[TOOL] DexPatcher: Modify Android applications at source-level in Android Studio

[Lanchon]

Lanchon, thanks so much for this great tool, if you don't mind I'd like to ask how to build dexpatcher_26.dex ? If I run jar2dex I get this error
d2j-jar2dex.sh dexpatcher-1.8.0-beta1.jar Uncaught translation error: com.android.dx.cf.code.SimException: invalid opcode ba (invokedynamic requires --min-sdk-version >= 26)

well you'd need to ask that project.

but you can probably build it using retrolamda/dx combo for old androids or simply d8 for newer androids.

 

[chocofrypie]

I'm been using the latest release of the dexpatcher-gradle plugin, and in response to invalid resources, I have enabled the "disableResourceValidation" and "useAapt2BundledWithApktool" options in app build.gradle file.

However, an error arises in which the Android resource linking process fails, as a "queries" element is found in the manifest under build/intermediates. I'm not too sure how to fix this. I've changed the gradle version from 3.4.2 to 3.4.3, which was the patch from Google that was meant to fix this. (source: https://android-developers.googlebl...ild-for-package-visibility-in-android-11.html)

 

[Lanchon]

I'm been using the latest release of the dexpatcher-gradle plugin, and in response to invalid resources, I have enabled the "disableResourceValidation" and "useAapt2BundledWithApktool" options in app build.gradle file.

However, an error arises in which the Android resource linking process fails, as a "queries" element is found in the manifest under build/intermediates. I'm not too sure how to fix this. I've changed the gradle version from 3.4.2 to 3.4.3, which was the patch from Google that was meant to fix this. (source: https://android-developers.googlebl...ild-for-package-visibility-in-android-11.html)

the aapt2 bundled with apktool most likely is pre-android 11 and does not know about queries. your best bet then is to target android 10 instead of 11 and remove the queries element. or if you don't need the inter app functionality (maybe its against your privacy) you might get away with just removing said element. the app will incorrectly think other apps it looks for are not installed when they actually are.

 

[arizzopm]

Hello there! Thanks @Lanchon for this tool!

I'm having problems with the android billing package. I'm trying to hook a function that has android billing has argument

import com.android.billingclient.api.BillingClient;

@DexReplace
private void handlePurchase(Purchase purchase) {
    // ...
    notifyPurchase(purchase.getSku(), purchase.getOriginalJson(), purchase.getSignature());
}

But the dependency doesn't exist so I tried to add it in build.gradle.

dependencies {
    implementation("com.android.billingclient:billing:3.0.3")
}

And added it to AndroidManifest.xml

<meta-data android:name="com.google.android.play.billingclient.version" android:value="3.0.3"/>
<activity
    android:name="com.android.billingclient.api.ProxyBillingActivity"
    android:configChanges="keyboard|keyboardHidden|screenLayout|screenSize|orientation"
    android:theme="@android:style/Theme.Translucent.NoTitleBar" />

And then a task fails

Execution failed for task ':app:processDebugManifest'.
> Manifest merger failed : Attribute activity#com.android.billingclient.api.ProxyBillingActivity@configChanges value=(keyboard|keyboardHidden|screenLayout|screenSize|orientation) from AndroidManifest.xml:21:13-96
      is also present at [< App Components > :app-components:unspecified] AndroidManifest.xml:37:19-102 value=(keyboard|keyboardHidden|orientation|screenLayout|screenSize).
      Suggestion: add 'tools:replace="android:configChanges"' to <activity> element at AndroidManifest.xml:19:9-22:75 to override.

So I added tools:replace="android:configChanges" as suggested but then another task failed

type 'com.android.billingclient.BuildConfig': (com.android.billingclient:billing@@3.0.3:0): already exists
(lot of similar errors)

I tried the following code:

dependencies {
    implementation("com.android.billingclient:billing:3.0.3") {
        exclude group: 'com.android.billingclient', module: 'billing'
    }
}

but i had no luck

So i'm stuck here :/

Any ideas?

The app's AndroidManifest.xml has:

<meta-data android:name="com.google.android.play.billingclient.version" android:value="3.0.3"/>
        <activity android:theme="@style/Theme.Translucent.NoTitleBar" android:name="com.android.billingclient.api.ProxyBillingActivity" android:exported="false" android:configChanges="keyboard|keyboardHidden|orientation|screenLayout|screenSize"/>

Thanks in advance!
Best regards

 

[Lanchon]

I'm having problems with the android billing package. I'm trying to hook a function that has android billing has argument

import com.android.billingclient.api.BillingClient;

@DexReplace
private void handlePurchase(Purchase purchase) {
    // ...
    notifyPurchase(purchase.getSku(), purchase.getOriginalJson(), purchase.getSignature());
}

But the dependency doesn't exist so I tried to add it in build.gradle.

sorry this is useless. what exactly does not exist? instead of "dependency doesn't exist" paste logs and errors. also paste the full java source, including containing class.

dependencies {
    implementation("com.android.billingclient:billing:3.0.3")
}

why? if the dep is already on the source app you shouldn't re-add it. (if you wanted it replaced with a different version there is more stuff you must do.)

And added it to AndroidManifest.xml

<meta-data android:name="com.google.android.play.billingclient.version" android:value="3.0.3"/>
<activity
    android:name="com.android.billingclient.api.ProxyBillingActivity"
    android:configChanges="keyboard|keyboardHidden|screenLayout|screenSize|orientation"
    android:theme="@android:style/Theme.Translucent.NoTitleBar" />

And then a task fails

Execution failed for task ':app:processDebugManifest'.
> Manifest merger failed : Attribute activity#com.android.billingclient.api.ProxyBillingActivity@configChanges value=(keyboard|keyboardHidden|screenLayout|screenSize|orientation) from AndroidManifest.xml:21:13-96
      is also present at [< App Components > :app-components:unspecified] AndroidManifest.xml:37:19-102 value=(keyboard|keyboardHidden|orientation|screenLayout|screenSize).
      Suggestion: add 'tools:replace="android:configChanges"' to <activity> element at AndroidManifest.xml:19:9-22:75 to override.

So I added tools:replace="android:configChanges" as suggested

this is correct. the merger step merges the original app manifest with yours. both have an <activity> named the same for which your manifest defines a configChanges attribute. but there already is such an attrib in the original activity, so you need to inform manifest merger what to do with the clash.

but then another task failed

type 'com.android.billingclient.BuildConfig': (com.android.billingclient:billing@@3.0.3:0): already exists
(lot of similar errors)

this is correct. the dependency is already in the app so the default class action DexAdd fails because classes already exist in the app. again, you shouldn't just add a dep that is already there.

I tried the following code:

dependencies {
    implementation("com.android.billingclient:billing:3.0.3") {
        exclude group: 'com.android.billingclient', module: 'billing'
    }
}

but i had no luck

So i'm stuck here :/

Any ideas?

The app's AndroidManifest.xml has:

<meta-data android:name="com.google.android.play.billingclient.version" android:value="3.0.3"/>
        <activity android:theme="@style/Theme.Translucent.NoTitleBar" android:name="com.android.billingclient.api.ProxyBillingActivity" android:exported="false" android:configChanges="keyboard|keyboardHidden|orientation|screenLayout|screenSize"/>

Thanks in advance!
Best regards

 

[rauleeros]

Is there anyone in here able to patch apps that use Android Hidden API 27? I'm having a bunch of errors while trying to do this and I'm sure the fix is something straight forward.

 

[shirazC]

Do anybody know something about this

Some problems were found with the configuration of task ':app:decodeApk' (type 'DecodeApkTask').
- In plugin 'lanchon.dexpatcher.gradle.plugins.DexpatcherBasePlugin' type 'lanchon.dexpatcher.gradle.tasks.DecodeApkTask' property 'frameworkOutDir' is annotated with @PathSensitive but that is not allowed for 'OutputDirectory' properties.

 

[Lanchon]

Do anybody know something about this

Some problems were found with the configuration of task ':app:decodeApk' (type 'DecodeApkTask').
- In plugin 'lanchon.dexpatcher.gradle.plugins.DexpatcherBasePlugin' type 'lanchon.dexpatcher.gradle.tasks.DecodeApkTask' property 'frameworkOutDir' is annotated with @PathSensitive but that is not allowed for 'OutputDirectory' properties.

you are using an unsupported version of gradle. please see dxp-gradle release notes for compatibility info.

 

[reverser69]

hi all

can someone please give a step-by-step guide on how to build the patching environment?
i want to patch a sample APK like this:

but what ever i do i get errors. im tring to integrate dexpatcher with android studio.
tried to build dexpatcher but it seems gradle cant find some files online.
it seems dexpatcher cant work with latest version of tools but i dont know which version to install.

 

[Lanchon]

hi all

can someone please give a step-by-step guide on how to build the patching environment?
i want to patch a sample APK like this:

but what ever i do i get errors. im tring to integrate dexpatcher with android studio.
tried to build dexpatcher but it seems gradle cant find some files online.
it seems dexpatcher cant work with latest version of tools but i dont know which version to install.

read the release notes of dxp-gradle releases on github for the last few versions.