Bypassing Multiple Checks on Android Applications: A Security Researcher’s Experience

Hello everyone! My name is Sahil Choudhary, and I’m a security researcher. Today, I want to share my experience on how I successfully bypassed multiple checks in an Android application through reverse engineering.

The Challenge

I was tasked with conducting a penetration test on an application that employed robust mechanisms to detect various conditions, including:

· Root detection

· Emulator detection

· ADB (Android Debug Bridge) detection

· Location detection

These checks posed a significant challenge in gaining access to the application’s functionality for testing purposes.

The Approach

To begin, I used the JADX tool to decompile the APK file. This allowed me to inspect the application’s code and identify the segments responsible for the detection checks.

Step 1: Decompiling the APK

Using JADX, I extracted the source code from the APK. This step is crucial because it gives insight into how the application operates and where the checks are implemented.

Step 2: Identifying the Checks

Once I had the code in front of me, I meticulously searched for the relevant sections that executed the detection mechanisms. After some thorough exploration, I located the code responsible for:

· Checking for root access

· Detecting if the app was running in an emulator

· Verifying ADB connections

· Monitoring location services

Step 3: Modifying the Code

Armed with this knowledge, I opened the decompiled APK in Visual Studio and made the necessary modifications. I effectively removed or bypassed the checks, ensuring that the application would not terminate or restrict access based on these conditions.

Step 4: Running the Application

After applying the changes, I recompiled the APK and ran the application. To my satisfaction, it worked perfectly, allowing me to bypass all detection mechanisms without any issues.

Successfully bypassing these checks not only helped me conduct a thorough penetration test but also deepened my understanding of Android application security. Reverse engineering is a powerful skill for security researchers, and it’s essential to approach it with caution and ethical considerations.

I hope my experience provides insights for others interested in Android security. Always remember to follow ethical guidelines when conducting any form of testing or research.

Thank you for reading! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out

Follow me on linkdin:-https://www.linkedin.com/in/6u1jwmg22z7q5apake7brm38rzxqlh96/

#CyberSecurity #AndroidSecurity #ReverseEngineering #PenTesting #RootDetectionBypass #EmulatorDetectionBypass #ADBBypass #AppSec #MobileSecurity #EthicalHacking #APKRecompilation #JADX #SecurityResearch #ApplicationSecurity #HackingTechniques #SecurityChallenges