SSL Pinning bypass on Android Emulator

Recently I developed interest in analyzing the Android apk network traffic.

I was able to capture traffic using HTTP interceptor for some of the apk but many other apk started giving error in interceptor - "The client failed to negotiate SSL connection".

On searching this issue, I came to know that apk are performing SSL pinning. In order to capture traffic for these apk, I need to bypass the SSL pinning. After reading multiple articles, I founded this easy way of performing the same.

Requirements:

1. Burp Suite - https://portswigger.net/burp/communitydownload
2. XPosed apk framework: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3034811
3. JustTrustMe - https://github.com/Fuzion24/JustTrustMe/releases
4. Memu Android emulator - https://www.memuplay.com/

Steps:

Configuring Burp Suite:

1. Install Burp Suite from https://portswigger.net/burp/communitydownload
2. Follow all steps mentioned at https://support.portswigger.net/customer/portal/articles/1816883-getting-started-with-burp-suite
3. For our case, we are setting Burp to listen to all interfaces on 8085 port

XPosed apk framework:

1. Download the framework from https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3034811
2. For my case the download link was https://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4393082&d=1516301692

JustTrustMe apk:

1. Download the apk from https://github.com/Fuzion24/JustTrustMe/releases
2. For my case it came out to be https://github.com/Fuzion24/JustTrustMe/releases/download/v.2/JustTrustMe.apk

Memu Android emulator :

• Download the emulator from https://www.memuplay.com/ 

• Install the emulator and open the same.

• Click on Settings button and then goto Others tab

• Click on Enable for Root mode option

• Restart the emulator
• Click on "Install APK" button on the right side toolbar of Memu emulator

• Choose Xposed apk framework which was downloaded earlier
• Open the apk after installation
• Click on Install/Update option inside the apk
• After the installation is complete, restart the emulator
• If all went well, you will see something as shown below in screenshot

• Again, click on "Install APK" button on the right side toolbar of Memu emulator
• Choose JustTrustMe apk which was downloaded earlier
• After JustTrustMe is installed, open Xposed apk
• Open the Modules tab

• Activate the JustTrustMe module by ticking the checkbox

• Now, goto Wifi->Settings in the emulator
• Long press on the wifi name till you see option to Modify network

• Click on Advanced option
• Mention the ip of your system and port as 8085 (as Burp is listening on this port)

• Open any apk on the emulator which has SSL pinning enabled
• Observe that Burp suite is capturing all traffic and stops giving SSL error.

Note:

This post is only for educational purpose. Don't use this for any unauthorized activities.

Hope this helps.

Test connectivity to SQL Server without installing any tools

Recently I was working on a project where I was required to check if the connection string to sql server was valid or not.
I just wanted to have a quick check without having to install all SQL tools.

Reference:
I came across the below page which made this check super easy:
https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/michaelgriswold/2014/01/06/the-easy-way-to-test-sql-connectivity/

Steps to Check:

1) Create a simple txt file like check.txt
2) Rename the file from check.txt to check.udl
3) Double click the udl file
4) Move to Connection tab
5) Enter your server name, username & password
6) Click on Test Connection
7) Done. A window prompt will come telling if the connection string is valid or not.

Sample Udl File:
https://github.com/csanuragjain/extra/tree/master/TestSQLServerConnectivity

Hope it helps :)