Warning: Using PwnageTool 2.0.3 potentially breaks email functionality
posted by: Ralf Rottmann | posted @ Tuesday, August 26, 2008 4:57 AM | View blog reactions

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?

 

comments
oz_paulb stated:
# re: PwnageTool 2.0.3 potentially breaks email functionality
Hello -

I've posted this temporary 'solution' to the DevTeam blog: Don't include "Cydia" in your custom .ipsw, and passwords seem to be remembered.

(problem with forgetting passwords seems to be related to including "Cydia" in the custom .ipsw).

In order to NOT include "Cydia", use "Expert mode", and use DEFAULT options for everything except UN-CHECK "Cydia installer" under "Custom packages".

Or, wait for a fix from the Dev Team.

- Paulb

posted on 8/26/2008 5:03 AM
Ralf stated:
# re: PwnageTool 2.0.3 potentially breaks email functionality
@Paul: Glad you came here! Tried to get in touch with you anyway...

Could you please contact me through the Contacts link in the menu bar of my blog and include your email address, please!

Thanks, Ralf
posted on 8/26/2008 5:05 AM
Dave Barr stated:
# re: Warning: Using PwnageTool 2.0.3 potentially breaks email functionality
You did try the suggestion earlier in the blog?

Install openssh.

ssh into your phone (ssh root@your_phone_ip), pw='alpine'

chmod 777 /var/Keychain

I haven't tried it yet but if it is a permission issue as reported then this should fix it.
posted on 8/26/2008 5:21 AM
Ralf stated:
# re: Warning: Using PwnageTool 2.0.3 potentially breaks email functionality
@Dave: Yap. Does not help.
posted on 8/26/2008 5:30 AM
oz_paulb stated:
# re: Warning: Using PwnageTool 2.0.3 potentially breaks email functionality
@Dave: I did NOT try the openssh suggestion.

My reason: I was actually in the process of trying to 'prove' whether/not installing or running Cydia actually affects the speed of the iPhone overall.

In the past, there have been many reports that the iPhone 'seems' slower when Cydia is included. But, I've never seen any real testing done (actually time various operations with/without Cydia).

(I actually like Cydia very much, and have never run the iphone without it - so I was interested to find out whether/not Cydia affected the iPhone's speed).

Today (after PwnageTool 2.0.3 release), I did several timing tests *without* Cydia (recording results).

My next step was to *include* Cydia (but NOT *run* Cydia), and do all my timing tests. Finally, I would both *include* and *run* Cydia and see if that affects the speed.

I was at the point where I was *including* Cydia (but NOT running it) when I ran into the password issues. Running Cydia to install openssh would have invalidated my timing test results.

So, I've decided to hold-off on my timing tests until a new PwnageTool is released that fixes permission problems (without requiring openssh/running Cydia first).

Of course, once I can complete my timing tests, I'll post the results.

- Paulb

posted on 8/26/2008 5:45 AM
Bryan stated:
# re: Warning: Using PwnageTool 2.0.3 potentially breaks email functionality
It looks like the chmod 777 to /var/Keychains seems to be working for me.
posted on 8/26/2008 5:48 AM
Doc stated:
# re: Warning: Using PwnageTool 2.0.3 potentially breaks email functionality
could you please explain the " chmod 777 to /var/Keychains" part?

where do i type this in? in terminal on osx or what?

HELP!
posted on 8/26/2008 6:16 AM
SundayDuffer stated:
# re: Warning: Using PwnageTool 2.0.3 potentially breaks email functionality
i worked...thankyou.

changing the keychains permission to 777...that was easy. Thankyou.
posted on 8/26/2008 6:33 AM
javrojqu stated:
# re: Warning: Using PwnageTool 2.0.3 potentially breaks email functionality
I used this info and fixed my issue. Now password for Wifi, email are stored and it's working now.

Thanks
posted on 8/26/2008 6:55 AM
Doc stated:
# re: Warning: Using PwnageTool 2.0.3 potentially breaks email functionality
if you are having problems with passwords,
install Open SSH
using terminal ssh into the phone by typing
"ssh root@your_iphones_ip"
and when is asks for the password enter alpine
then type "chmod 777 /var/Keychains"
and reboot the iphone
it should work ok after that
hope this helps some.

it works! Thanks:)
posted on 8/26/2008 8:14 AM
Chas stated:
# re: Warning: Using PwnageTool 2.0.3 potentially breaks email functionality
I can also confirm that changing the keychain permissions fixes the problem.
posted on 8/26/2008 10:54 AM
Yonghwee stated:
# re: Warning: Using PwnageTool 2.0.3 potentially breaks email functionality
Hey Ralf,

Thanks for the fix! Works like a charm.
posted on 8/26/2008 12:02 PM
TJ stated:
# re: Warning: Using PwnageTool 2.0.3 potentially breaks email functionality
<"ssh root@your_iphones_ip"
>>

i've installed "OpenSS" not "Open SS" and I just cant fugure out that part!
posted on 8/26/2008 12:55 PM
Chas stated:
# re: Warning: Using PwnageTool 2.0.3 potentially breaks email functionality
I am now unable to set a Passcode Lock. I enter the passwords but it will not remember them. Must be related to the permissions problem. I have corrected the permissions on /var/Keychains but this does not help the Passcode Lock problem.
posted on 8/26/2008 1:32 PM
oz_paulb stated:
# re: Warning: Using PwnageTool 2.0.3 potentially breaks email functionality
@Chas: You may want to try a different "chmod" suggested in this thread:

www.hackint0sh.org/forum/showthread.php?t=50324



Someone in this thread:

www.hackint0sh.org/.../showthread.php

claims that even after the password problem is fixed, if you later change your password, the problem will come back (and you will need to "chmod" things again to 'fix').


(as I never included Cydia in my custom .ipsw, I don't see these problems, so I can't tell you if the above solution works).


If you can wait, I personally suggest that you wait for the new release of PwnageTool (I suspect it will be out later today) - that will presumably fix the permission problems.

Good luck!

- Paulb

posted on 8/26/2008 5:28 PM
24100.net :: Ralf Rottmann's Internet Home stated:
# URGENT: PwnageTool 2.0.3.1 update available
URGENT: PwnageTool 2.0.3.1 update available
posted on 8/26/2008 6:05 PM
Ernie stated:
# re: Warning: Using PwnageTool 2.0.3 potentially breaks email functionality
Did not work keep getting Error Code 6 cannot restore iPhone. Using Mac
posted on 8/27/2008 7:24 AM
Rishi Sharma stated:
# re: Warning: Using PwnageTool 2.0.3 potentially breaks email functionality
The fix for /var/Keychains should be actually a bit different.
In the previous firmware, 2.0.1, it was owned by _securityd:wheel group.

If you type:

ssh root@iphoneip 'chown _securityd:wheel /var/Keychain'

and type your root password (if you have changed it) otherwise 'alpine' for default.

It will fix all password saving issues.

Thanks for the update on the passcode though.
posted on 8/27/2008 7:40 AM
NaughtyMonkey stated:
# re: Warning: Using PwnageTool 2.0.3 potentially breaks email functionality
Hi Ralf,

I had exactly the same experience you did with the 2.0.3 tool where I lost Exchange connectivity and every time I hopped on my WiFi connection I had to re-enter the password. I used your work-around and it worked like a charm! Thanks! And now since it's 3:30 EST, and I have to be up for work in 3 hours, I'm going to get some sleep. :)

Bill
posted on 8/27/2008 9:31 AM
Carlos stated:
# It work great
Seems like you little trick did the job. Man, I had been going crazy all day to solve this !
posted on 8/28/2008 6:23 AM
Brian stated:
# re: Warning: Using PwnageTool 2.0.3 potentially breaks email functionality
Call me a moron, but, I have no clue where to type the keychain commands?


This is driving me BANANAS! I have not a clue what to do here.


posted on 8/29/2008 9:21 PM
Ralf stated:
# re: Warning: Using PwnageTool 2.0.3 potentially breaks email functionality
Brian,

You don't have to apply the steps outlined in this post anymore, if you just use the updated version of PwnageTool which is Version 2.0.3.1. That version will fix everything (well, it doesn't contain the bugs of the 2.0.3 version anymore).

In case you don't want to go through the entire procedure again, I've put together more detailed instructions on how to SSH into your iPhone etc. here:

www.talentgrouplabs.com/.../...mission-issues.aspx

Hope this helps,
Ralf

posted on 8/29/2008 11:53 PM
Alexandre stated:
# re: Warning: Using PwnageTool 2.0.3 potentially breaks email functionality
The potentially and preliminary solution solved it! Thanks
posted on 9/2/2008 10:26 PM
Radar68 stated:
# re: Warning: Using PwnageTool 2.0.3 potentially breaks email functionality
Interestingly I used 2.0.3.1 and all was fine - no password issues,

HOWEVER - Installing the recent (1/9/08) Cydia upgrade broke things again.

It appears that, as someone previously noted, Cydia causes the issue,

I resolved using the chmod command though and all is fine again.

I guess the upgrade does a 'reinstall' of Cydia.

Something to note for future Cydia upgrades.

Regards
Radar68
posted on 9/4/2008 7:21 PM
jiluqnox stated:
# jiluqnox
jiluqnox
posted on 11/13/2008 3:28 AM
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