K4 How to find root password on firmware 4.1.3?

Pacecca · 09-08-2019, 08:08 AM

Hello! i am using a kindle NT4 and decided to jailbreak it. Now i want to SSH into it to make everything easier for me, however all of those "Root Password Tools" were made for versions 4.0 and 4.0.1, and don't work anymore.

I cant use KindleTool as it requires me to update my Mac and my internet is very slow at the moment.

Could someone give me (or link me to) a quick tutorial on how to find the kindle root password on version 4.1.3?

NiLuJe · 09-08-2019, 08:46 AM

What's the exact issue with the macOS KindleTool binaries? (And on which macOS version is that?).

WaseemAlkurdi · 09-08-2019, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacecca

Hello! i am using a kindle NT4 and decided to jailbreak it. Now i want to SSH into it to make everything easier for me, however all of those "Root Password Tools" were made for versions 4.0 and 4.0.1, and don't work anymore.

I cant use KindleTool as it requires me to update my Mac and my internet is very slow at the moment.

Could someone give me (or link me to) a quick tutorial on how to find the kindle root password on version 4.1.3?

You can use kterm on your Kindle to change the root password from whatever it was to your own.
Note that the Kindle password tools AND KindleTool all won't help (AFAIK) because the root password that they recover is the one for diags, not the one for the main system, because the root account on the main system is locked. (Source)

NiLuJe · 09-08-2019, 10:35 AM

The locked account doesn't apply to a K4 (too old)

.

But this made me actually think about what the OP said, and, err, you shouldn't need to actually know the root password for anything on the K4.

Pacecca · 09-09-2019, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WaseemAlkurdi

You can use kterm on your Kindle to change the root password from whatever it was to your own.
Note that the Kindle password tools AND KindleTool all won't help (AFAIK) because the root password that they recover is the one for diags, not the one for the main system, because the root account on the main system is locked. (Source)

I am looking for the diags password. how do i use "kterm"? i just looked and its only for the PW and Kindle Touch, while i have a Non-Touch.

NiLuJe · 09-09-2019, 08:21 AM

My question still stands: *why* are you looking for the diags password?

You don't need it for jailbreaking purposes, and you don't need it for USBNet in main (which you should prefer over USBNet in diags for a whole host of reasons).

----

As for kterm, you've answered your own question.

There are a couple older terminal applications, but they target older devices with a full physical keyboard.

TL;DR: I'm fairly sure you're screwed on the terminal front on a K4. Could be wrong though, as that's never been my area of interest.

----

Still curious about your KindleTool issues, because I might be able to fix it, but not if I don't have any specific idea of what's happening exactly...

Pacecca · 09-09-2019, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiLuJe

My question still stands: *why* are you looking for the diags password?

You don't need it for jailbreaking purposes, and you don't need it for USBNet in main (which you should prefer over USBNet in diags for a whole host of reasons).

----

As for kterm, you've answered your own question.

There are a couple older terminal applications, but they target older devices with a full physical keyboard.

TL;DR: I'm fairly sure you're screwed on the terminal front on a K4. Could be wrong though, as that's never been my area of interest.

----

Still curious about your KindleTool issues, because I might be able to fix it, but not if I don't have any specific idea of what's happening exactly...

I am using a beta version of Mac OS 10.15, however i need xcode tools to install some parts of the dependencies, and that can only be achieved on the latest beta, but thats like 3GB in size and my internet really isnt doing that well atm so it would take at least 4-5 hours to install.

Since i cant do much with my old kindle i may as well just wait for a Kindle PW 5.1.3 JB so i can get extra features for that XD.

NiLuJe · 09-09-2019, 09:08 AM

And what's wrong with the macOS binaries?

They have no system dependencies except zlib, and I somehow doubt Apple will ever drop zlib...

WaseemAlkurdi · 09-09-2019, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacecca

I am using a beta version of Mac OS 10.15, however i need xcode tools to install some parts of the dependencies, and that can only be achieved on the latest beta, but thats like 3GB in size and my internet really isnt doing that well atm so it would take at least 4-5 hours to install.

Since i cant do much with my old kindle i may as well just wait for a Kindle PW 5.1.3 JB so i can get extra features for that XD.

Why?
Basically, what you should do is this:
- Get shell access:
Either with some terminal app that supports the Kindle 4 Non-Touch (random thread)
Or using KOReader (enable USBNet, then start KOReader, then use SSH from inside KOReader - there is an option to allow logins without a password)
Or try to force USBNet's SSH to not ask for a password (only use that UNTIL you set a new password). You need to look that one up.
- Issue this command:

Code:

passwd

You will be asked to set a new password. When you do that, you're done.

NiLuJe · 09-09-2019, 04:06 PM

- You specifically link to a thread where I basically said the exact same thing I just did a few posts ago (namely, that, nope, not happening on a K4)

.
- Err, that's a bit of a roundabout way to get an sshd. That's what the USBNet hack is for.
- You kinda need to be root to change the root password

.

09-08-2019, 08:08 AM	#1
Pacecca Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2019 Device: Kindle NT4	How to find root password on firmware 4.1.3? Hello! i am using a kindle NT4 and decided to jailbreak it. Now i want to SSH into it to make everything easier for me, however all of those "Root Password Tools" were made for versions 4.0 and 4.0.1, and don't work anymore. I cant use KindleTool as it requires me to update my Mac and my internet is very slow at the moment. Could someone give me (or link me to) a quick tutorial on how to find the kindle root password on version 4.1.3?

09-09-2019, 09:08 AM	#8
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,506 Karma: 26047202 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	And what's wrong with the macOS binaries? They have no system dependencies except zlib, and I somehow doubt Apple will ever drop zlib... Last edited by NiLuJe; 09-09-2019 at 09:12 AM.

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09-08-2019, 08:46 AM	#2
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,506 Karma: 26047202 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	What's the exact issue with the macOS KindleTool binaries? (And on which macOS version is that?).

09-08-2019, 10:35 AM	#4
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,506 Karma: 26047202 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	The locked account doesn't apply to a K4 (too old) . But this made me actually think about what the OP said, and, err, you shouldn't need to actually know the root password for anything on the K4.

09-09-2019, 08:21 AM	#6
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,506 Karma: 26047202 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	My question still stands: why are you looking for the diags password? You don't need it for jailbreaking purposes, and you don't need it for USBNet in main (which you should prefer over USBNet in diags for a whole host of reasons). ---- As for kterm, you've answered your own question. There are a couple older terminal applications, but they target older devices with a full physical keyboard. TL;DR: I'm fairly sure you're screwed on the terminal front on a K4. Could be wrong though, as that's never been my area of interest. ---- Still curious about your KindleTool issues, because I might be able to fix it, but not if I don't have any specific idea of what's happening exactly...

09-09-2019, 04:06 PM	#10
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,506 Karma: 26047202 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	- You specifically link to a thread where I basically said the exact same thing I just did a few posts ago (namely, that, nope, not happening on a K4) . - Err, that's a bit of a roundabout way to get an sshd. That's what the USBNet hack is for. - You kinda need to be root to change the root password .

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