Kernel Assisted Superuser

Kernel Assisted Superuser (short: KernelSU) is an alternative method for obtaining root privileges on Android devices. KernelSU implementations are developed as open source under the terms of the GPLv3 license.^[1]

Technical differences from other methods

KernelSU differs from other methods in that root access is implemented directly in the kernel. Compared to other root methods that run in user space, such as Magisk, this has the advantage that commands with su can be executed like normal commands, but still have root privileges. This is not prevented by SELinux or detected by the SafetyNet API check, so applications that use it will continue to function.

History

The planning of KernelSU was started in 2018 by developer Jason Donenfeld, also known as XDA user zx2c4.^[2]^[3] The lack of a root manager app and the difficulty of creating boot images meant that KernelSU was not suitable for productive use, and for a long time this method remained theoretical and could only be used by developers. In 2021, Google launched Generic Kernel Images (GKI for short), which facilitates the creation of a set of device-independent rooted boot images.^[4] In response, the developer known on XDA as weishu, who had also worked on projects such as VirtualXposed, adapted KernelSU for GKI-compatible kernels. The adaptation, which was released in January 2023, ensures that any device booting with Linux kernel version 5.10 or higher should be compatible. In addition, the developer also offers a special manager app that, in addition to managing root privileges, also offers overlay-based modding similar to Magisk modules. As of May 19, 2024, 264 developers have contributed to the development of the KernelSU implementation.^[5]^[6]

Distribution

KernelSU can be installed on all devices that use GKI, as well as on individually supported devices without GKI.^[7]^[8] Some custom ROMs already have it integrated by default, including ROMs such as CrDroid,^[9] Bliss OS,^[10] and Evolution X.