Samsung is now requiring matching IMEIs or serial numbers to download firmware

[zacharee]

In order to download firmware from Samsung's servers, an IMEI or serial number that matches the given model needs to be provided.

This issue is for discussing workarounds and approaches to retrieving firmware in light of the new requirement.

[schdie]

Posting here just for reference.
Using this model: SM-A346M and this CSC: TPA I get this error:

"Bad return status: toIndex(62) is greater than size (32)"
Trying a couple of hours later I get a 401 error so I guess it is probably related to this? I was going to open a new issue before I saw the 401.

EDIT: using a service like https://samfw.com/firmware/SM-A346M/TPA/A346MUBU4BWK2 that probably gets the same url does work.

[shoeper]

For SM-A336B EUX I also get toIndex (62) is greater than size (32)

With several versions:

• A336BXXU7DWK6/A336BOXM7DWK6/A336BXXU7DWK6/A336BXXU7DWK6
• A336BXXS7CWJ1/A336BOXM7CWH2/A336BXXS7CWJ1/A336BXXS7CWJ1 (55 is greater than size 32)
• A336BXXU7CWH2/A336BOXM7CWH2/A336BXXU7CWH2/A336BXXU7CWH2 (index 3 out of bounds for length 3)

[zacharee]

Someone who's better at reverse engineering Windows apps than I am will need to find the new method in Smart Switch. I have a feeling it's not only the key that's changed.

[Lrs121]

The release notes for v0.1.8 of samfusdl say they now require the IMEI for devices with a modem or the Serial Number for the rest. In addition, the Model and Region must match-up with the IMEI/SN.

[chenxiaolong]

The release notes for v0.1.8 of samfusdl say they now require the IMEI for devices with a modem or the Serial Number for the rest. In addition, the Model and Region must match-up with the IMEI/SN.

(I'm the author of the linked project)

Yep, that seems to be the case unfortunately. I posted more details in a comment here: ivanmeler/SamFirm_Reborn#15 (comment)

I've had no luck in bypassing the IMEI/serial number check. Spoofing old client versions doesn't seem to work. I'm guessing older versions of the official Smart Switch client don't work anymore either.

[zacharee]

I'm nowhere near good enough at reverse engineering assembly to find the new keys myself, so I unfortunately can't test or play around with values.

[tungtata]

The release notes for v0.1.8 of samfusdl say they now require the IMEI for devices with a modem or the Serial Number for the rest. In addition, the Model and Region must match-up with the IMEI/SN.

(I'm the author of the linked project)

Yep, that seems to be the case unfortunately. I posted more details in a comment here: ivanmeler/SamFirm_Reborn#15 (comment)

I've had no luck in bypassing the IMEI/serial number check. Spoofing old client versions doesn't seem to work. I'm guessing older versions of the official Smart Switch client don't work anymore either.

I have a good imei database of samsung, can I help?

[chenxiaolong]

I'm nowhere near good enough at reverse engineering assembly to find the new keys myself, so I unfortunately can't test or play around with values.

Please see ivanmeler/SamFirm_Reborn#15 (comment). I posted a script to extract the keys from publicly downloadable sources.

[zacharee]

I don't know how long this will last, but setting the IMEI to 12345678901234 lets me download arbitrary combos.