The Dev Team has just released the updated PwnageTool 2.0.3.1. This version is supposed to fix all of the recent permission related issues and some other minor problems. I'm giving it a try right away and keep you posted.

Here is the direct link from the Dev Team blog. Here's my mirror. Please try the official link first and do only use my mirror in case Dev Team's servers experience bottlenecks. The update also comes through Sparkle if you select PwnageTool > Check for Updates... from the applications menu.

Wherever you get PwnageTool please verify SHA1 sum. It should be a3faf5c074d5556a40ce4c7678a51995b5767073.

In Mac OS X open a Terminal and type:

/usr/bin/openssl sha1 <path to PwnageTool.tbz>

This will output the SHA1 sum to your terminal window.

As always: Use on your own risk.

Latest News:

I've received feedback that the 2.0.3.1 update has not resolved the permission issues for some folks out there. I cannot personally confirm the reports as it seems to have worked for me. I'm following up with my readers tomorrow and constantly update this post for more.

I cannot confirm that there still is a problem with PwnageTool 2.0.3.1. I've tested it with my first generation iPhone and with my development device (3G). Both devices work like a charm and there are no permission problems anymore. Note: Unfortunately PwnageTool 2.0.3.1 in its About screen identifies itself as "2.0.3" only. Make 100% sure that you're actually using the updated version. May be it's best to pick the tbz archive via the direct link and open it right away. Otherwise in case something goes wrong while receiving the update through Sparkle you might not even notice using an old version...

Update August 26th 2008: Dev Team has released the updated version 2.0.3.1 of PwnageTool which solves all the below issues. The remarks made in this post with respect to PwnageTool caused problems no longer apply.

In case you've updated your jailbroken iPhone to Apple's firmware 2.0.2 recently and used Dev Teams PwnageTool 2.0.3 which has been released on Monday August 25th 2008 you might have encountered a couple of issues. Driven by your feedback this post summarizes in a bit more detail how to resolve these issues.

Before you apply the fixes please note that the Dev Team has acknowledge the problems and announced an immediate update for PwnageTool. In case the issues do not severely affect you I recommend to just wait until they release their update and redo the jailbreak/activation/unlock.

Otherwise just apply the quick fixes outlined in this post.

Here are the symptoms you might be facing:

• When opening the mail application iPhone repeatedly prompts for the password. Providing the correct password yields a "username or password for account <account name> is incorrect" error.
• iPhone loses passwords set for protected WiFi networks.
• Exchange syncing works for Calendar, Contacts and mailbox folder structure but sending/receiving mail fails with the incorrect password issue.
• iPhone does not allow to set a Passcode Lock. After entering a new passcode twice the Passcode Lock stays OFF.

These issues seem to all be related to wrong file system permissions. One general workaround is to not include the Cydia package manager in your custom ISPW. I'm not going into any detail for this possible solution as Cydia provides much of the value of jailbreaking your device. I don't consider turning down Cydia as a good workaround.

Here is how you fix the permission issues:

• Install the OpenSSH package via Cydia. Start Cydia, go to the Search tab and search for OpenSSH. It's part of the Telesphoreo source. Install it. OpenSSH is a background daemon which will allow you to log into your device via a secure shell.
• Make sure your iPhone is connected to your local WiFi network. Find out the IP address of your device: Settings > Wi-Fi > <name of your WiFi network>. Note down your current IP address. For the remainder of this post my IP Address is 192.168.1.115.
• Next use a SSH client to log into your iPhone from a Mac/PC connected to the same local WiFi network.
  • On a Mac OS X machine open a Terminal.
    • Type ssh root@192.168.1.115
    • If you receive a security note accept it by typing yes.
    • When prompted for the password type alpine.
    • Type chmod 777 /var/Keychains
    • Type chmod -R 777 /private/var/Managed\ Preferences/
    • Type restart
  • On a Windows PC get a free SSH client like Putty.
    • Start Putty. Leave all the settings with their defaults and in the Host Name field enter 192.168.1.115.
    • At the login as prompt type root.
    • At the password prompt type alpine.
    • Type chmod 777 /var/Keychains
    • Type chmod -R 777 /private/var/Managed\ Preferences/
    • Type restart

Obviously for the above steps you've got to substitute my IP address with yours. You might want to consider uninstalling OpenSSH via Cydia or at least turning it off as an open SSH port with the iPhone default password constitutes a security lack. BossPrefs available via Cydia, too, is a great utility which lets you turn OpenSSH on and off easily.

This should fix the mail password, WiFi password and Passcode Lock problems.

Update August 26th 2008: Dev Team has released the updated version 2.0.3.1 of PwnageTool which solves all the below issues. The remarks made in this post with respect to PwnageTool caused problems no longer apply.

(For a preliminary potential solution see below...)

Warning: I've received scattered reports that after upgrading to Apple firmware 2.0.2 with Dev Team's PwnageTool 2.0.3 a severe username and password issue arises in Mail.app and others. The symptoms:

• iPhone displays "Cannot Get Mail" error with "username or password is incorrect" even though you definitely entered the correct credentials. This seems to happen with IMAP and Exchange accounts.
• When setting up Exchange syncing Calendar and Contacts sync fine. Folders of the Exchange mailbox sync fine. However, when trying to send and receive email you are prompted to enter the password again. Upon providing correct credentials iPhone continues to say "username or password for account <account name> is incorrect".
• When using a password secured WiFi iPhone does not remember the password and constantly prompts for it.
• When going to your email account settings iPhone has "forgotten" a previously supplied password. Instead the settings show "Required" again.
• You cannot set Passcode Locks. Even when you enter a new Passcode twice the Passcode Lock stays off.

The issue seems to persist even after downgrading back to firmware 2.0.1.

I've contacted the Dev Team with this issue and update this post as soon as a solution is available. In the meantime if you're facing these or related issues, please comment to this post.

Update 1:

Visitor oz_paulb commented on the Dev Team blog that NOT including Cydia when you build your custom firmware seems to solve the issue. Use Expert mode to so. I haven't tried myself and can yet not confirm.

Potentially and preliminary solution:

Just "fixed" the issue on my iPhone. I cannot confirm that this will work as I don't have the initial issue anymore. May be other readers can try this and confirm in the comments:

1. Use Cydia to Install the Open SSH package.

2. SSH into your iPhone - Use your iPhone' WiFi IP address and login as user root, password alpine.

3. Once logged in type: chmod 777 /var/Keychains

4. Type: chmod -R 777 /private/var/Managed\ Preferences/

5. Step 3 will fix the ownership for the Keychains, that's where user credentials get stored in iPhone OS. Step 4 will fix the Passcode Lock issue.

6. So far this did NOT solve the problem on my iPhone.

7. Go to Settings > Fetch New Data.

8. Turn Push OFF.

9. Switch the fetch frequency to 15 Minutes.

10. Leave the Settings completely.

11. Try to get your email.

12. Go back to Settings > Fetch New Data.

13. Turn Push ON.

That's it. My Exchange email is back working. I just added an additional IMAP account and that works fine, too. Could somebody replicate?

Update August 26th 2008: Dev Team has released the updated version 2.0.3.1 of PwnageTool which solves all the below issues. The remarks made in this post with respect to PwnageTool caused problems no longer apply.

IMPORTANT: IN CASE UPDATING BREAKS YOUR EMAIL FUNCTIONALITY (INCORRECT PASSWORD ISSUE) FIND MY POTENTIAL SOLUTION HERE!

The world famous Dev Team has just released PwnageTool 2.0.3!

As always: To avoid version confusion: PwnageTool 2.0.3 supports Apple's official firmware version 2.0.2 (5c1) which as of this posting should be considered the current version of iPhone OS. Betas of version 2.1 have been made available to members of the iPhone Developer Program but must not be installed on non-development devices.

The procedure to jailbreak and unlock first generation iPhones has not changed from version 2.0.2 to 2.0.3 except that in Step 6 you have to select the new version of iPhone OS. This version of PwnageTool does not yet support unlocking 3G iPhones. Just jailbreaking on 3G iPhones works just fine.

I've updated my device within eight minutes without any issues. Everything's working like a charm. Usually PwnageTool checks for updates during startup. Here is a direct download and here is my non-official mirror.

Wherever you get PwnageTool please verify SHA1 sum. It should be 91e670e0c623cd43f5e8cfbfaae6c23d98d8f31b.

In Mac OS X open a Terminal and type:

/usr/bin/openssl sha1 <path to PwnageTool.tbz>

This will output the SHA1 sum to your terminal window.

I'm curious whether this version addresses some of the recent Cydia issues and keep you updated.