Tools AdBreak - experimental JB for ad-supported devices (5.18.1-5.18.5)

[hhhhhhhhh]

This is based on an old Webkit bug (CVE-2012-3748), with a lot of code borrowed from Chris Evans (@scarybeasts).


Unfortunately, this is limited to ad-supported Kindles since Amazon hardened .active_content_sandbox after WinterBreak.

I've tested this on my own devices and haven't run into any issues, though this is experimental and hasn't undergone rigorous testing. Attempt at your own risk and let me know if you encounter any issues.

Guide:

Requirements:
- Ad-supported Kindle (can't be blacklisted)
- Firmware version from 5.18.1 to 5.18.5
- Computer + cable (lol)

1. Check the Amazon firmware updates page for your device. If a version newer than 5.18.5 is out, this has likely been patched. You may also just want to avoid updating in case this doesn't work.

See the following guide on how to prevent automatically updating:
https://kindlemodding.org/jailbreaki...to-update.html


2. If not done already, connect to the Internet and log into an Amazon account on the Kindle to register it.

3. Leave it connected to the Internet for a while so it can download advertisements. If you press the lock button, an advertisement should be displayed. If advertisements aren't being downloaded after a while, a factory reset may help.

4. Once you've verified ads are being displayed on the lockscreen, swipe down and turn on Airplane mode.

5. Click on the top right menu and select "View all ads", which should display multiple "special offers".

6. Plug in the Kindle, open the system folder and and copy ".assets" to your desktop.

7. Download and extract "adbreak.zip", copy the contents to the ".assets" folder on your desktop.

8. We need to replace the contents of all "details.html" files with the contents of "adbreak.html":
Windows: Double click on "replace.bat"
Linux/Mac CLI: find . -name 'details.html' -exec cp adbreak.html {} \;

9. Delete the original .assets folder on the Kindle and replace it with our modified copy.

10. Click on an ad and go through the popups, once you click OK on "Bang!", the jailbreak script should run.

11. Congrats, install the hotfix and enjoy your liberated device - https://kindlemodding.org/jailbreaki...g-up-a-hotfix/

Random/FAQ

"Does the jailbreak itself remove advertisements?" - No.

"Is this the rumored 5.18.1-5.18.3 jailbreak/UJ?" - No, this is completely unrelated.

"Is there a way to make my device ad-supported?" - Not that I'm aware of, if you find a way to get this working on all devices, that would be great

Some users have reported they can still overwrite .active_content_sandbox on non-MTP devices by including large junk files. The adviewer and store both use webkit so this could theoretically work, though I haven't verified it.

Hashes: adbreak.zip - 0a66d37872625c7a1a10c501beafdede0bb62958

[Frogm4n]

Nice work!

Originally Posted by hhhhhhhhh

T"Is there a way to make my device ad-supported?" - Not that I'm aware of, if you find a way to get this working on all devices, that would be great

You can subscribe a device to Special Offers via your Amazon account Manage Your Content and Devices page. However, to take them back off later you'll have to pay the fee. IMO, it's not worth paying that to remove them after the jailbreak.

[eggbert]

1. You can remove ads with a script after jailbreaking.
2. If you paid for an ad-free kindle and choose to subscribe to Special Offers, you don't have to pay AGAIN to get them removed. https://imgur.com/a/tZrimI6

[Frogm4n]

Thanks for correcting that. I'm sure I've seen people commenting that they'd been charged, but that's random people commenting.

[Crescens]

Hey there! I signed up for the forums just so that I could reply here and say thanks for the jailbreak!

I have a Kindle Oasis 10 on 5.18.2 that did not have ads, but as mentioned before, you can reactivate them and I went ahead and did so. After following all the steps for the jailbreak I was able to install it on my kindle and activated the hotfix. Finally I went back and turned special offers off again (did not have to pay anything) and after turning off airplane mode the ads were again removed.

I also grabbed my partner's base 11th gen base Kindle on 5.18.5 that is ad supported and was able to install the jailbreak/hotfix perfectly.

Was super bummed I missed the WinterBreak and am very glad I decided to check on this forum again today. Thanks again!

[qixiao]

Originally Posted by Crescens

Hey there! I signed up for the forums just so that I could reply here and say thanks for the jailbreak!

I have a Kindle Oasis 10 on 5.18.2 that did not have ads, but as mentioned before, you can reactivate them and I went ahead and did so. After following all the steps for the jailbreak I was able to install it on my kindle and activated the hotfix. Finally I went back and turned special offers off again (did not have to pay anything) and after turning off airplane mode the ads were again removed.

I also grabbed my partner's base 11th gen base Kindle on 5.18.5 that is ad supported and was able to install the jailbreak/hotfix perfectly.

Was super bummed I missed the WinterBreak and am very glad I decided to check on this forum again today. Thanks again!

How did you reactivate ads? My amazon account shows kpw6 SPECIAL OFFERS is active, but kpw6 doesn't show lock screen ads. I factory reset it, but it still doesn't show ans. What should I do ?

[CornTortilla]

Hey so I went and tried out this new jailbreak. So I'm on windows and the assets folder for whatever reason didn't pop up in kindle root despite me having hidden files toggled on, but did pop up when I entered in a search bar. I went and followed the steps outlined above and when I went to go open up an ad to click through they all came back looking like the image attached. Ads on lockscreen are also gone.

I did go ahead and make a backup of the original assets folder before I went and added the adbreak contents to it and ran the replace.bat file. Do you think it would be wise to use the original assets folder that I backed up just in case and then redo the steps? I have not restarted my kindle after I tried to set up the jailbreak because I'm trying to see what the best course of action would be.

Imgur link to photo here.
https://imgur.com/a/RmN79LD

[Ruinemacil]

Hi! First of all, I want to thank the OP so much for this new break, it looks super promising and it's exciting to see updates.

I want to share my experience with it. I have a 1st gen Kindle Scribe, and I activated the Special Offers on the Amazon Devices page. However, nothing is happening, ads aren't showing... I googled a bit and it seems that the Scribe never had an ad-supported version, so maybe it's not capable of having ads at all? Just letting y'all know.

Other than that, I'm happy to see this new break, and I hope I can join you guys from my Scribe soon.

[larbl]

Hi there all, just wanted to say that I'm in progress with this, but as a Canadian it was tough to get ads enabled - I'm on a PW6 (running 5.18.4) that never had ads. The trick is to convince Amazon that you're American, by changing payment/address/shipping and then in Device Preferences you also have to transfer the device to Amazon.com. Only then can you opt in to ads (you may also have to confirm your payment method).

Then, you need a few MB of storage space for ads to actually enable and download, and so far that's worked for me. I'll update this once I have the process done!

[larbl]

Originally Posted by larbl

I'll update this once I have the process done!

Process complete, flawlessly. Only thing that wasn't immediately obvious to me was that to install KUAL on my PW6, I needed the KUAL (coplate) version from https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=225030 instead of the one from the guide I was following.

Edit to add: I was also able to remove ads via the amazon page at no cost, in case anyone is worried about that.

[Unuser]

Originally Posted by larbl

Then, you need a few MB of storage space for ads to actually enable and download, and so far that's worked for me. I'll update this once I have the process done!

I had adds enabled for a while, with a full disk (around 15 MB free), and did not get the `.assets` folder in my storage. I now deleted and re-created the disk filler files to leave 50 MB free, and also enabled the "personalized adds". I'll leave it for a few hours then come back to see if the .assets folder shows up.

I'm super excited. I learned about JB right after WinterBreak came out, and immediately saw I was on 5.18.1 I've been waiting since to get my kindle jailbroken.

[Unuser]

Originally Posted by Unuser

did not get the `.assets` folder in my storage

Actually dumb me -- the instructions say to look in the "system" folder of my kindle. Turns out it does not show up in Windows Explorer when you plug the device, but if you add it manually to the address bar (D:\system\, assuming Kindle's storage mounted on D: drive), then you can see the contents of the folder and the rest of the steps worked flawlessly. I'll go install KUAL and MRPI now

[MonkeyInPrivite]

5.18 1-5 jailbreak is not something I thought I'd see this soon...

Out of curiosity, what breaks AdBreak below 5.18.1?

[gt346]

Unfortunately this is not working for me. I get all the popups including the "Bang!" popup, but after I install the hotfix and it reboots, the hotfix won't run. Instead I get this error message:

"The selected application could not be started. Please try again."

This is a 2024 Kindle Paperwhite running 5.18.5, and I tried reflashing the firmware and doing a factory reset with the same results.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

[gt346]

Originally Posted by gt346

Unfortunately this is not working for me. I get all the popups including the "Bang!" popup, but after I install the hotfix and it reboots, the hotfix won't run. Instead I get this error message:

"The selected application could not be started. Please try again."

This is a 2024 Kindle Paperwhite running 5.18.5, and I tried reflashing the firmware and doing a factory reset with the same results.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Apparently I can't edit my post, but I also wanted to add that there is no update.bin.tmp.partial or .bin file etc when I install the hotfix. And it's in Airplane mode.

Does the hotfix need to be updated for 15.8.5 maybe?