AdBreak Jailbreak Guide: Ad-Supported All Kindle 5.18.1 – 5.18.5

Risk notice: AdBreak is currently experimental and not fully tested. Proceed with caution at your own risk. Also note that since firmware 5.16.3 the Kindle only supports HF-version plugins.

MobileRead user hhhhhhhhh released a new jailbreak called AdBreak. It triggers an arbitrary-code-execution bug in the browser by opening ads, and currently works only on ad-supported Kindles.

Note: The method only uses an ad link to trigger the browser bug — it does not remove ads. The author says it exploits an old WebKit flaw, CVE-2012-3748, building on code from Chris Evans's blog post.

Requirements

• The Kindle must support ads and be bound to a working Amazon account.

• Firmware must be in the range 5.18.1 – 5.18.5.

• A computer and a USB cable that transfers data.

WinterBreak was patched from firmware 5.18.1, so AdBreak switches to triggering the bug via ads — meaning the device must display ads. The Scribe and Colorsoft were never offered with ads and may not work; for other non-ad models, try enabling «SPECIAL OFFERS» manually on the device page in your Amazon account (you can turn it off again after jailbreaking).

Download

All required files are packed into adbreak.zip — download and unzip it:

Download: MobileRead thread ｜ Baidu Netdisk

Special handling for firmware 5.18.5.0.1

On firmware 5.18.5.0.1 you may hit version number is xxxxxx. Follow the fix by MobileRead user gt346 and edit adbreak.html first:

1. Open the file in a code editor and find const offsets = {.

2. Locate the line whose comment matches your device and closest firmware, duplicate it, and change the key to the six digits in the error message.

Example: 12th-gen Paperwhite on 5.18.5.0.1 with error version number is 455680. Find the line commented // fs_update_kindle_all_new_paperwhite_12th_5.18.5:

'454604': { memcpy_got: 0xbe4ac, xml_got: 0xbebd8, memcpy_offset: 0x94c00, system_offset: 0x42938 }, // fs_update_kindle_all_new_paperwhite_12th_5.18.5

Duplicate it and change the key to 455680:

'455680': { memcpy_got: 0xbe4ac, xml_got: 0xbebd8, memcpy_offset: 0x94c00, system_offset: 0x42938 }, // fs_update_kindle_all_new_paperwhite_12th_5.18.5.0.1

Steps

1. Check the firmware — it must be no higher than 5.18.5.

2. Make sure the Kindle is online and signed into an Amazon account.

3. Wait until lock-screen ads appear (if they never show, back up important files and reset the device).

4. Unlock, enter the Kindle, and turn on Airplane Mode.

5. Tap the top-right menu and choose View all ads; confirm several ads are listed.

6. Connect via USB and enable hidden files in your file manager (Windows: Folder Options → View → show hidden files; macOS: Command + Shift + .).

7. Open the system folder at the Kindle root and copy the .assets folder to your desktop.

8. Copy the 5 files from adbreak.zip into the desktop .assets folder.

9. Replace the contents of every details.html with adbreak.html:

   • Windows: double-click replace.bat.

   • macOS / Linux: run cd ~/Desktop/.assets && find . -name 'details.html' -exec cp adbreak.html {} \;

10. Delete the original .assets in Kindle system and copy the modified one in.

11. Tap an ad on the Kindle; a dialog with Bang! appears. Tap Close or OK — the jailbreak script runs automatically:

    

    The Bang! dialog after tapping an ad

12. Done.

Note: A «Unable to launch the selected application, please retry» message after the Bang! dialog does not affect the jailbreak.

Installing the patch

The Hotfix prevents the jailbreak from breaking after firmware updates, but patches lag behind Amazon releases — disable automatic updates for the best protection.

Download Hotfix: Official releases

1. Connect via USB and copy the .bin file to the Kindle root.

2. Eject, then go to Settings → Update Your Kindle to install.

3. Wait for the restart, then tap the book named Run Hotfix.

Note: Tap Run Hotfix again after every firmware update.

Installing plugins

Since firmware 5.16.3 the EABI is armhf, so you need HF-capable plugins (e.g. MRPI and KOReader — listed on that page). For non-HF plugins, downgrade the firmware below 5.16.3 first.

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