Tutorial WatchThis - Software Jailbreak for any Kindle <= 5.14.2

[Sparrix]

Originally Posted by katadelos

AKA CVE-2022-23224, CVE-2022-23225, CVE-2022-23226 - full writeup with technical details to be released after 5.14.3 has been widely rolled out.

Thank you to NiLuJe, yparitcher and darkassassinua for adding KOReader support for PW5, repackaging all of the hacks and testing this jailbreak

This vulnerability is released in good faith and in the hope that other security researchers will utilise the access that it provides to assist Amazon/Lab126 in improving their security posture.

If you're concerned about the security of your device and do not wish to jailbreak, install firmware version 5.14.3 from this link - I've been working with Amazon to create a fix and can confirm that this version has been hardened against this vulnerability.

Additional thanks to everyone at Amazon/Lab126 who contributed towards this .

Finally, I encourage Amazon/Lab126 to provide a method of unlocking their devices that doesn't involve the need of a 0-day, both for security researchers and for technical users who are interested in modifying their devices. We know that your employees lurk here, use tools that we've created internally and that our ideas have been implemented by you more than once, so help us help you - I promise that we don't bite

Device Compatibility

Spoiler:

This jailbreak is compatible with Kindle devices running the following firmware versions:

KT3, KT4, KOA1, KOA2, KOA3, PW3, PW4, PW5:
5.14.2
5.14.1 (5.14.1.1 on PW5)
5.13.7
5.13.6
5.13.5
5.13.4

KV:
5.13.6
5.13.5
5.13.4

KT2, PW2:
5.12.2.2

You must use the exploit payload that matches your device/firmware combination exactly.

Download Link
watchthis-jailbreak-r03.zip

Installation

Setup

1. Factory reset the device Make sure to use the "en_GB" or "English (United Kingdom)" locale when setting the language.
2. Type ;enter_demo in the Kindle search bar after performing a factory reset
3. Reboot the device
4. Once in demo mode, skip setting up wifi and enter dummy values for store registration when prompted.
5. Skip searching for a demo payload
6. Select the "standard" demo type
7. Press "Done" at the prompt to sideload content. Do not sideload the jailbreak at this stage.
8. Once the demo is setup, skip the misconfiguration lockout using the "secret gesture" (double finger tap on bottom right of screen then swipe left)
9. Enter the demo configuration menu by typing ;demo into the search bar
10. Select the "Sideload Content" option

Jailbreak

1. Connect the device to a PC and:
2. Create the directory .demo at the root of the Kindle storage
3. Copy ${YOUR_DEVICE}-${YOUR_FW_VERSION}.zip to .demo/
4. Copy demo.json to .demo/
5. Create an empty folder at .demo/goodreads. Do not put any files in this folder.
6. Press "Done" at the prompt to install the jailbreak script
7. Exit the demo menu and either enter ;dsts or swipe down and select the settings icon to enter the device settings menu
8. If an application error occurs, hard reboot the device by holding the power button, enter the demo menu again and select Sideload Content -> Done once more without connecting to USB
9. Select "Help & User Guides" then "Get started"
10. If jailbreaking KT2 or PW2, select the store button instead
11. The device will reboot
12. The jailbreak script will run during the next boot

Post Jailbreak

1. After the device has rebooted, type ;uzb into the search bar
2. Connect the device to a PC and copy Update_hotfix_watchthis_custom.bin to the root of the Kindle storage
3. Eject the device and either enter ;dsts or swipe down and select the settings icon to enter the device settings menu
4. Select Update Your Kindle to install the custom hotfix
5. This will take your device out of demo mode, rebuild the application registry and clean up unneeded jailbreak files.

Troubleshooting

• Alternative Demo Mode entry method:
  • Create an empty file named DONT_CHECK_BATTERY at the root of the Kindle USB storage
  • Activate demo mode by typing ;demo into the search bar
  • Once in demo mode, skip setting up wifi and enter dummy values for store registration when prompted
• If you need to reset your device whilst in Demo Mode, enter ;uzb in the search bar to enable USB storage mode then create an empty file named "DO_FACTORY_RESTORE" at the root of the Kindle storage. Once this has been created, reboot the device.

You should now have a freshly jailbroken Kindle

For some devices (for example my PW5) the ;enter_demo doesnt work. I have to enter only `;demo`. That works.

[airotkiv]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

Postponing doing a jailbreak increases the reisk of ending up being unable to jailbreak when you need to.

Also KindleBreak was much easier to do than WatchThis.

You are absolutely right but my KOA3 updated on me before I even found these threads, so KindleBreak was sadly not an option for me

I'd have just kept it in airplane mode a while longer because I was afraid of the risks of the jailbreak. Again, kudos to katadelos, NiLuJe and all who contributed because in retrospect it was not a big deal after all

[airotkiv]

Dear mods,

I apparently cannot read a simple message on the screen, that my posts are to be moderated. Sorry for double-postiong, won't happen again, please let the longer one out. Thanks!!

[eldavo]

Originally Posted by eldavo

Hello!
My PW3 is on 5.13.4 rn.
In your opinion which firmware should I update to? (5.14.2?).
I don't mind UI changes.

Guess I will go with 5.14.2 then

[TakingOnWater]

Originally Posted by eldavo

Guess I will go with 5.14.2 then

Do you know where to find older firmware files like 5.14.2 then? I just opened a PW5 yesterday and it's on 5.14.0.1 out of the box, which doesn't look like it's supported for this jailbreak, but can't figure out how to update to a different firmware that's NOT the newest (unsupported) one...

[j.p.s]

See this thread:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=150

Make certain to get the correct firmware for your device. The example int the thread is for PW4.

[avin]

hey all, I had a question regarding JB Hot fix

I am on 5.14.1.1 and jailbreaked. Should I install this JB Hotfix update or not? The reason I am asking is, that thread is very old, not sure if this works with latest version.

Also, how come this hotfix works for all versions, and its not version specific like jailbreak patch

If I cannot install this, can anyone point me the way to make my kindle survive updates?

[shamanNS]

Originally Posted by NiLuJe

PSA: All downloads have been moved to the Snapshots thread! (Under the "K5 JailBreak HotFix" listing).

The post you've linked to clearly states from where you should download (in the "snapshots" thread) the hotfix package. Just like any other package / hack maintained by @NiLuJe.

So, after every firmware update you install in the future you should go there, download the latest version of that hotfix package and then install in on your Kindle using "Update your Kindle" option.

[readandread]

Does the custom screensaver hack work on this jailbreak (Kindle PW Sig. Edition on v5.14.2) or does that just work on older models?

[voidwards]

Originally Posted by Radionipp

For Kindle Voyage I found the quality of the second step is very important

1. Tap with 2 fingers on the bottom right corner of the screen (and take them off the screen).
2. Swipe left from the bottom right with one finger. Make sure it goes all the way from the bottom right corner to the bottom left corner.

Voila!

Thanks, it wouldn't work until I did specifically what you said!

[MacDragon]

Yeah, took me a good while to realise that a two finger tap, not a double tap, was needed.. language could be clarified slightly, but otherwise excellent!

[z1chess]

katadelos,
Thank you for everything!! I just purchased a PW5 and it automatically updated to 5.14.3
I have since turned off wifi and will never turn it on again. I can download any books I purchase from Amazon and sideload them with USB-C using Cailbre. Are you currently working on a jailbrake for 5.14.3? Because I don't think there is any way to revert to 5.14.2 at this point.
Again, thanks for all your hard work!
Mike :-)

[ickam]

Originally Posted by riothamus

So I had successfully performed the jailbreak on my KV and PW3. I also just successfully downgraded my PW3.

My KV was having trouble freezing whenever I did anything like remove a book so I wanted to factory reset it. Now I can't seem to get the jailbreak back. From everything I've read, the jailbreak should still be there. I'm trying to do the post-jailbreak instructions but the "Update Your Kindle" option is grayed out when I try to install the hotfix. Do I need to just perform the jailbreak again? Doable, but the secret gesture was a pain so I'd rather not if I don't have to.

How did you downgrade your pw, @riothamus ?