[FEAT] aapt binaries for arm

[oSumAtrIX]

Problem

Currently apktool-lib has no prebuild binaries for thr arm architecture. This means, that resources can not be compiled on mobile phones.

Solution

Add pre-built binaries for the arm architecture. Termux currently provides these pre-build binaries and build scripts here.

[iBotPeaches]

The problem is more so signing up to support alternative architectures. I don't plan on moving on this until native AOSP supports it.

Lodged into Roadmap - https://github.com/iBotPeaches/Apktool/blob/master/ROADMAP.md#android-support

[Anonymous2716]

Termuxs aapt doesn't work well yet with apps that was targeted recent android versions (11, 12) .I did a little tweak that allows me to use x86 binaries run on termux.

[oSumAtrIX]

@Anonymous2716 would this not require emulation?

[Anonymous2716]

@oSumAtrIX yes I did it with qemu-i386. A little slower than native use but not that noticeable.

[oSumAtrIX]

Termuxs aapt doesn't work well yet with apps that was targeted recent android versions (11, 12)

Can you elaborate on that

[Anonymous2716]

@oSumAtrIX termux uses its aapt as default with apktool. And every time I use apktool on recent SDK targeted (not entirely sure if its the issue) apps it gives me XML build errors . which app doesn't have a lots of XML in res works just fine . e.g. helloworld apks.

❯ apktool b base -o b.apk
I: Using Apktool 2.6.1-dirty
I: Checking whether sources has changed...
I: Smaling smali folder into classes.dex...
I: Checking whether sources has changed...
I: Smaling smali_classes2 folder into classes2.dex...
I: Checking whether resources has changed...
I: Building resources...
W: res/drawable/$avd_hide_password__0.xml: Invalid file name: must contain only [a-z0-9_.]
W: res/drawable/$avd_hide_password__1.xml: Invalid file name: must contain only [a-z0-9_.]
W: res/drawable/$avd_hide_password__2.xml: Invalid file name: must contain only [a-z0-9_.]
W: res/drawable/$avd_show_password__0.xml: Invalid file name: must contain only [a-z0-9_.]
W: res/drawable/$avd_show_password__1.xml: Invalid file name: must contain only [a-z0-9_.]
W: res/drawable/$avd_show_password__2.xml: Invalid file name: must contain only [a-z0-9_.]
brut.androlib.AndrolibException: brut.common.BrutException: could not exec (exit code = 1): [/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/tmp/brut_util_Jar_106390223823776650034599575935767187581.tmp, p, --min-sdk-version, 16, --target-sdk-version, 30, --version-code, 16150060, --version-name, v4.8.1, --no-version-vectors, -F, /data/data/com.termux/files/usr/tmp/APKTOOL2337288095946542186.tmp, -0, resources.arsc, -0, png, -0, arsc, -I, /data/data/com.termux/files/home/.local/share/apktool/framework/1.apk, -S, /data/data/com.termux/files/home/a/base/res, -M, /data/data/com.termux/files/home/a/base/AndroidManifest.xml]

[Anonymous2716]

@oSumAtrIX as this https://github.com/termux/termux-packages/blob/master/packages/apktool/aapt-wrapper.patch I call qemu-i386 aapt (I gave absolute paths) instead of termux provided aapt. or 64bit your choice . since apktool provides standalone one binary it works. And I compiled apktool from source (v2.6.2) as the instructions given in termuxs repository. I tried v 2.6.1 gives me errors . I don't recall whice ones. The framework apk apktool provides doesn't seem to resolve all the XML references . a recent update termuxes aapt (android.jar) updated to SDK 31. So I copied android.jar to the path of apktools framework 1.apk. Now I can reverse engineer apps on my phone . and a real device to test on without needing to transfer and adb.

[oSumAtrIX]

Would modifying the aapt build scripts to use the latest sdk not work?

[Anonymous2716]

I dont know whats difference between apktools binary termuxs and this one below. There are arm binaries that works but couldn't find the source or how to build. Check https://github.com/Hax4us/Apkmod release page . it works in proot.

[oSumAtrIX]

The problem is more so signing up to support alternative architectures

@iBotPeaches We have successfully built aapt2 (and aapt) for several architectures and tested it on android with Apktool and from an Android app:
https://github.com/revanced/aapt2/actions/runs/2373859817

[Anonymous2716]

@eladkarako your aapt2 binary just prints the help message . not doing anything else. Takes no arguments.