Analyzing Android Malware with Apktool

Overview

Android malware distributed as APK files can be statically analyzed to extract permissions, activities, services, broadcast receivers, and suspicious API calls without executing the sample. This skill uses androguard for programmatic APK analysis, identifying dangerous permission combinations, obfuscated code patterns, dynamic code loading, reflection-based API calls, and network communication indicators.

Prerequisites

• Python 3.9+ with androguard
• apktool (for resource decompilation)
• jadx (for Java source recovery, optional)
• Isolated analysis environment (VM or sandbox)
• Sample APK files for analysis

Steps

1. Parse APK with androguard to extract manifest metadata
2. Enumerate requested permissions and flag dangerous combinations
3. List activities, services, receivers, and providers from manifest
4. Scan for suspicious API calls (reflection, crypto, SMS, telephony)
5. Detect dynamic code loading patterns (DexClassLoader, Runtime.exec)
6. Extract hardcoded URLs, IPs, and C2 indicators from strings
7. Generate risk assessment report with MITRE ATT&CK mobile mappings

Expected Output

• JSON report with permission analysis, component listing, suspicious API calls, network indicators, and risk score
• Extracted strings and potential IOCs from the APK

Verification Criteria

Confirm successful execution by validating:

• [ ] All prerequisite tools and access requirements are satisfied
• [ ] Each workflow step completed without errors
• [ ] Output matches expected format and contains expected data
• [ ] No security warnings or misconfigurations detected
• [ ] Results are documented and evidence is preserved for audit

Compliance Framework Mapping

This skill supports compliance evidence collection across multiple frameworks:

• SOC 2: CC7.2 (Anomaly Detection), CC7.4 (Incident Response)
• ISO 27001: A.12.2 (Malware Protection), A.16.1 (Security Incident Management)
• NIST 800-53: SI-3 (Malicious Code Protection), IR-4 (Incident Handling)
• NIST CSF: DE.CM (Continuous Monitoring), RS.AN (Analysis)

Claw GRC Tip: When this skill is executed by a registered agent, compliance evidence is automatically captured and mapped to the relevant controls in your active frameworks.

Deploying This Skill with Claw GRC

Agent Execution

Register this skill with your Claw GRC agent for automated execution:

# Install via CLI
npx claw-grc skills add analyzing-android-malware-with-apktool

# Or load dynamically via MCP
grc.load_skill("analyzing-android-malware-with-apktool")

Audit Trail Integration

When executed through Claw GRC, every step of this skill generates tamper-evident audit records:

• SHA-256 chain hashing ensures no step can be modified after execution
• Evidence artifacts (configs, scan results, logs) are automatically attached to relevant controls
• Trust score impact — successful execution increases your agent's trust score

Continuous Compliance

Schedule this skill for recurring execution to maintain continuous compliance posture. Claw GRC monitors for drift and alerts when re-execution is needed.