alright so i know what rooting is , my understanding is that before rooting i won't have administrative access to parts of the file system i think that means that
i'll only have access to "/mnt/sdcard" and not to "/"
after rooting i'll have full access to the entire filesystem
i know why manufacutures dont want people playing around in there ,my understanding - many things break easily deleting something or changing some permison can "f" it up
i've been with android for 1 year and roughly 6 months ,been through an x10 a DHD
other various devices currently on the Mopho so im not a complete nub
i know how to root ,you install this ,push this ,do this , that etc
my question is how is the root part blocked and how is root acheived i dont mean how to root a certain device, i mean how do the exploits do what do they change ?
J35US said:
alright so i know what rooting is , my understanding is that before rooting i won't have administrative access to parts of the file system i think that means that
i'll only have access to "/mnt/sdcard" and not to "/"
after rooting i'll have full access to the entire filesystem
i know why manufacutures dont want people playing around in there ,my understanding - many things break easily deleting something or changing some permison can "f" it up
i've been with android for 1 year and roughly 6 months ,been through an x10 a DHD
other various devices currently on the Mopho so im not a complete nub
i know how to root ,you install this ,push this ,do this , that etc
my question is how is the root part blocked and how is root acheived i dont mean how to root a certain device, i mean how do the exploits do what do they change ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Basically, the root section is blocked since it is set to r/o which normal user permissions cannot change. Rooting exploits change the system permissions and pushes the su binary in to give you superuser access which will then allow you full access to the system.
J35US said:
alright so i know what rooting is , my understanding is that before rooting i won't have administrative access to parts of the file system i think that means that
i'll only have access to "/mnt/sdcard" and not to "/"
after rooting i'll have full access to the entire filesystem
i know why manufacutures dont want people playing around in there ,my understanding - many things break easily deleting something or changing some permison can "f" it up
i've been with android for 1 year and roughly 6 months ,been through an x10 a DHD
other various devices currently on the Mopho so im not a complete nub
i know how to root ,you install this ,push this ,do this , that etc
my question is how is the root part blocked and how is root acheived i dont mean how to root a certain device, i mean how do the exploits do what do they change ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
as far as I know, Stock rom's don't have a root function implemented at all.
to get root access, people use exploits to change permissions of the folders to gain access to the System partition, and then the SU (superuser) binaries are put into /system/xbin , and then install the superuser.apk (to make use of the su binary)
EDIT:
Damn ninjas
so rooting is basically changing a few permisions of folders that i wont normally have access to in order to put the SU binary into the fore mentioned path
just re itarating to make sure i understand
additionally if i won't normally have access to these folders then how do they change the permissions <-- maybe pushing it but ask an you shall receive
J35US said:
so rooting is basically changing a few permisions of folders that i wont normally have access to in order to put the SU binary into the fore mentioned path
just re itarating to make sure i understand
additionally if i won't normally have access to these folders then how do they change the permissions <-- maybe pushing it but ask an you shall receive
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could say it like that but it grants you far more access and unlocks many possibilities making you the superuser. Rooting uses exploits which bypass these set permissions.
Related
when u become root does it have like a new gui or its just the same layout?
the same layout but with a lot of customization options
dont think of ROOT as a thing....its a level of permissions. ROOT = GOD in unix/linux worlds (which android is part of).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superuser
Another way to explain it might be....
User Level & Description
User = Normal, default user account (standard on computers and phones)
Power User = Elevated priveledges, able to do advanced tasks but not system wide changes (pc based more than phone)
Root = Top level access, can perform system wide changes and delete/modify what ever is desired
gaining root access allows you to do a lot of things that are restricted to a normal user.
root is the only user account with permission to modify the root directory of a unix/linux based system
mrtim123 said:
dont think of ROOT as a thing....its a level of permissions. ROOT = GOD in unix/linux worlds (which android is part of).
Another way to explain it might be....
User Level & Description
User = Normal, default user account (standard on computers and phones)
Power User = Elevated priveledges, able to do advanced tasks but not system wide changes (pc based more than phone)
Root = Top level access, can perform system wide changes and delete/modify what ever is desired
gaining root access allows you to do a lot of things that are restricted to a normal user.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so are the customization options in root command line or GUI?
and isit risky?
ChrisChan92 said:
so are the customization options in root command line or GUI?
and isit risky?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it can be both cmd or gui......in your phone once you have rooted it you will have a superuser permissions box popup asking for an application to be allowed to run in root mode.
yes, it is risky but the main benefit of android is if you stuff it you can flash it back to original spec again using the SEUS. Dont let the fact that its risky put you off, just make sure you have everything backed up before you make and changes
root your phone, install titanium backup and backup any apps that you want - then go play
(im offline now, but there are many other that can help - just read heaps and search is your friend)
mrtim123 said:
it can be both cmd or gui......in your phone once you have rooted it you will have a superuser permissions box popup asking for an application to be allowed to run in root mode.
yes, it is risky but the main benefit of android is if you stuff it you can flash it back to original spec again using the SEUS. Dont let the fact that its risky put you off, just make sure you have everything backed up before you make and changes
root your phone, install titanium backup and backup any apps that you want - then go play
(im offline now, but there are many other that can help - just read heaps and search is your friend)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
much thanks will go try
k just rooted but nothing seems different...how do you even know whether its rooted?
o okay found a superuser app but can someone tell me what i can do with it? im abit lost
I suspect that rooting might not be a good thing, for you, my friend..
Sent from my X10i using XDA App
im_iceman said:
I suspect that rooting might not be a good thing, for you, my friend..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1! I suggest you take the time to do some reading up.
Hello XDA-Forum users,
I ask you a question: How does Android Root works ?
I mean, for example, How does it works in Nexus One ?
This would be an understanding question to know more about how I get root from my Phone (Nexus One, for example) from scratch, from sources.
upupupupupup
Rooting basics:
http://lifehacker.com/5342237/five-great-reasons-to-root-your-android-phone
For details on how to do it on your device, Google or use the forum search. Lots of rooting information that is device dependent out there.
It basically gives your phone permission to do almost anything. It is similar to giving a user in Windows Administrator rights. It is called super user. You can do many things such as removing unwanted apps and overclocking.
This is not what I mean, I asks for an explaining in which the question is "How the root is possible? What active the root ?" Probably a kernel exploit, or stuff like that, to understand the underground passage to take it, from an hack view.
So, How works a root utility (such SuperOneClick) to set gid to 0 ?
Valid question, I am also interested in learning this.
In other words, if I were to perform the rooting manually, where can I find such info?
And some of the question is why su must be in some diredctories, and can't be run from /data/local/tmp for example?
Someone can enlighten us?
diego.stamigni said:
Someone can enlighten us?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The general approach is taking advantage of bugs in the android OS
The process works something like this
User crafts some special data that contains a "payload" (the script/executable that we want to run)
User runs a system process that has root privileges and gets it to open the special data
The bug causes the system process to get confused by the data, and ends up running the embedded script
The embedded script runs with the same privileges as the system process, and thus can stuff that normal users aren't allowed to do (e.g. installs the SU app)
Commonly, things such as buffer overflows are used
So after gaining root access, which apps can run as root?
Or the user becomes root(as in desktop), and can run all types of apps?
Can root app(run as root) access everything?? Or app permission still applies?
Is it that system exploit is always used to run root apps?
can someone explain in technical details? not how to root.
are rooting programs open source??
What is the root procedure
Bayint Naung said:
So after gaining root access, which apps can run as root?
Or the user becomes root(as in desktop), and can run all types of apps?
Can root app(run as root) access everything?? Or app permission still applies?
Is it that system exploit is always used to run root apps?
can someone explain in technical details? not how to root.
are rooting programs open source??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi guys!
I have the same question and after searching and asking find this!
it is good!!
hope it works!
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/...hat-are-the-pre-requisites-for-it-to-work-wha
also look at the suggestedpages at the right of this page!
Hi, I would like to have root access to my phone, but not necessarily with a custom ROM. I would also prefer to not change my bootloader.
What exactly is rooting? Is it replacing the whole system image with an image that gives the user root access? Or is it just like enabling sudo for the user? Or is a smaller part replaced? (I am somewhat familiar with electronics, computers and Linux, but I find the Android hacking a bit confusing )
Also, is it possible to run stock Android, only with root access? Will the access be lost when upgrading?
c3c0l0n said:
Hi, I would like to have root access to my phone, but not necessarily with a custom ROM.
DEV section rooting post /
What exactly is rooting?
root is the user account in Linux with all privileges. The root user can edit anything on the system. For safety reasons, users do not have all those privileges. When you root your phone, you will gain write access to areas of the phone you couldn't previously access and are allowed to run more commands in the terminal. Because applications do not get a lot of privileges, some of them require you to root the device in order for them to function properly (or fully).
Also, is it possible to run stock Android, only with root access?
Yes and Yes lost root on upgrade usually .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. How is the rooting performed? Is only an ACL modified, or is a more fundamental part of the system changed (like the kernel, bootloader etc)?
I know that a custom ROM might be unstable/experimental, but does the same apply for rooting, or is the modification so small that one could expect the exact same stability as in the stock ROM?
c3c0l0n said:
Thank you. How is the rooting performed? Is only an ACL modified, or is a more fundamental part of the system changed (like the kernel, bootloader etc)?
I know that a custom ROM might be unstable/experimental, but does the same apply for rooting, or is the modification so small that one could expect the exact same stability as in the stock ROM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All your questions are explained in detail in the Development section
Sorry, I did not find it. However, I read this without getting smarter. This video suggests that rooting is a process that does something with your phone without replacing everything. An exact list of what the rooting tools do would be perfect
Not all tools do the same thing. To get a specific answer, you will have to ask the person that came up with whatever rooting tool you are referring to. Some phones take more to root than others.
Cache cleaners need root access to do their thing. Any way to slip something in the stock (settings, I think) apk when it makes the call for /system access? I follow the "progress" threads, but it's like reading a foreign language to me for the most part. I appreciate the work the devs do, just throwing out a layman's idea trying to help the cause.
ducky1131 said:
Cache cleaners need root access to do their thing. Any way to slip something in the stock (settings, I think) apk when it makes the call for /system access? I follow the "progress" threads, but it's like reading a foreign language to me for the most part. I appreciate the work the devs do, just throwing out a layman's idea trying to help the cause.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
essentially the way htc has locked down this phone is two fold. one, no root access. two, no write access to the internal /system partition.
the fr3vo root exploit allows us root access, but does not allow us write access to the internal memory.
currently, the issue of obtaining root access has been resolved by fr3vo, but the issue of gaining write access to the internal memory has not been resolved as is a bit more complex.
on a side note, to follow some of the logic behind your suggestion:
in order to modify any apk on /system, we would need write access to /system. in some android phones, like many samsung models, there is no write protection lock on the device. once you're able to obtain root access, you can remount /system as read-write and write away as you please. unfortunately, this htc device has been locked down through a write protection mechanism over the internal memory which prevents even root users from writing to /system. running an .apk with system permissions, would essentially be a similar form to having root access through the shell as fr3vo currently grants us.
hope that makes more sense than the foreign language the progress threads appear as!
hi. i can't believe i'm the first person to ask this but i've searched as best i can through these forums, and on google, and cannot find a definitive answer. there are lots of pages giving high level descriptions of rooting a phone like "gives admin access", "allows access to the root filesystem", etc. but, when you root a phone, what actually happens ? does it simply make the "su" binary available so that apps can call it to access the root user ? eg. i've got a samsung galaxy s2, if i install an insecure kernel, then add su to /system/xbin, and then reinstall a stock kernel, is that technically a rooted phone ? this is actually what i did on my phone, although i installed superuser and busybox from the market after adding su. i am aware that there are various threads in the sgs2 forums on how to root, i'm just using my phone as an example, i'm just trying to understand generically what is meant when someone says a phone has been rooted. cheers.
Full control over your system
Ability to alter system files. You can replace many parts of the "Android Core" with this including:
Themes
Core apps (maps, calendar, clock etc)
Recovery image
Bootloader
Toolbox (linux binary that lets you execute simple linux commands like "ls") can be replaced with Busybox (slightly better option)
Boot images
Add linux binaries
Run special apps that need more control over the system
SuperUser (lets you approve or deny the use of root access to any program)
Task Manager For Root (Lets you kill apps that you otherwise could not kill)
Tether apps (like the one found at [android-wifi-tether.googlecode.com])
<there are more but I cannot think of any right now>
Backup your system
You can make a folder on your sdcard and backup all of your .apk files to your sdcard (helps if an author decides to "upgrade" you to a version that requires you to pay to use the version you just had)
Relocate your (browser/maps/market) cache to your /sdcard
Relocate your installed applications to your /sdcard
Reboot your phone from the terminal app easily (su <enter> reboot <enter>)
Copied and pasted from google... it is your friend.
thanks for the response however, i'm trying to understand what actually changes on the phone when you root it, rather than simply the benefits of rooting a phone.
Carrot Cruncher said:
thanks for the response however, i'm trying to understand what actually changes on the phone when you root it, rather than simply the benefits of rooting a phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unrooted phone is like logging on as user in a computer. By rooting you have "administrative" rights, just like using sudo command in Ubuntu. Some binaries which are important in gaining administrative rights are installed in the phone.
sent from my nokia 3210
If you come from Windows, you're familiar with the Administrator account. A user that can do everything on the system, as opposed to other users than only have limited privileges. In Linux, that account is called "root". That's all there is to it. It's a user that can do everything on the system.
@Panos_dm: Actually, it's *not* like using sudo. Sudo gives elevated privileges to your existing user account, whereas "root" is a whole separate account.
Nope, sudo actually switches users
i'm a linux user and have been a linux admin in the past so understand the difference between su and sudo. sorry to sound pedantic but i'm still not clear on exactly what happens when you root a phone, i.e. what exactly happens during the rooting process ?
It opens your phone to a whole new array of possibilities.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda premium
Carrot Cruncher said:
but i'm still not clear on exactly what happens when you root a phone, i.e. what exactly happens during the rooting process ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In a gist? The "su" binary and the Superuser.apk app get installed. Sometimes doing so requires exploiting a vulnerability via a trigger. Rageagainstthecage is a common trigger. I once had a link that explained what exactly rageagainstthecage does, but I don't have it anymore.
If you really want to know all the details, here's the script I used to root my Defy: http://pastebin.com/G3m9v4FQ
Hmm, I see the script contains a link to the explanation of what rageagainstthecage does. Cool.
many thanks for confirming my understanding of the process.