[Knowledge Base] Introduction to the Sony (-Ericsson) Xperia Galaxy

[MotexT]

DM-Verity

As I know, root on Z4-Z5 line is nearly impossible in cause of DM-Verity. But what if we can hack this key? In root directory there is one encrypted key with name verity_key - I hope we can do something with that. My idea is to try to by pass this key somehow, disable it, maybe just personally (need to decrypt this key for each device etc). Right now there are a lots of new exploits to root phone. Also as far as I know Galaxy S6 contains DM-Verity too, but it was rooted. So again - any chances? Maybe some theories? I can be volunteer, I own Xperia Z3+ Single Sim.

 

[[NUT]]

@MotexT

I suggest you read the dm-verity documentation on googles android sdk pages...

It's a nice long read, and unfortunately you will draw the same conclusion I did: that will never work. It's the nature of how dm-verity was designed.

 

[MotexT]

@MotexT

I suggest you read the dm-verity documentation on googles android sdk pages...

It's a nice long read, and unfortunately you will draw the same conclusion I did: that will never work. It's the nature of how dm-verity was designed.

Yes, I did. But I still trying to find ideas, solutions - I can't realize them due to limitation of knowledge: I don't know even single programming language. I know how it works, I know the logic, but to to something - I can't. Maybe you, guys, can manage something to do. And never say never - long time before even root was "impossible" - it's XDA here, place of opportunities ?

 

[[NUT]]

Yes, I did. But I still trying to find ideas, solutions - I can't realize them due to limitation of knowledge: I don't know even single programming language. I know how it works, I know the logic, but to to something - I can't. Maybe you, guys, can manage something to do. And never say never - long time before even root was "impossible" - it's XDA here, place of opportunities ?

That's true

I'm not holding my breath on that though...

 

[Cluey]

@[NUT] brilliant post mate, it sums up so many things I didn't have straight in my mind which I'd read about in various places. Having it all in the one post helps immensely. :good:

However I have a question about the section on the Sony flash tool and Emma.
The file get from that page you linked installs a program called Emma but you say it isn't Emma, how do you know that?

I'm sure I read a Sony post saying that using that tool you could flash, assuming your model was supported and unlocked, a standard recovery setup. At the time I read about it it wasn't available for my phone but was expected soon, then I lost interest and didn't follow up on it. Currently I'm trying to catch up on things though but haven't found confirmation on this.

 

[[NUT]]

@[NUT] brilliant post mate, it sums up so many things I didn't have straight in my mind which I'd read about in various places. Having it all in the one post helps immensely. :good:

However I have a question about the section on the Sony flash tool and Emma.
The file get from that page you linked installs a program called Emma but you say it isn't Emma, how do you know that?

Hmm, it seems they have done something about the confusing name... heh. Consider this Emma not to be the Emma I spoke about... there (was) a definitive difference.

I'm sure I read a Sony post saying that using that tool you could flash, assuming your model was supported and unlocked, a standard recovery setup. At the time I read about it it wasn't available for my phone but was expected soon, then I lost interest and didn't follow up on it. Currently I'm trying to catch up on things though but haven't found confirmation on this.

Well, that's a yes and a no. They made it possible for unlocked bootloader devices to use a recovery again without releasing a recovery package of their own... eh... I have to be a tad careful with this: I don't know if that might have changed in the mean time.