Androguard: Android analysis with Python

Evaluation approach

Inspect manifests, classes, methods and call relationships programmatically. Pin scripts to a particular library release because APIs and features can change.

Application example

Build reports comparing new permissions or class groups across your own application releases.

Limits and considerations

Static call graphs may not fully represent dynamic loading and reflection.

Small, auditable Python outputs

Begin with a narrow task such as a permission inventory or package identity rather than scoring an entire application. Inspect without changing the input. A parsing failure must not become an empty success report.

Multiple DEX files or unexpected package structures can invalidate script assumptions. Test failures against sample applications and pin the library version. Reports should identify the changed area and input artifact for developers.

Technical assessment

Identify the artifact before Python analysis

Record the library version, input package and report format when writing an Androguard inspection script. APIs can change, so an older script should not be assumed to behave identically with a newer release.

This small Python example calculates a file's SHA-256 digest. It does not run Androguard or scan for vulnerabilities; it establishes which artifact different teams are examining.

from hashlib import sha256
from pathlib import Path

package = Path("application.apk")
digest = sha256()
with package.open("rb") as handle:
    for chunk in iter(lambda: handle.read(1024 * 1024), b""):
        digest.update(chunk)
print(digest.hexdigest())

If an expected file, class or field cannot be found, do not treat an empty report as a successful check. Include package identity, unresolved components and errors. Assess separately whether static findings are reachable during execution.

Checks and decisions

• Pin the library version
• Distinguish analysis failures
• Verify dynamic flows separately

Androguard supports repeatable package inspection for Python-capable teams; it does not itself provide RASP.

Sources

• github.com — androguard

The primary references above provide the technical basis. Example workflows and evaluation suggestions are this publication’s explanations, not independent test results for a particular product.