Androwarn APK Static Analysis Guide

If you’re working in Android security testing, malware analysis, or mobile penetration testing, then Androwarn is a powerful tool you should know.
Androwarn is an open-source static APK analysis tool designed to detect suspicious or malicious behaviors inside Android applications - without running the app.
In this detailed guide, you’ll learn:

• What Androwarn does
• Its key features
• Installation steps in Kali Linux
• How to generate analysis reports
• Practical usage examples

Let’s break it down step by step 🚀

What Is Androwarn? 🧠​

Androwarn is a static code analyzer for Android APK files.
It analyzes:

• Application bytecode
• Permissions
• API calls
• Data flows

And then generates a detailed report highlighting potential malicious behavior.
Unlike dynamic analysis tools, Androwarn does not execute the APK - it inspects its internal structure.
This makes it: Safe - Fast - Useful for early malware detection

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Key Features of Androwarn 🔍​

Androwarn performs structural and data flow analysis targeting multiple malicious behavior categories.

📡 Telephony Identifiers Exfiltration​

Detects access to: IMEI - IMSI - MCC - MNC - LAC - CID - Operator name

⚙️ Device Settings Exfiltration​

Checks if the app collects:

• Software version
• Usage statistics
• System settings
• Logs

📍 Geolocation Leakage​

Detects GPS and WiFi location data access.

📶 Connection Interface Information Theft​

Analyzes access to:

• WiFi credentials
• Bluetooth MAC addresses

📱 Telephony Services Abuse​

Detects:

• Premium SMS sending
• Phone call initiation

🎙️ Audio/Video Interception​

Flags:

• Call recording
• Video capture

🌐 Remote Connection Establishment​

Checks for:

• Socket connections
• Bluetooth pairing
• APN modifications

📇 PIM Data Leakage​

Detects access to: Contacts - Calendar - SMS - Emails

💾 External Storage Access​

Analyzes file access on SD cards.

🔥 Arbitrary Code Execution​

Detects:

• Native code via JNI
• UNIX command execution
• Privilege escalation attempts

🚫 Denial of Service (DoS) Indicators​

Checks for:

• File deletion
• Process killing
• System shutdown
• Keyboard disable

This makes Androwarn extremely useful for malware research and mobile app security audits.

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Androwarn Analysis Modes 🎯​

Androwarn supports three verbosity levels:

Essential Mode​

-v 1

Advanced Mode​

-v 2

Expert Mode​

-v 3
Expert mode provides the most detailed analysis.

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Install Androwarn in Kali Linux 🐧​

Step 1: Clone Repository​

git clone https://github.com/maaaaz/androwarn.git
cd androwarn

Step 2: Install Dependencies​

Install required packages:

apt install python3 python3-pip git mercurial
pip install jinja2

Step 3: Install Chilkat Module​

Download Chilkat module from:
https://www.chilkatsoft.com/python.asp
Make sure you choose:

• Correct Python version
• Correct architecture (32-bit or 64-bit)

Extract the package:

tar xvf chilkat-9.5.0-python-2.7-x86_64-linux.tar.gz

Install:

python installChilkat.py

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How to Use Androwarn 🛠️​

Generate HTML Report (Expert Mode)​

python androwarn.py -i yourapplication.apk -r html -v 3

Options used:

• -i → Input APK file
• -r → Report format
• -v → Verbosity level

Reports will be saved inside the Report folder.

Generate Text Report​

python androwarn.py -i yourapplication.apk -r txt -v 3

This creates a plaintext report for easier review or automation.

View Help Menu​

python androwarn.py -h

This shows all available options and usage parameters.

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When Should You Use Androwarn? 🎯​

Androwarn is useful for:

• Android malware analysis
• Mobile app security auditing
• APK reverse engineering
• OSINT investigations
• Incident response analysis

It is especially helpful during:

• Bug bounty mobile testing
• Android pentesting
• Security research

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Static vs Dynamic Analysis 🧠​

Androwarn = Static analysis
It does not execute the APK.
For deeper testing, combine with:

• Dynamic sandbox analysis
• Frida instrumentation
• Drozer testing

Combining tools gives better security coverage.

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Ethical Reminder ⚠️​

Only analyze:

• APKs you own
• Authorized applications
• Lab test samples

Reverse engineering or analyzing apps without permission may violate laws.
Always follow responsible security research practices.

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Final Thoughts 🚀​

Androwarn is a powerful open-source Android static analysis tool that helps detect suspicious behavior inside APK files.
If you’re serious about mobile application security, adding Androwarn to your toolkit will significantly improve your Android malware detection workflow.
Master static analysis - Combine it with dynamic testing.
Stay ethical. 🔐📱💻