Difference between revisions of "Introduction to APK Reversing techniques"

From Embedded Lab Vienna for IoT & Security
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 136: Line 136:
|'''Fuzzers''' <ref name="fuzzers" />|| .... ||
|'''Fuzzers''' <ref name="fuzzers" />|| .... ||
|}
|}
== Hands on Lab ==
Get the resources a beginners tutorial for apk reversing from the git repository.
    git clone https://git.fh-campuswien.ac.at/CampusCyberSecurityTeam/ccst
    cd ccst/apk_rev_intro
===  OWASP_app MSTG-Android-Java.apk ===
Mobile application to learn apk security issues.
* Install app on your phone with adb - try it out
* Unzip MSTG-Android-Java.apk
  * Examine the certificate who is subject and issuer?
  * Examine classes.dex
* Unpack MSTG-Android-Java.apk with apktool
  * What are the app permissions?
  * What entry point has the app?
  * Examine smali folder
* Use dex2jar to decompile MSTG-Android-Java.apk to a packed .jar file
* Use jd-gui to examine the java classes of the .jar file
Walk through the security app (beginners) or try the CTF challenges (advanced)
=== Android CTF Challenges ===
==== Secrets - easy ====
* localnews - medium-hard
* 36c3_1337_skills - medium hard
* KGB Messenger - CTF App written for apk Reversing


== Used Hardware ==
== Used Hardware ==

Revision as of 13:47, 19 May 2020

Summary

This page describes various methods that can be used to reverse engineer mobile phone applications. An Android Package Kit (APK) is the package file format used by the Android operating system for distribution and installation of mobile apps.

Background

The main difference of IoT devices to arbitrary devices is that they offer network connectivity to allow mobile apps to read from sensors or control actuators. These apps can be used for monitoring e.g. smart fitness devices or the remote control of these devices e.g. smart lightbulp. In the OWASP IoT Top 10 security vulnerabilities mobile interfaces are included in the Insecure Ecosystem Interfaces at the third rank. Therefore a security assessment of the android app is part of the security analysis of an IoT device.

Android System

Android.png

Android is based on a security hardened Linux which supports various security features such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), Canaries, non executable stack (NX memory areas) and allows only position-independent executable code. Further all system calls are firewalled and each application runs isolated for one user, the apps are usually sandboxed. Android provides a permission system for the access of resources such as contacts or camera.

Android Runtime (ART)

The Android runtime is the managed runtime used by applications and some system services on Android.The ART predecessor Dalvik VM was using a just-in-time (JIT) compiler at runtime whereas ART primarily generates a native executable in ELF format during the installation. This is also called ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation, furthermore ART includes a JIT compiler for performance reasons and update processes [1]. Both Dalvik VM and ART use the Dalvik Executable format[2] and Dex bytecode specification[3]. Android recommends writing your apps in Java code with Android SDK instead of using the native code interface Android NDK.

Android Package Format APK

An Android Package Kit (APK) is the package file format used by the Android operating system for distribution and installation of mobile apps.

The requisition of an APK is usually done via a play store or web download or directly from the phone using the Adroid Debug Bridge over a USB cable.

Installation of the Adroid Debug Bridge (adb)

The adb is a command line tool which enables the interaction over USB with a mobile phone. The main usage of adb is to install APKs and debug apps, it additionally allows command line access on the device [4].


1. Unlock Developer Options

The developer options on Android devices are usually hidden and need to be unlocked by finding the Android Build number. Where the Android Build number is located is dependent on the device, a search path similar to (Settings > About phone > Software information > Build number) can be used. For the activation of the developer options the Build number needs to be tapped seven times. After the first few taps a message appears telling that "You are now X steps away from being a developer", where X is the number of taps missing. After you succeeded the 7th tap the developer options will appear in the settings menu.

2. Enable USB Debugging

Then USB Debugging located in the Developer Options needs to be enabled.

Enabledebugging.jpeg

3. Install the Debug Bridge

Install adb on the computer connected to the phone via USB cable and start the adb server

 apt install adb
 adb start-server

Usage of adb

  • Installation/Uninstallation of.apk files via USB
  adb install <apk_filename>
  • Retrieve/transfer of files and databases
  adb pull/push <filename>
  • Get active logs
  adb logcat
  • List applications installed on the phone
  adb shell pm list packages
  • Discover the path to the .apk file
  adb shell pm path com.myapplication

Then use the pull command to retieve the APK file from the phone.

APK Content

Unzipped APK Content

An APK file is a packed and compressed file, essentially a ZIP file containing the compiled code, the resources, signatures, manifest and every other file the software needs in order to run. The content of an APK can be extracted via command line on the computer:

  unzip <apk_filename>

The extracted content of an APK is shown in the table below.

AndroidManifest.xml the manifest file in binary XML format
classes.dex application code compiled in dex format
resources.arsc file containing pre-compiled application resources, in binary XML
res/* resources not compiled into resources.arsc
assets/* optional - applications assets for AssetManager
lib/* optional folder containing compiled code - i.e. native code libraries.
META-INF/
MANIFEST.MF stores meta data SHA1 hashes about the contents of the JAR\\
CERT.SF list of resources and SHA1 digest signed with RSA\\
CERT.RSA developer RSA public key for signing CERT.SF\\

All resources and files of an APK are signed by a developer, the public key in CERT.RSA can be examined using openssl with.

  openssl pkcs7 -in CERT.RSA -inform DER -print

During the installation of an APK file on an Android device,the Package Manager verifies the signatures. If modifications have been applied to an APK during debugging or reversing, the APK needs to be newly signed before installation.

Reversing APKs

Some Static Tools

apktool decompiling layout, values, resources XML files https://ibotpeaches.github.io/Apktool/
dex2jar decompiling dex(Dalvic executable) to a jar file https://github.com/pxb1988/dex2jar
jd-gui java decompiler and .class viewer https://github.com/java-decompiler/jd-gui
jadx java decompiler https://github.com/skylot/jadx
Android Studio - APK Analyzer profile and debug apks https://developer.android.com/studio/command-line/apkanalyzer
Ghidra NSA tool for reversing (basically dex2jar) https://ghidra-sre.org/

Some Dynamic Tools

Android Debug Bridge adb USB debugging https://developer.android.com/studio/command-line/adb
Emulators f.e AVD Android Virtual Devices in Android Studio https://androidemulator.org/
bettercap network analysis https://www.bettercap.org/
burp suite mock the app https://portswigger.net/burp
Frida hook in function call of an .apk https://frida.re/
Fuzzers [5] ....

Hands on Lab

Get the resources a beginners tutorial for apk reversing from the git repository.

   git clone https://git.fh-campuswien.ac.at/CampusCyberSecurityTeam/ccst
   cd ccst/apk_rev_intro

OWASP_app MSTG-Android-Java.apk

Mobile application to learn apk security issues.

  • Install app on your phone with adb - try it out
  • Unzip MSTG-Android-Java.apk
 * Examine the certificate who is subject and issuer?
 * Examine classes.dex
  • Unpack MSTG-Android-Java.apk with apktool
 * What are the app permissions?
 * What entry point has the app?
 * Examine smali folder
  • Use dex2jar to decompile MSTG-Android-Java.apk to a packed .jar file
  • Use jd-gui to examine the java classes of the .jar file

Walk through the security app (beginners) or try the CTF challenges (advanced)

Android CTF Challenges

Secrets - easy

  • localnews - medium-hard
  • 36c3_1337_skills - medium hard
  • KGB Messenger - CTF App written for apk Reversing


Used Hardware

Motorola Moto G4 Play Smartphone 16 GB, Android, Dual-SIM, black

Courses

Online Tutorials

References

Cite error: <ref> tag with name "apktool" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.