How To Automatically Embed Payloads In APK's - Evil-Droid, Thefatrat & Apkinjector

How To Automatically Embed Payloads In APK's - Evil-Droid, Thefatrat & Apkinjector

🎙 HackerSploit 👥 1.0M 📅 March 26, 2019 ⏱ 27 min 👁 258K 📄 tutorial 🧭 2026-10-10
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

APKAndroidpayloadbackdoorMetasploit

Summary

Alexis from HackerSploit demonstrates automated methods for embedding payloads into Android APKs. He begins by explaining the benefits of automation over manual decompiling and recompiling. He then tests MSF Venom, which fails to recompile the APK due to SDK issues. Next, he showcases Evil-Droid, a tool that automates the entire process—decompilation, payload injection, recompilation, and signing. Using a Google Now launcher as a test APK, he successfully generates a backdoored APK and gains a Meterpreter session on an Android 9 emulator. He then tries TheFatRat, which fails to verify signatures on Android. Finally, he demonstrates APK Injector, which requires manual specification of the main activity’s small file, but successfully injects the payload. The video emphasizes the importance of choosing compatible host applications and notes that not all APKs can be recompiled after injection.

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Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The video provides practical value by comparing multiple tools and showing real results, including failures. The argumentation is solid: he explains why MSF Venom often fails, why Evil-Droid is reliable, and why TheFatRat is not suited for Android. He also demonstrates the entire workflow, including starting a Metasploit handler and testing on an emulator, which validates the effectiveness of the method. The step-by-step approach makes the content actionable.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The sources are the GitHub repositories for Evil-Droid and APK Injector, which are directly relevant. The title accurately reflects the content, focusing on the three tools. The video is a tutorial, so it does not provide external scientific references, but the demonstration itself serves as evidence. The presenter also mentions that some tools are outdated, showing a critical perspective.

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Title / Content Match

The title accurately describes the content: automatic payload embedding in APKs using three specific tools.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

The video is a practical, step-by-step demonstration of multiple tools, clearly showing successes and failures. The presenter identifies specific technical reasons for failures, adding credibility. However, the content is from 2019 and tools may have evolved, which slightly affects current reliability.

Key Moments

Cited Sources

External References

Contribution & Novelties

The video contributes a comparative analysis of three automated APK backdooring tools, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses in a practical demonstration. It also clarifies the importance of host APK compatibility and the role of manual activity specification in tools like APK Injector.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • Metasploit Project — The framework used for payload generation and handler, essential context for understanding exploitation.
  • Apktool — The underlying tool for decompiling and recompiling APKs used in the process.
  • Android Application Security Guide — Official guidelines for evaluating and securing Android apps, relevant for defenders.

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Radar Profile

The scores reflect a high technical level and strong reliability, with good information density. The video excels in practical application, while the theoretical depth is adequate for a tutorial.

Reliability 8/10

💬 Overall very positive, with many viewers praising the clear explanations and practical value. Some comments report technical errors like 'FAILED TO VERIFY SIGNED ARTIFACTS' and 'Debug key not found', indicating common issues users face. On the 30 comments analyzed, the sentiment is predominantly positive.