When it returns failed critical init step 3 , it means There are three primary reasons this happens: 1. The Vulnerability is Patched
The primary trigger for this failure is the . MediaTek released global patches for CVE-2020-0069 in March 2020 . If your device has firmware updated after this date, the operating system has closed the loophole, making it impossible for the binary to initialize its memory override. 2. Protected or Modified Kernels
Power down your device and connect it to your PC while holding the Volume Down button. Click to flash the older firmware. Once completed, boot up and re-run the mtk-su script. Method 2: Manually Configure ADB Execution Paths mtk-su failed critical init step 3
If your security patch is earlier than March 2020 but the exploit still fails, attempt to temporarily disable SELinux enforcement. From an ADB shell, run:
If the output says arm64-v8a , you must use the version of mtk-su . When it returns failed critical init step 3
is the payload execution phase. During this step, the tool attempts to overwrite specific kernel memory structures (like cred structures) to elevate the current process permissions to root.
“pity you didn't use flashify or some partition backup software to save your phone firmware before it auto upgraded. then you'd be able to use sp flash tool to revert back to the rootable build” If your device has firmware updated after this
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The memory of mtk-su lives on in XDA threads and archived ZIP files, but for the actively updated device, step 3 will remain forever incomplete.
./mtk-su: invalid option -- h Failed critical init step 3
Before dissecting the error, it is crucial to understand what mtk-su was and why it became so popular.