How to patch Android app to sniff its HTTPS traffic with self-signed certificate

patch_apk_for_sniffing.md

How to patch Android app to sniff its HTTPS traffic with self-signed certificate

• Download apktool from https://ibotpeaches.github.io/Apktool/
• Unpack apk file: java -jar /home/expert/work/tools/apktool.jar d net.flixster.android-9.1.3@APK4Fun.com.apk
• Modify AndroidManifest.xml by adding android:networkSecurityConfig="@xml/network_security_config" attribute to application element.
• Create file /res/xml/network_security_config.xml with following content:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<network-security-config>
    <base-config>
        <trust-anchors>
            <certificates src="system" />
            <certificates src="user" />
        </trust-anchors>
    </base-config>
</network-security-config>

• Build patched apk: java -jar /home/expert/work/tools/apktool.jar b flixster -o flixster_patched.apk
• If you see followint error try running java -jar /home/expert/work/tools/apktool.jar empty-framework-dir --force or run b command with parameter --use-aapt2

W: invalid resource directory name: /home/expert/Downloads/Zzzzzz/Zzzzzz_v0.0.0/res navigation
brut.androlib.AndrolibException: brut.common.BrutException: could not exec (exit code = 1): [/tmp/brut_util_Jar_5815054990385134498.tmp, p, --forced-package-id, 127, --min-sdk-version, 23, --target-sdk-version, 29, --version-code, 226000400, --version-name, 226.000.0, --no-version-vectors, -F, /tmp/APKTOOL14466004687895005947.tmp, -e, /tmp/APKTOOL4388243966604401097.tmp, -0, arsc, -I, /home/expert/.local/share/apktool/framework/1.apk, -S, /home/expert/Downloads/Zzzzzz/Zzzzzz_v0.0.0/res, -M, /home/expert/Downloads/Zzzzzz/Zzzzzz_v0.0.0/AndroidManifest.xml]

• Generate keys to sign apk: keytool -genkey -alias keys -keystore keys -keyalg RSA -keysize 2048 -validity 10000 # password
• Sign apk file: jarsigner -verbose -keystore keys /home/expert/Downloads/lancet/flixster_patched.apk keys
• If necessary convert apk to jar for further analysis: d2j-dex2jar.sh net.flixster.android-9.1.3@APK4Fun.com.apk
• To find what cyphers suites are supported by remote server calls: nmap --script ssl-enum-ciphers -p 443 youtubei.googleapis.com or sslscan youtubei.googleapis.com
• To check what cypher suites your client supports query https://www.howsmyssl.com/a/check

I wrote a python script to automate this process.
https://github.com/rlxone/android-https-patcher

@rlxone Thank you, Dmitry!

Thanks for these instructions!

Ok so some patched apps do not install. Any way to debug why it happens?

@txtsd I couldn't figure it out. It seemed like apktool can't properly repack newer builds. So in my research I ended up using old versions of apk files. Please comment here if you find the root cause of the issue. I'll update the document.

I had to use an older version of the apk too.
Maybe we can ask upstream?

Same happened for me in rare cases. Didn't find the solution, used older versions.
@txtsd
Is there any logs why it can't install?
If you find the solution, i'll update my tool also.

Same happened for me in rare cases. Didn't find the solution, used older versions.
@txtsd
Is there any logs why it can't install?
If you find the solution, i'll update my tool also.

Would this help? iBotPeaches/Apktool#1626 (comment)

I'll copy-paste it just in case, but I haven't had a chance to test it. Have you tested it, @Korayem ?

> Seems to work with 2.4.2-d3f9d5-SNAPSHOT.
> 
> After rebuilding, `zipalign` it using this command: `zipalign -p -f 4 input.apk output.apk`
> Then sign it with `apksigner` and should work now.

https://github.com/shroudedcode/apk-mitm

https://github.com/shroudedcode/apk-mitm

works like a charm