Baiker August 12, 2017 at 21:45

Obtaining root access to LG smart TVs on webOS

Tutorial

Probably, many have heard about getting root access to devices on Android. Thanks to him, you can significantly expand the capabilities of mobile devices on this OS. But few people heard about root access to LG TVs. So, the other day, enthusiasts laid out instructions for obtaining root access to LG TVs on the webOS operating system versions 1.0-3.0. The instruction itself is under the cut, but for a start I want to remind you that the webOS mobile OS was developed by Palm (if anyone remembers this :) for their smartphones and tablets and is based on the Linux kernel with a "self-written" graphical shell.

Warnings
I want to warn that in case of problems with the TV, in the service center you may be denied warranty service. You can harm the device or make it inoperative. If you are not an advanced user and do not really know why you need Root rights, it is strongly recommended not to get them, because There is always a chance to get a "brick", or change the settings that will cause problems in the work.

To get the root you will need to download a special script to the TV. An audit of the script and instructions can be found here .

If you were dealing with Linux systems, there is nothing complicated in the procedure for obtaining root in webOS. To obtain it, you will need: a TV with webOS connected to the network, a computer (connected to the same network), a developer account on the LG server.

First, create a developer account (if not) on the developer.lge.com server ( manual / English /).
Install the Developer Mode application on the TV from the LG Store application catalog. Run it, enter the login / password from the previous paragraph, turn on the Dev Mode Status and Key Server switches. The TV will reboot and be ready for further manipulations ( instruction / English /).

Install webOS SDK (SDK-CLI component only) from here http://webostv.developer.lge.com/sdk/download/download-sdk/ , the easiest way is with the help of the Internet installer (file "Your_OS_Installer").
Launch webOS TV CLI .
In the window that opens, type ares-setup-device and press enter. Choose add.

ares-setup-device
name deviceinfo connection profile
-------- ------------------------ ---------- -------
emulator developer@127.0.0.1:6622 ssh tv
** You can modify the device info in the above list, or add new device.
? Select: (Use arrow keys)
> add
modify
remove

Enter the information about the TV according to the following sample (10.123.45.67 - specify the IP address of your TV):

** You can modify the device info in the above list, or add new device.
? Select: add
? Enter Device Name: tv2
? Enter Device IP address: 10.123.45.67
? Enter Device Port: 9922
? Enter ssh user: prisoner
? Enter description: new device
? Select authentification: password
? Enter password:
? Save ? Yes
name deviceinfo connection profile
-------- -------------------------- ---------- -------
tv2 prisoner@10.123.45.67:9922 ssh tv
emulator developer@127.0.0.1:6622 ssh tv

After adding the TV, check the result by running the following command:

ares-setup-device -list

Get the key file from the TV using the following command:

ares-novacom --device tv2 --getkey

When requesting Passphrase, you need to enter a 6-character password (case is important!), Which is displayed in the Developer Mode application on TV.

input passphrase [default: webos]:

Check the connection of the PC to the TV with the following command:

ares-install --device tv2 --list

Download the zalil.su/6937580 file , rename it to root.
Using puttygen.exe, import the key previously obtained from the TV key, then save private key. Install WinSCP from here winscp.net/eng/download.php , start and enter the IP address of your TV, port 9922, then specify the key here "More -> SSH -> Authentication -> Private Key File". Next, “Connection -> Open Terminal (Ctrl + T)”. The contents of the TV will open in the right window, copy the root file from the left window. That's it, WinSCP is no longer needed, you can close it.
Now, to connect to the TV, we need a Linux ssh application. If not XP, but Windows XP, 7.8 is installed on the PC, download and install Cygwin (a UNIX-like environment and command-line interface for Microsoft Windows), without forgetting about the openssh component.

If Win10 is installed on the PC, then the easiest way is to use the Linux subsystem in Windows 10
Launch Cygwin64 Terminal and run the following command:
```
ssh -i tv_webos_key prisoner@192.168.x.x -p 9922
```
where tv_webos_key is the name of the key file, 192.168.xx is the IP address of the TV
Run the commands:
```
chmod +x root
./root
```
The script will begin to perform its actions, we wait until the inscription appears:
```
try install any app from market
```
Take the remote control and try to install any application from the application store on TV - it will give an error. And the script in turn should write
```
third stage ok.
try get root - input password 1111
Password: 
```
Enter the password 1111.
Everything, the root is received!
You can check by typing id - it will give:
```
uid=0(root) gid=0(root)........
```
Such a root - temporary - until reboot. To get a permanent root, follow these instructions .
To get to the main rootfs we type -
```
busybox chroot /proc/1/root
```
And you can read the following post:
webos-forums.ru/post54464.html#p54464

Useful tips:
1. vim is better not to use through ssh. There are problems with the transmission of signals from some keys, at least on Windows and on webOS 1.4.
2. It’s best to transfer the necessary files for editing to / tmp /
```
cp somefile /tmp/somefile
```
3. If an error occurs while downloading via WinSCP, then change the file permissions
```
chmod 607 /tmp/somefile
```
4. Next, locally edit on your PC, put the file back in / tmp / and overwrite the old one
```
cp /tmp/somefile somefile
```
5. At the end of the team
```
ssh -i tv_webos_key prisoner@192.168.x.x -p 9922
```
  add option
```
"/bin/sh -i"
```
  (with quotes) so that there is an interactive session.
6. Everything that is put in / tmp / is deleted after turning off the TV.
All beaver!

Actually, the original instructions from the author.

Using these Root rights, you can, for example, automatically launch the application you need when you turn on the TV.

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Obtaining root access to LG smart TVs on webOS

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