[Q] Modifying .odex file - Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]

Is it possible to modify code in a system .odex file without de-odexing?
Here is what I've been trying, without success (Windows computer, Samsung Epic 4G Touch phone, stock ROM with 2.3.6):
On my computer, using Android Commander, I pull a .odex from /system/app to my computer. There is a corresponding .apk, but I leave that alone. I also pull the entire /system/framework folder.
On my computer, from the location containing the framework folder and the .odex file, I run "java -jar baksmali.jar --api-level 10 -d framework -x <FILE_NAME>.odex". This creates an "out" folder, with the com/android/<FILE_NAME> folder structure and the code.
I modify the code (.smali files).
I rename the original .odex file and run "java -jar smali.jar --api-level 10 out/ -o <FILE_NAME>.odex". This creates a new .odex file that, as far as I can tell, should have the updated code in it.
Using Android Commander, I push the new .odex to /system/app on my phone, change the permissions to 644, and reboot the phone.​
The changes aren't having an effect. In fact, the status bar is completely gone (the example I'm working on is a mod to the status bar in SystemUI.odex).
Any idea what I'm doing wrong?

So I'm getting the feeling that it's not possible to edit odexed apks. Is there anyway to de-odex just a single apk rather than the whole rom?

Brent212 said:
So I'm getting the feeling that it's not possible to edit odexed apks. Is there anyway to de-odex just a single apk rather than the whole rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1208320
Basically, no odex can be edited and put back that easy. Wrapping and Signing ODEX style is required.

Awesome! That thread's perfect. I'm hoping I can deodex, mod the code, create a classes.dex file and put it in with the .apk, zipalign it, and just replace the existing .apk and .odex with the new .apk.

That thread (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1208320) had the answers I was looking for.
The trick was to either rename the new .odex to classes.dex and put it into the .apk, and zipalign the .apk (although I have a feeling that wasn't actually necessary), or to copy the signature from the old .odex file to the new one.

Brent212 said:
That thread (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1208320) had the answers I was looking for.
The trick was to either rename the new .odex to classes.dex and put it into the .apk, and zipalign the .apk (although I have a feeling that wasn't actually necessary), or to copy the signature from the old .odex file to the new one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Odex is not dex. And vice versa. Remember that. When compiling, the result is always dex. To have odex, you need to wrap it with dexopt-wrapper within your phone.
sent from my white ray using XDA App

Related

Need someone to compile an APK for me

Alright, so I decompiled the apk, edited the XML files I needed to. And now it won't compile. Keeps throwing java errors. Would someone be so kind to compile this for me?
This is a System APK so it needs to be compiled and signed. If you're curious or it needs extra files pulled from somewhere, it's the SystemUI.apk in the CM7 Droid nightly build 88.
Thanks!!
Here's what I need compiled:
http://mikelierman.com/SystemUI.apk.zip
0vermind said:
Alright, so I decompiled the apk, edited the XML files I needed to. And now it won't compile. Keeps throwing java errors. Would someone be so kind to compile this for me?
This is a System APK so it needs to be compiled and signed. If you're curious or it needs extra files pulled from somewhere, it's the SystemUI.apk in the CM7 Droid nightly build 88.
Thanks!!
Here's what I need compiled:
http://mikelierman.com/SystemUI.apk.zip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What did you use to decompile it? APK Manager from this thread?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=695701
Oh and once you compile it, you don't have to sign it because is a system app and not a regular app.
0vermind said:
Alright, so I decompiled the apk, edited the XML files I needed to. And now it won't compile. Keeps throwing java errors. Would someone be so kind to compile this for me?
This is a System APK so it needs to be compiled and signed. If you're curious or it needs extra files pulled from somewhere, it's the SystemUI.apk in the CM7 Droid nightly build 88.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What errors are you getting from apktool? It's going to be hard for someone else to compile an apk that has not been decoded by them and not knowing what files have been changed. Letting us know at least what .png or .xml files were modified would be a start but will work best if we could just figure out why you aren't able to build with your modifications.
The first thing I noticed from the zip you attached is that it's missing the apktool.yml file that should get created a package is decoded. Second, make sure to pull /system/framework/framework-res.apk so resources can be decoded/built properly. If you are using APK Manager, use option 10 to decode with framework-res.apk. If you are just using apktool run the command "apktool if framework-res.apk" before decoding.
mazdarider23 said:
Oh and once you compile it, you don't have to sign it because is a system app and not a regular app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SystemUI.apk actually does get signed using the platform key. The easiest way to do so in my opinion is to use ZipSigner 2 on your phone. Also, once you've placed the modified SystemUI.apk into /system/app make sure it's permissions are rw-r--r--(chmod 644 /system/app/SystemUI.apk) and it's owner:group is root:root(chown 0:0 /system/app/SystemUI.apk). Next reboot to recovery, wipe dalvik-cache and cache, then reboot.
MongooseHelix said:
What errors are you getting from apktool? It's going to be hard for someone else to compile an apk that has not been decoded by them and not knowing what files have been changed. Letting us know at least what .png or .xml files were modified would be a start but will work best if we could just figure out why you aren't able to build with your modifications.
The first thing I noticed from the zip you attached is that it's missing the apktool.yml file that should get created a package is decoded. Second, make sure to pull /system/framework/framework-res.apk so resources can be decoded/built properly. If you are using APK Manager, use option 10 to decode with framework-res.apk. If you are just using apktool run the command "apktool if framework-res.apk" before decoding.
SystemUI.apk actually does get signed using the platform key. The easiest way to do so in my opinion is to use ZipSigner 2 on your phone. Also, once you've placed the modified SystemUI.apk into /system/app make sure it's permissions are rw-r--r--(chmod 644 /system/app/SystemUI.apk) and it's owner:group is root:root(chown 0:0 /system/app/SystemUI.apk). Next reboot to recovery, wipe dalvik-cache and cache, then reboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I'm glad you told me because little old me has been modifying system apps since the days of the nexus one and I've yet to sign one....I think is all depends on who's doing the modification...hahahaha....Good luck 0vermind on finding someone to compiling your systemui.apk!
mazdarider23 said:
Well I'm glad you told me because little old me has been modifying system apps since the days of the nexus one and I've yet to sign one....I think is all depends on who's doing the modification...hahahaha....Good luck 0vermind on finding someone to compiling your systemui.apk!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not quite sure what to make of that comment...I certainly wasn't trying to step on your toes so I apologize if it came across that way. Just wanted to help avoid and rule out any issues that might come up. With APK Manager or by using 7zip, you can move the manifest and/or META-INF folder containing the signature from the original but to imply that system apps are not signed is incorrect.
I also think it is important that those messing with system apps understand that there are different keys used to sign apps. For anybody reading this that wants to figure out how certain packages are signed, here's a bit of an explanation. If we extract SystemUI.apk, we see a directory called META-INF. This holds the key/signature info. The key's serial number can be determined with the following command:
Code:
keytool -printcert -v -file SystemUI/META-INF/CERT.RSA | grep SerialNumber
You can check other apks/jars and noticing which have matching serial numbers, meaning they are signed with the same key...
platform key - SystemUI.apk, Settings.apk, Phone.apk, etc
shared key - Contacts.apk, UserDictionaryProvider.apk, etc
test key - Calendar.apk, DeskClock.apk, etc
google proprietary key - Vending.apk, Talk.apk, etc (including some market user apps like Maps, VoiceSearch, Docs)
MongooseHelix said:
I'm not quite sure what to make of that comment...I certainly wasn't trying to step on your toes so I apologize if it came across that way. Just wanted to help avoid and rule out any issues that might come up. With APK Manager or by using 7zip, you can move the manifest and/or META-INF folder containing the signature from the original but to imply that system apps are not signed is incorrect.
I also think it is important that those messing with system apps understand that there are different keys used to sign apps. For anybody reading this that wants to figure out how certain packages are signed, here's a bit of an explanation. If we extract SystemUI.apk, we see a directory called META-INF. This holds the key/signature info. The key's serial number can be determined with the following command:
Code:
keytool -printcert -v -file SystemUI/META-INF/CERT.RSA | grep SerialNumber
You can check other apks/jars and noticing which have matching serial numbers, meaning they are signed with the same key...
platform key - SystemUI.apk, Settings.apk, Phone.apk, etc
shared key - Contacts.apk, UserDictionaryProvider.apk, etc
test key - Calendar.apk, DeskClock.apk, etc
google proprietary key - Vending.apk, Talk.apk, etc (including some market user apps like Maps, VoiceSearch, Docs)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I didn't know this! I'm glad there's people like you and mazdarider23 on this forum that know **** like this!!!

[Q] Services.jar changes, even simply deodexing the file prevents phone from booting

I am trying to make a minor change to my services.jar and so far have no been successful.
I deodexed the file with xultimate2.3.3 , extracted the classes.dex with 7zip 9.2, I used apktool 1.4.3 to "expand" the contents, made the change, repacked the dex file and put it back into services.jar and the phone cannot compelete boot. I made sure to change the permissions, owner a group to match the previous file.
I then tried using Xultimate to deodex the file and put it back on the phone and this also keeps it from booting.
I then tried using the already deodexed file from another rom (2.2.1 vs 2.2.2) and it had the same issue.
So far I have to reflash my phone with Odin every time and I am getting tired of making the same mistake over and over.
edit: Maybe I should ask - what is the appropraite way to move the file over? I am doing it by going into root explorer, deleting /system/framework/services.jar+services.odex, using adb push to put the file on the sdcard, using root explorer to move it from sdcard to /system/framework then changing the permissions in root explorer to match the previous file before finally running "chown root.root /system/framework/services.jar" from adb shell
Either my method for copying the file is bad or xultimate 2.3.3 is messing up the deodex. Any advice on another tool to use to deodex this file?
You should be using baksmali/smali to decompile/recompile classes.dex, not apktool :/
Apktool can decompile .jars too
I use it and works fine
@OP
After deodexing decompile the jar using Virtuous Ten Studio by Diamondback(Google it)
Burned from my laser torch using pencil cells
Thank you for the replies. I will try these suggestions.
As a side note I also tried to use Xultimate to deodex the file, then ran dexopt-wrapper on the output to reodex the unchanged file and the phone is stuck in a boot loop.
You can read about re-odexing files here http://themikmik.com/showthread.php...w-About-adb-odex-themes-etc&p=75225#post75225
Can you give suggestions on another tool to de-odex the services.jar file? I think xultimate is the problem. It is the only common denominator.
I forgot to add that the original services.odex is a different size and has different contents from the new services.odex created by xultimate+dexopt-wrapper
I didn't expect it to work but I took the modified/deodex services.jar from a 2.2.1 rom and put it into my 2.2.2 rom and it had the same non boot issue.
The newest version of xUltimate i could find.
Enjoy
http://www.xeudoxus.com/android/xUltimate-v2.4.2.zip

How to re-odex?

Normally to decompile my dex files I use smali and baksmali, how can I re-odex them?
Id like to get my service.jar re-odexed so I can try and push it to my phone via a zip update.
Sent from my MB865 using xda premium
[mini HOW-TO] Re-Odex (or create a new .odex file)
Fall of Enosis said:
Normally to decompile my dex files I use smali and baksmali, how can I re-odex them?
Id like to get my service.jar re-odexed so I can try and push it to my phone via a zip update.
Sent from my MB865 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It all needs to be done on your phone, live.. with adb.
Here's how I accomplished it - I will use the services.jar in this example. Just change the file name and path to existing .odex accordingly for other files (not sure if all steps are required exactly, but it has worked for me multiple times with different jars and SysUI apk):
Requirements:
Odexed system
adb
dexopt-wrapper
Put this dexopt-wrapper file (unzip first) in /system/bin with 775 permissions:
X X X
X....X
X....X
Probably a good idea to reboot after pushing that file, if you use root explorer (like I did).
Put the deodexed services.jar (or other jar/apk file you want to make an new odex of) on your sd card.
Go to /system folder (with root explorer or equal) and mount it R/W (not sure if this is necessary - but won't hurt)
Put your USB connection to "Charge only" mode.
Go here (big props and credit to jhotmann for this) and follow steps 8-12 (I've recreated the steps with the A2's bootclasspath below).
The bootclass path is located in the /init.rc file at the root of your phone.
Connect with adb (do a adb devices check to make sure you're all good).
To create the new odex:
Code:
adb shell
su
cd /sdcard/
dexopt-wrapper services.jar new.odex /system/framework/core.jar:/system/framework/bouncycastle.jar:/system/framework/ext.jar:/system/framework/framework.jar:/system/framework/android.policy.jar:/system/framework/services.jar:/system/framework/core-junit.jar:/system/framework/com.motorola.android.frameworks.jar:/system/framework/com.motorola.android.widget.jar
I know it's a long entry for those who don't work with command lines often (like me), but double check your entry before hitting enter.
To copy the signature from the existing odex (change path to /system/app/.. if necessary):
Code:
busybox dd if=/system/framework/services.odex of=new.odex bs=1 count=20 skip=52 seek=52 conv=notrunc
Done! Rename new.odex (created on your /sdcard) to services.odex since that is your new signed odex file...
You can then get that on your odexed system by your choice of method (adb push, update.zip, root explorer push, etc.. - note: please know what you are doing before trying to push files with root explorer! - you cannot simply copy and paste!)
Or, if you want to deodex it right away again for some odd reason like I did (personal issues )... Take the services.jar and the new services.odex from your sdcard and put them on your computer - and open the services.jar with 7-zip (maybe winzip) and delete the classes.dex file from the 7-zip window. Now you have a fresh new set of .jar/.odex files ready for deodexing (I did this all with the SystemUI.apk last night, that's why I elaborated and re-typed this whole thing today..).
Frigging brilliant man.
Much appreciated. I'm super sick and my USB cable is at work.
Once i get it back on Wednesday, I'll work all this out. If I could thank you twice I would.
Thanks man!
Sent from my MB865 using xda premium
Fall of Enosis said:
Frigging brilliant man.
Much appreciated. I'm super sick and my USB cable is at work.
Once i get it back on Wednesday, I'll work all this out. If I could thank you twice I would.
Thanks man!
Sent from my MB865 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not a prob.
And, I updated the dexopt-wrapper link so it's easier to download - just unzip it first..
Good luck on your quest.. let me know if you catch any snags along the way - and i'll try and help you out.
Sent from my mind using XDA
Ok sooo, I think we (or most likely me) are confused on what I wanted to do. I don't want to make a NEW odex file. I need to recombine my modded classes.dex BACK with the service.jar.
Since I needed to modify some script in the services.jar I had to de-odex it so I had a classes.dex file to use baksmali with so I could modify it. Once I modded it I used smali to create the NEW MODDED classes.dex. And now I need to re-odex(bad terminology?) them to re-combine the services.jar with the classes.dex so the modded services.jar could be used on a odexed ROM.
I'm working on a de-odexed version also, but I'd like to be able to offer both
Fall of Enosis said:
Ok sooo, I think we (or most likely me) are confused on what I wanted to do. I don't want to make a NEW odex file. I need to recombine my modded classes.dex BACK with the service.jar.
Since I needed to modify some script in the services.jar I had to de-odex it so I had a classes.dex file to use baksmali with so I could modify it. Once I modded it I used smali to create the NEW MODDED classes.dex. And now I need to re-odex(bad terminology?) them to re-combine the services.jar with the classes.dex so the modded services.jar could be used on a odexed ROM.
I'm working on a de-odexed version also, but I'd like to be able to offer both
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, you have a deodexed services.jar (with an unedited classes.dex inside)? And, you also have an edited classes.dex (the new modded one). Just drag and drop the new modded classes.dex into the services.jar file with 7-zip to overwrite the old one.
Then I would check out the mods on a deodexed system, and provided they work, then go through the re-odexing process (separating that classes.dex from the apk and creating a new odex file) as described above to get it working on odexed systems.
Hope that helps.. Good luck!
Yes sir, you are correct. That was the first thing I tried to do was just drag and drop the modded classes.dex with 7zip, save it, however when i tried to flash the "modded" ROM it can't install the system folder because (according to Jim), when I modded copied the new classes.dex, I changed the size, and so the signature needed to be changed as well. They mismatched.
Fall of Enosis said:
Yes sir, you are correct. That was the first thing I tried to do was just drag and drop the modded classes.dex with 7zip, save it, however when i tried to flash the "modded" ROM it can't install the system folder because (according to Jim), when I modded copied the new classes.dex, I changed the size, and so the signature needed to be changed as well. They mismatched.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure about the details of that.. I know the signatures can be tricky, but I've modded a few apks/jars similarly with no problems... when you say "can't install.." is that it wouldn't flash in recovery, or you bootlooped?
Just wouldn't flash at all.
And thanks for all your help man.
Sent from my MB865 using xda premium
I've updated the 2nd post with more detail on creating a new odex file...
Not to be a "rooster" (replace with your word of choice) or anything, but maybe this info has a place somewhere besides the general threads..?:angel: (and what is up with these new Smilies and posting reply layout?) - it just seems so hard to come by good literature on this process (which, I suppose, is a process so rarely needed though...)
So I need to perform the processes above while running in an odexed environment correct? Does this process change the deodexed APK we are running the script on to an odexed one as well as create a new .odex file for that APK? I am just confused about what the result is after running the script. For my situation I want to take 2 deodexed files (systemui and sec settings.apk) and odex them. Then push them into an odexed rom. Once I run the script above what am I left with?
Didact74 said:
So I need to perform the processes above while running in an odexed environment correct?
YES.
Does this process change the deodexed APK we are running the script on to an odexed one as well as create a new .odex file for that APK?
(Yes, it will create a new odex file that you will need to rename, but..)NO. You will need to take the classes.dex out of the deodexed apk/jar - use something like 7-zip. Unless you only edited smali, then you really only need the new odex file.
I am just confused about what the result is after running the script. For my situation I want to take 2 deodexed files (systemui and sec settings.apk) and odex them. Then push them into an odexed rom. Once I run the script above what am I left with?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I broke up your quote with my best answers...
As for what your're left with is a new.odex file, properly signed, if all goes well. You are going to need to do it for each of your deodexed files.
Rename them, remove the classes.dex from the deodexed files you used, and get them on your phone however you choose (I prefer zip packages and a restore.zip in case something goes wrong).
Also note that the bootclass path is different from GB to ICS.. and among different devices of course. Check init.rc file if need be. I posted the one to use for A2 ICS (think it may be the same for razr too) here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1753659
I can't garuntee you won't have problems, but good luck... if you do you could try the dexopt-wrapper from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1645950 - just unzip it first obviously (but I think it's the exact same file though..)
Btw, it's all done with adb, one line at a time.. not really a script, but thank you for the idea - maybe a batch file?
Sent from my phone's mind
Great, thank you for the detailed response. Last question.
What if I have the original SystenUI.odex and SecSettings.odex files that used to be attributed to them before i deodexed them? Can I simply reuse those without having to run through the adb process?
Thanks,
Didact74 said:
Great, thank you for the detailed response. Last question.
What if I have the original SystenUI.odex and SecSettings.odex files that used to be attributed to them before i deodexed them? Can I simply reuse those without having to run through the adb process?
Thanks,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But, you deodexed them to edit the smali files in the classes.dex right? So, no, you will need to use the new odex files that are created from the modded deodexed files you used..
If you never edited any of the smali files, then you didn't need to deodex in the first place... you only need to deodex in order to mod the smali files - everything else in the apk can be modded as is on odexed systems.
Sent from my phone's mind
Thank you very much. Can you repost the wrapper file? Its not downloading correctly.
Didact74 said:
Thank you very much. Can you repost the wrapper file? Its not downloading correctly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Updated the link in Post #2 with a zip file - you need to unzip it first then move it.
Thank you.
So I am getting an error trying to re-odex. See the attached image of the error.
Weird thing is that even though I get an error it still creates the new.odex file. I triedto go through the entire process even though I was getting errors and it just got stuck on the boot screen and never loaded. Anything in my error attached raise any flags?
Thanks,
Didact74 said:
Thank you.
So I am getting an error trying to re-odex. See the attached image of the error.
Weird thing is that even though I get an error it still creates the new.odex file. I triedto go through the entire process even though I was getting errors and it just got stuck on the boot screen and never loaded. Anything in my error attached raise any flags?
Thanks,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm... First thing I can think of is: are all of those framework files in the bootclass path that you used actually in your /framework folder? With our A2, in ICS there are a few extra .jar files listed that were not actually on our phone, so I had to remove those from the path...
I will try to make a new odex myself and make sure that's not a standard error message... @Fall of Enosis, you recall what it spits out?
EDIT: Shoot - forgot I'm deodexed right now... will attempt later or hear back from Fall by then..
alteredlikeness said:
Hmmm... First thing I can think of is: are all of those framework files in the bootclass path that you used actually in your /framework folder? With our A2, in ICS there are a few extra .jar files listed that were not actually on our phone, so I had to remove those from the path...
I will try to make a new odex myself and make sure that's not a standard error message... @Fall of Enosis, you recall what it spits out?
EDIT: Shoot - forgot I'm deodexed right now... will attempt later or hear back from Fall by then..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, all .jar files listed in my bootclass were located in the framework directory.
Nevermind...my mistake. I had an issue with my files not being deodexed correctly from the start. I went back and deodexed, made the edits to res and smali then odexed using the method above again and all went well!
Thanks!

Can't recompile settings.apk

Sorry if this is a duplicate or in the wrong place, but i cant find any solutions.
I am having trouble recompiling the settings.apk. I decompile it without problems but the apk can't recompile unless I paste in the .arsc file from the stock apk (by unziping). The problem is that when I edit the xml, it needs to make a new .arsc file since I edited xml within the layout folder.
I am using apktool and have had no problems with other apk files. This is on the Samsung galaxy player 5.0 USA.
Another note, if I decompile, put in the resources.arsc file, and recompile, the new apk file is smaller. In addition, if I unzip the recompiled apk I can edit the xml w/o a problem. This is weird because when I unzip the stock settings.apk the xml files are un-readable.
Any Ideas about what I am doing wrong?
Sorry for being a noob.
tchen510 said:
Sorry if this is a duplicate or in the wrong place, but i cant find any solutions.
I am having trouble recompiling the settings.apk. I decompile it without problems but the apk can't recompile unless I paste in the .arsc file from the stock apk (by unziping). The problem is that when I edit the xml, it needs to make a new .arsc file since I edited xml within the layout folder.
I am using apktool and have had no problems with other apk files. This is on the Samsung galaxy player 5.0 USA.
Another note, if I decompile, put in the resources.arsc file, and recompile, the new apk file is smaller. In addition, if I unzip the recompiled apk I can edit the xml w/o a problem. This is weird because when I unzip the stock settings.apk the xml files are un-readable.
Any Ideas about what I am doing wrong?
Sorry for being a noob.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2251719

Proper way to modify framework.jar and android.policy.jar

Hello - I am trying to add 'Reboot' option to Power Menu by modifying the following files - framework-res.apk, framework.jar, and android.policy.jar file. I was successfully able to add additional values to the xml file inside framework-res.apk and was able to merge my changes into the original .apk file and update in /system/framework without any issues. However, the smallest changes I make in framework.jar or android.policy.jar file breaks my system. It does not go into a Reboot Loop, but rather gives a message... Unfortunately, the <app name> has stopped working... or something like that... for almost all the apps and repeatedly.
I am on a Stock ROM of Micromax A110 (Mobistel T2). Do I need to DEODEX these .jar files first or do something else? I can't find the .odex files for these two jar files. I am not sure what I am doing wrong. Please help.
I can see some .odex files in my /system/app folder, but none in /system/framework. Is this normal? I am sure I didn't do any deodexing.

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