Kindle root password seems to get changed automatically

letshin · 04-16-2021, 05:07 AM

I've rooted my Kindle (I think its KT2) and have changed its password after mntroot rw, passwd root, and type in the new password twice.

What seems to happen is that after a few hours, the password becomes invalid and I can no longer SSH in to upload items/make changes. This has happened a couple of times and the past few times I thought it may be down to my failing memory. So I unplug it, enable USBnetwork and connect via telnet to change the password again. But this time round, I use a very familiar password and also wrote it down. 12h later, the password has changed again, disabling login.

My question is why is this happening and what can I do to make sure password changes remain permanent?

NiMa · 04-16-2021, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by letshin

I've rooted my Kindle (I think its KT2) and have changed its password after mntroot rw, passwd root, and type in the new password twice.

What seems to happen is that after a few hours, the password becomes invalid and I can no longer SSH in to upload items/make changes. This has happened a couple of times and the past few times I thought it may be down to my failing memory. So I unplug it, enable USBnetwork and connect via telnet to change the password again. But this time round, I use a very familiar password and also wrote it down. 12h later, the password has changed again, disabling login.

My question is why is this happening and what can I do to make sure password changes remain permanent?

This could be a prevention measure by Amazon (maybe some cron daemon that restores the shadow file and somehow changes the password), but then it's strange that my root password never changes on my PW3...
What firmware version are you on? Mine is on 5.12.4 IIRC, and I haven't been experiencing any of those issues.

NiLuJe · 04-16-2021, 10:43 AM

The root account is locked, you shouldn't be using password auth to begin with. Switch to a key pair.

letshin · 04-16-2021, 06:42 PM

Thanks NiLuJe - gone with the authorised keys thing on Putty. Hope it continues working now

@NiMa I'm on 5.12.2

NiMa · 04-16-2021, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by letshin

Thanks NiLuJe - gone with the authorised keys thing on Putty. Hope it continues working now

@NiMa I'm on 5.12.2

Probably that public/private key pair login will work now.
@NiLuJe Locked? Well, I've been able to login via Wi-Fi to the Kindle's SSH server just fine with a password...

NiLuJe · 04-16-2021, 08:28 PM

USBNet's dropbear is patched, so it's irrelevant over USB, and setting a password kills the lock, IIRC.

NiMa · 04-16-2021, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiLuJe

USBNet's dropbear is patched, so it's irrelevant over USB, and setting a password kills the lock.

Ah ok! Thanks

NiLuJe · 04-16-2021, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHADOW(5)

If the password field contains some string that is not a valid result of crypt(3), for instance ! or *, the user will not be able to use a unix password to log in (but the user may log in the system by other means).

Code:

cat ROOT/etc/shadow
root:!:10933:0:99999:7:::

So, yeah, since it's the password field, setting a password unlocks it.

letshin · 04-17-2021, 06:15 AM

OK, its been overnight and I can still log in fine with the key-pair. Can someone help me understand what 'root account is locked means' in regards to dropbear? My understanding only goes as far as that Dropbear is a SSH program that has advanced cryptology implemented...

04-16-2021, 05:07 AM	#1
letshin Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Desire	Kindle root password seems to get changed automatically I've rooted my Kindle (I think its KT2) and have changed its password after mntroot rw, passwd root, and type in the new password twice. What seems to happen is that after a few hours, the password becomes invalid and I can no longer SSH in to upload items/make changes. This has happened a couple of times and the past few times I thought it may be down to my failing memory. So I unplug it, enable USBnetwork and connect via telnet to change the password again. But this time round, I use a very familiar password and also wrote it down. 12h later, the password has changed again, disabling login. My question is why is this happening and what can I do to make sure password changes remain permanent?

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04-16-2021, 10:43 AM	#3
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,484 Karma: 26012494 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	The root account is locked, you shouldn't be using password auth to begin with. Switch to a key pair.

04-16-2021, 06:42 PM	#4
letshin Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Desire	Thanks NiLuJe - gone with the authorised keys thing on Putty. Hope it continues working now @NiMa I'm on 5.12.2

04-16-2021, 08:28 PM	#6
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,484 Karma: 26012494 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	USBNet's dropbear is patched, so it's irrelevant over USB, and setting a password kills the lock, IIRC.

04-17-2021, 06:15 AM	#9
letshin Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Desire	OK, its been overnight and I can still log in fine with the key-pair. Can someone help me understand what 'root account is locked means' in regards to dropbear? My understanding only goes as far as that Dropbear is a SSH program that has advanced cryptology implemented...

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