Android Security and Penetration Testing

  1. Setting Up a Penetration Testing Environment
    1. Choosing a Testing Device
      1. Physical Devices
        1. Advantages
          1. Real Hardware Behavior
            1. Complete Feature Set
            2. Disadvantages
              1. Risk of Bricking
                1. Cost Considerations
                2. OEM-specific Considerations
                  1. Bootloader Unlock Policies
                    1. Update and Patching Frequency
                      1. Warranty Implications
                    2. Emulators and Virtual Devices
                      1. Android Studio AVD
                        1. Configuration Options
                          1. Limitations for Security Testing
                            1. Performance Considerations
                            2. Genymotion
                              1. Features for Pentesting
                                1. Networking Setup
                                  1. Plugin Support
                                  2. Third-party Emulators
                                2. Host Machine Setup
                                  1. Operating System Choices
                                    1. Linux
                                      1. Distribution Recommendations
                                        1. Package Management
                                        2. macOS
                                          1. Homebrew Setup
                                            1. Xcode Requirements
                                            2. Windows
                                              1. WSL Considerations
                                                1. PowerShell vs. Command Prompt
                                              2. Installing Essential Tools
                                                1. Java Development Kit (JDK)
                                                  1. Version Compatibility
                                                    1. Environment Variables
                                                    2. Android SDK Platform Tools
                                                      1. ADB (Android Debug Bridge)
                                                        1. Fastboot
                                                          1. Platform Tools Updates
                                                          2. Python and Pip
                                                            1. Version Requirements
                                                              1. Virtual Environments
                                                              2. Additional Dependencies
                                                                1. Git
                                                                  1. Wget
                                                                    1. Unzip
                                                                      1. Build Tools
                                                                  2. Device Preparation
                                                                    1. Enabling Developer Options
                                                                      1. Accessing Developer Menu
                                                                        1. Enabling USB Debugging
                                                                          1. OEM Unlocking Option
                                                                          2. Unlocking the Bootloader
                                                                            1. Risks and Implications
                                                                              1. OEM Unlock Process
                                                                                1. Fastboot Commands
                                                                                2. Rooting the Device
                                                                                  1. SuperSU
                                                                                    1. Installation Process
                                                                                      1. Management Interface
                                                                                        1. Binary Updates
                                                                                        2. Magisk
                                                                                          1. Systemless Root
                                                                                            1. Module Support
                                                                                              1. Hide Root Feature
                                                                                              2. Root Detection Bypass
                                                                                              3. Installing a Custom Recovery
                                                                                                1. TWRP Installation
                                                                                                  1. Backup and Restore Procedures
                                                                                                    1. Recovery Mode Access
                                                                                                  2. Essential Penetration Testing Software
                                                                                                    1. Mobile Security Framework (MobSF)
                                                                                                      1. Installation and Setup
                                                                                                        1. Static Analysis Features
                                                                                                          1. Dynamic Analysis Features
                                                                                                            1. Report Generation
                                                                                                            2. Burp Suite
                                                                                                              1. Community vs. Professional
                                                                                                                1. Proxy Setup
                                                                                                                  1. Traffic Interception
                                                                                                                    1. Extension Management
                                                                                                                    2. OWASP ZAP
                                                                                                                      1. Installation and Configuration
                                                                                                                        1. Automated Scanning
                                                                                                                          1. Manual Testing Tools
                                                                                                                            1. API Testing
                                                                                                                            2. Frida and Frida-Tools
                                                                                                                              1. Server Installation
                                                                                                                                1. Dynamic Instrumentation
                                                                                                                                  1. Script Management
                                                                                                                                    1. Common Use Cases
                                                                                                                                    2. Ghidra
                                                                                                                                      1. Installation and Setup
                                                                                                                                        1. Reverse Engineering Native Code
                                                                                                                                          1. Scripting Capabilities
                                                                                                                                          2. JADX
                                                                                                                                            1. Decompiling DEX to Java
                                                                                                                                              1. GUI vs. Command Line
                                                                                                                                                1. Export Options
                                                                                                                                                2. dex2jar
                                                                                                                                                  1. DEX to JAR Conversion
                                                                                                                                                    1. Integration with Other Tools
                                                                                                                                                    2. Drozer
                                                                                                                                                      1. Installation and Setup
                                                                                                                                                        1. Android Attack Surface Mapping
                                                                                                                                                          1. Exploitation Modules
                                                                                                                                                            1. Custom Module Development
                                                                                                                                                            2. Objection
                                                                                                                                                              1. Runtime Mobile Exploration
                                                                                                                                                                1. Bypassing Security Controls
                                                                                                                                                                  1. Memory Manipulation
                                                                                                                                                                  2. SQLite Browser
                                                                                                                                                                    1. Database Inspection
                                                                                                                                                                      1. Data Export and Import
                                                                                                                                                                        1. Query Execution

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                                                                                                                                                                    3. Static Analysis (SAST)