbreak. Of course this involves opening the unit and working with tiny easy to destroy contacts, so be sure you are up to the job or you risk trashing your unit.

Beyond that all you can do is wait for another software vulnerability to be found and worked on. You might want to keep your Oasis in airplane mode and side load all contents to ensure no further firmware updates.

Dave