How Do Android File Explorers Show FIles Outside Of App Sandbox? - General Questions and Answers

So I am futzing about trying to do some folder browsing outside my app sandbox from an android app, and I cannot figure out how on an unrooted phone can these terminal apps allow navigation into /system folders and show read only files owned by root? I understand these files cannot be modified without rooting, but my little old android app cannot seem to see anything but its own sandboxed portion of the file system.
So how do non-root file manager apps get around the file system, using what api? This is probably totally stupid and I apologize in advance, but I have searched numerous explorers on github and have no answer yet. Of course I know using adb I can use the toybox versions of common linux file tools, but I also noticed simple terminal emulator apps in paystore are able to do this as well (simple id, ls, pwd, and cd), and they seem to be android apps with a proper apk etc.
What am I missing? How does one do those things from within a "proper" android app? Do JNI code module that makes old school linux file system requests?
How are these apps different from a standard android java app, what do they do differently?

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[help needed] terminology and a clear answer?

Im a bit of a noob when it comes to Android.
im more a windows mobile person however....
For xmas i recieved an android tablet which is an awesome toy! but ive had issues with making the widgets work on the home screen - they dont show up.
Ive read forums and forums all day and each forum points back to xda:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=780828&page=13
Looks great, downloaded the apk tried to copy it to the system/app folder but it wont let me do it.
Ive managed to confuse myself after hours of reading so hoping someone can give me some ideas.
Ive read about needing the device 'rooted' i still dont understand what this is n how i do it.
Ive also read the file is to be pushed into the folder??
Ive downloaded the terminal emulator, file explorer etc... tried copy/paste, move, cut etc... all with the same answer of insufficent access.
The terminal emulator on the other hand i cannot use as its all touch screen with no hard buttons once running i cannot type into the program.
surely theres an easier way to load things into the system folders?
Sorry if its the wrong section or what seems a simple ask for some direction, I'm used to windows mobile and htc sence modding where you can just delete and replace files at will
Hey,
Root is like the administrator in Windows. By default, you have a user account, not a root or admin account. And therefore you're access permissions are limited. You do not have write permissions to most internal directories and are pretty much limited to the sd card, which is kinda like 'home' in linux or 'my documents' in windows. Also, cannot run applications that require su (superuser, ie: root, admin).
Rooting is the act of accessing the root user account, or admin account. Like 'jail-breaking' in the apple world.
How to root your android depends on which model you have.
For installing the widget app, as long as its an .apk file, you should be able to just click on it and be prompted to install it.
To access your widgets, should be able to log press on a blank area of the home screen and get a option box to select from. Or if you have a 'menu' button there should be an add option.
To use the Terminal, long press 'menu' and your keyboard will popup. Or click menu and there will be an option for the keyboard, also settings to change color, text size and others.
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App
Also, in the terminal, it will use linux commands, not windows commands.
You can google android commands and get a list of common commands.
Good luck. Have fun. If you don't have some linux experience, it may seem like there's a steep learning curve, but most things will become easy after a little tinkering.
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App
im finding this an incredibly steep curve - a bit too steep lol
I would recommend searching <(name of device) root guide> and then you will find your way around.
But, i don't think you need root, root is for when you need to install applications that you need higher permissions to control system settings. Also to install different versions of android.
Your problem seems to be only a bug. If you want to install an application that is not on the market, you just go to your settings and turn on installing from unknown sources.
You don't need to put it in system apps, the apk is like an .exe, just put it on your sd card, install a file manager program like ASTRO, and then open that app, go to the directory you transfered the file, and click it, ASTRO will give you the ability to install it.
patriotaus said:
I would recommend searching <(name of device) root guide> and then you will find your way around.
But, i don't think you need root, root is for when you need to install applications that you need higher permissions to control system settings. Also to install different versions of android.
Your problem seems to be only a bug. If you want to install an application that is not on the market, you just go to your settings and turn on installing from unknown sources.
You don't need to put it in system apps, the apk is like an .exe, just put it on your sd card, install a file manager program like ASTRO, and then open that app, go to the directory you transfered the file, and click it, ASTRO will give you the ability to install it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont think rooting is essential to do this but from what ive read - it helps.
the app in question is this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=780828
this should replace the file on my system which doesnt work. unless anyone has a suggestion to get the same item by installing an apk to achieve as per the instructions state "copy into system/app and set permissions"

running custom executable from zip files on wp7

I am trying to run a custom executable on my schubert. I can send the file to my email as a zip and then open it. Wp7 gives a warning saying 'do you want to run the executable' I click 'yes' but nothing really happens.
can we convert a silverlight xap file which is actually a zip file into an exeutable and run it?
Also is it possible to depoly an app from within the phone?
There are efforts underway to either run native apps (EXEs) or to install apps (from XAP files) on the phone itself. Currently, I don't think either is possible. Feel free to lend a hand, though. A little searching on the forum will turn up the relevant threads, but I know that a lot of work has been discussed in the DllImport Project thread on this sub-forum.
People have been able to make native apps, but they are DLL's, not EXE's. TouchExplorer/TouchXperience/a few registry editors, File Explorers are all Native. Although there a problem with native Apps & the Multitasking Registry Hack. Once one Native app is loaded, no other will start up unless you restart.

[Q] Genymotion build.prop Customization

Hi,
I'm currently using Genymotion to use a couple apps on my Desktop just for ease of use. One of the apps however apparently blocks access from Genymotion and requires you editing the build.prop file. I have never used an Android device so I'm not exactly sure what to do. I know how to find the file and edit it but I have no idea what to change (probably the text that says "Genymotion") and what to.
Is there anyway I can change it so it doesn't appear as though I'm accessing the app via. Genymotion?
Thanks.

configure access to files and directories (SD) per app

Hello,
I was searching about a feature to limit the access of apps to certain files or directories.
Use Case: I may have a directory I store music and do not want to share this with (amazon music, ....)
I may have a directory where I store pictures which should not be seen by other applications.
Today I use a of the shelf Samsung A3 2016 Android 7.0, but I used Xposed, CM and rooted devices. in the past. I'm not registered as developer here did never codded Android app or kernel but developed on embedded Devices and Linux in the past. I would be happy if you could share a ready to use setting, app or development idea (even if you did not got it running).
What I investigated and did not work so far:
Option A - .nomedia
I know already there is a possibility to use .nomedia file in the directory to avoid pictures being shown in Gallery, BUT this is a feature of the Gallery app (as far as I see). So the developer of the Gallery app could also access to the pictures in the directories, if they would like. So I'm not happy with this.
Option B - using cryptography
So I could simply put the sensitive data into a container, there are apps out e.g. EDS.
But I found out if the application who should access the data is not providing a "path" where the data is stored or doesn't provide an interface to a cryptography it can not be used. And once I entered the password and the directory is mounted all the applications running are able to access the files.
Option C - restrict media access
The Android allows to restrict the access to media, so I simply could switch off the access in the app I do not want to allow. But this doesn't work if the app need to store data. Android Music should be able to store the music on the phone but should not be allowed to access the other directories on my SD.
In pure Linux it would be quite easy you can use different users and access to files.
But Xposed may provide a solution as I could filter requests to the file system, but is there a example out there.
Thank you for reading all the stuff
I'm looking forward to read about your ideas
gonso
Hello,
no one has an idea or solution? I'm not able to post in the developers section may be one of you
may move the post into the Development part.
If not existing yet I would try to find out how to develop
Regards
gonso

kindle RCE plugin, hidden files.

I saw this on my device, and only found little info/threads, with almost zero content/analysis. Aparently the kindle app leaves a bunch of random files around. And since the prefix is "RCE" i am a little paranoid, since that usually means "Remote code execution" and is usually associated with exploits
Files:
CS_JIT_Animation.mp4
jit_cs_positive_preview.png
rce_plugin_strings_resource_cs_CZ.json.min
rce_plugin_strings_resource_de_DE.json.min
rce_plugin_strings_resource_en_US.json.min
rce_plugin_strings_resource_es_ES.json.min
rce_plugin_strings_resource_fr_FR.json.min
rce_plugin_strings_resource_it_IT.json.min
rce_plugin_strings_resource_ja_JP.json.min
rce_plugin_strings_resource_nl_NL.json.min
rce_plugin_strings_resource_pt_BR.json.min
rce_plugin_strings_resource_v2_TYPO_TEST.json
rce_plugin_strings_resource_zh_CN.json.min
All Attached in a zip created by the android native file manager.
Current places mentioning this
https://forums.oneplus.com/threads/unkown-files-in-download.948860/
https://talk.sonymobile.com/t5/Xper...erious-Files-in-Downloads-Folder/td-p/1353185
https://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-xz1/help/phone-mysterious-files-download-folder-t3871763
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMmx5tRm0jM (one of the files is a video, someone uploaded to youtube ...and to https://gfycat.com/generouspinkcolt
How to make those files appear for you:
Install kindle from the google app store
if you already have it installed, or want to see the files again after you deleted, Stop the app and delete all storage. (nothing will be lost, this app syncs everything and some more to the amazon servers)
perform the first Sync on kindle app
Now, insert a pen drive and open the native android File Mananger and look at the local Download folder
Files are somewhat hidden:
If you look into the download folder with any other app (I tried, blackberry file manager, oi file manager, Ghost Commander, and Termux --after enabling the storage setup)
Files probably have a weird attribute or ownership... but the native android file manager does not show anything other than creation date! And every single file operation (copy, move, compress) reset the information to "regular user, creation time set to now". So either I see them on the Native File Manager, without any information available, or I do not see the files until I destroy the information.
Android version is not important (seems to happen on several versions) and has been happening for a while (First mention seems to be Nov2018)
Anyone have any idea what this is? I know I will probably reverse eng the kindle app at some point, wast a bunch of time, and realize it is just some dumb amateur library badly implemented by amazon... or maybe not. I think at this point I am most curious as to how the app "hides" the files from most everything.

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