Avilla Forensics: The Free Mobile Forensic Tool That Cracks Android 12/13 Vulnerabilities – No Root Required + Video

Introduction:

Mobile device forensics has become the frontline of modern cybercrime investigations as encrypted smartphones increasingly serve as primary evidence sources in criminal and corporate cases. Daniel Avilla, a São Paulo Civil Police officer and digital forensics expert, developed Avilla Forensics—a free, open-source tool launched in February 2021 that leverages Android Debug Bridge (ADB) and actively exploits known vulnerabilities in Android 12 and 13 to extract application data, secondary user profiles, and perform APK downgrades without root access. This tool has rapidly evolved into a globally recognized solution, winning the Forensic 4:Cast Award in the non-commercial tools category at the SANS Institute event, positioning it as a formidable alternative to expensive commercial forensic suites.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the architecture and capabilities of Avilla Forensics for mobile device acquisition and analysis
Master APK downgrade techniques for accessing application data on Android 12–15 without root privileges
Learn to implement AES-256 encrypted logging and HMAC integrity verification for forensic chain of custody
Perform simultaneous multi-device data acquisition and full application extraction from DATA partitions

You Should Know:

1. Understanding Avilla Forensics Architecture and Core Capabilities

Avilla Forensics is developed in C and operates stably on Windows 10 and 11 environments. The tool communicates with mobile devices through the ADB interface, enabling logical data extraction and conversion of backups into formats compatible with advanced forensic analysis software such as IPED and Cellebrite Physical Analyser. Since its inception, the tool has received significant updates, with version 3.8 introducing the ability to perform APK downgrade on Android 14 and 15, along with a module that allows access to more storage regions beyond traditional collections.

The tool’s integrity system generates AES-256 encrypted logs (.avilla files) containing cryptographic hashes of collected files, with an additional HMAC signature creating a second layer of protection for file integrity. This dual-layer encryption ensures that any modifications to evidence can be detected, maintaining the forensic chain of custody.

Step-by-Step Guide: Installing and Configuring Avilla Forensics

Download the tool: Clone the official repository from GitHub:
```
git clone https://github.com/AvillaDaniel/AvillaForensics.git
```
Or download the latest release from the repository’s releases page.
System requirements: Ensure you are running Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit) with .NET Framework 4.7.2 or higher installed.
Enable USB Debugging on the target Android device:

– Navigate to Settings → About Phone → Tap “Build Number” 7 times
– Return to Settings → System → Developer Options → Enable “USB Debugging”
– Connect the device via USB and authorize the connection when prompted

Launch the tool: Extract the downloaded archive and run `AvillaForensics.exe` as Administrator to ensure proper ADB communication.
Verify device connection: The tool’s interface should display the connected device with its model, Android version, and build information.
APK Downgrade Technique: Bypassing Android Security Without Root

One of Avilla Forensics’ most powerful features is its APK Downgrade module, which enables data collection from over 400 applications by exploiting vulnerabilities in Android’s package management system. This technique allows investigators to downgrade applications on Android devices without root access, accessing app data stored in the DATA region that would otherwise be inaccessible.

The APK Downgrade technique works by leveraging Android’s native backup and restore functionality. When an application is updated, Android retains the previous version’s data. By downgrading the app to an older version with less restrictive data access controls, investigators can extract the data stored by the newer version.

Step-by-Step Guide: Performing APK Downgrade with Avilla Forensics

Launch Avilla Forensics and connect your target Android device via USB with debugging enabled.
Select the target application from the tool’s application list. The tool displays all installed packages with their version information.

3. Initiate the downgrade process:

Click the “APK Downgrade” button in the main interface
Select the specific application you wish to downgrade from the dropdown menu
The tool will automatically download the compatible older version APK from its repository

Monitor the downgrade progress: The tool executes the following ADB commands in sequence:

Backup the current app data
adb backup -f backup.ab -apk -obb -shared com.target.application

Uninstall the current version
adb uninstall com.target.application

Install the older version
adb install -r -d older_version.apk

Restore the data backup
adb restore backup.ab

Extract application data: Once downgraded, the tool extracts the application’s data from the DATA partition using:
```
adb shell run-as com.target.application cat /data/data/com.target.application/databases/app_data.db > app_data.db
```
Verify extraction: The tool displays extracted data in a structured format, allowing for immediate review and export in IPED or Cellebrite-compatible formats.

3. Full Application Extraction Without Root or Downgrade

Version 3.8 introduced the Avilla App Full Extraction module, a breakthrough feature that allows investigators to collect data from any application stored in the DATA partition without requiring root access or APK downgrade. This module is particularly valuable when dealing with devices running the latest Android versions where traditional extraction methods may fail.

The module works by leveraging Android’s backup infrastructure and the device’s native backup agent, extracting application data through a combination of ADB commands and intent-based data collection.

Step-by-Step Guide: Full Application Data Extraction

Connect the device and ensure USB debugging is enabled.
Select “Avilla App Full Extraction” from the main menu.

3. Choose extraction scope:

Single application extraction
Batch extraction of multiple applications
Full DATA partition extraction (including secondary user profiles)

Initiate extraction: The tool executes the following operations:

Initiate backup for target app
adb shell bmgr backupnow com.target.application

Extract backup data
adb shell dumpsys backup | grep -A 20 "com.target.application"

Pull application data directory
adb shell run-as com.target.application tar -czf /data/local/tmp/app_data.tar.gz /data/data/com.target.application
adb pull /data/local/tmp/app_data.tar.gz

Extract secondary profile data: For devices with multiple user profiles:

List all users
adb shell pm list users

Switch to secondary user context
adb shell am switch-user <user_id>

Extract data from secondary user's app directory
adb shell run-as com.target.application tar -czf /data/local/tmp/app_data_user.tar.gz /data/user/<user_id>/com.target.application
adb pull /data/local/tmp/app_data_user.tar.gz

Export and analyze: The extracted data is automatically converted into formats compatible with IPED and Cellebrite Physical Analyser, enabling seamless integration into existing forensic workflows.

4. Multi-Device Acquisition and Parallel Processing

A standout feature of Avilla Forensics is its ability to perform simultaneous data acquisition from multiple devices, a capability that significantly accelerates investigations involving multiple seized devices. This parallel processing approach is particularly valuable in corporate investigations, law enforcement operations, and incident response scenarios where time is critical.

Step-by-Step Guide: Multi-Device Data Acquisition

Connect multiple Android devices to the workstation via USB hubs. Ensure all devices have USB debugging enabled.
Verify device recognition: The tool displays all connected devices in a list with their serial numbers, models, and Android versions.

3. Configure acquisition parameters per device:

 For each device, the tool executes:
adb -s <device_serial> shell getprop ro.build.version.release
adb -s <device_serial> shell getprop ro.product.model

4. Select acquisition type for each device:

Logical extraction (contacts, SMS, call logs)
Application data extraction (WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, etc.)
Full DATA partition extraction

Initiate parallel acquisition: The tool spawns separate threads for each device, executing acquisition commands concurrently:

Device 1: WhatsApp extraction
adb -s device1_backup.ab backup -apk -shared com.whatsapp

Device 2: Signal extraction
adb -s device2_backup.ab backup -apk -shared org.thoughtcrime.securesms

Device 3: Full system extraction
adb -s device3 backup -f system_backup.ab -apk -shared -system -all

Monitor and manage acquisition: The tool provides real-time progress indicators for each device, allowing for pause, resume, or cancellation of individual acquisitions without affecting others.
Consolidate results: After completion, the tool consolidates all extracted data into a unified case file structure, organizing evidence by device and application type.
Integrity Verification and Chain of Custody with AES-256 Encryption

Maintaining the integrity of digital evidence is paramount in forensic investigations. Avilla Forensics addresses this requirement through its comprehensive integrity system that generates AES-256 encrypted logs (.avilla files) containing cryptographic hashes of collected files, with HMAC signatures providing an additional layer of authentication.

Step-by-Step Guide: Implementing Integrity Verification

Enable integrity logging: In the tool’s settings, ensure “Enable Integrity Logging” is checked. This activates the automatic generation of .avilla files for all acquisitions.

2. Configure encryption settings:

Set a strong passphrase for AES-256 encryption
The tool generates a unique encryption key derived from the passphrase using PBKDF2

3. During acquisition, the tool automatically:

Calculates SHA-256 hashes for each extracted file
Generates an HMAC-SHA256 signature for each hash using the derived key
Encrypts the hash list and metadata using AES-256
Writes the encrypted data to a .avilla file

4. Verify integrity after acquisition:

 Open the .avilla file using the tool's verification module
 The tool decrypts the file and recalculates hashes for verification
 Any modification triggers an integrity alert

Generate integrity report: The tool produces a comprehensive integrity report including:

– File names and their SHA-256 hashes
– HMAC signatures for each file
– Timestamp of acquisition
– Device information and acquisition parameters

Export for court presentation: The integrity report can be exported as a PDF or JSON file, suitable for inclusion in forensic reports and court submissions.

6. Avilla App Simulator: Analyzing Extracted Application Data

Complementing the acquisition capabilities is the Avilla App Simulator, a tool that allows investigators to analyze extracted application content in a realistic environment. The simulator recreates the original application’s interface, enabling investigators to view messages, media, and metadata exactly as they would appear in the live application.

Step-by-Step Guide: Using Avilla App Simulator

Extract application data using Avilla Forensics as described in previous sections.
Launch Avilla App Simulator from the main menu.
Select the application type from the supported list (WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Instagram, etc.).

4. Load the extracted data:

Click “Load Data” and navigate to the extracted application backup file
The simulator parses the data and reconstructs the application’s database structure

5. Navigate and analyze:

View message threads with timestamps
Examine media attachments (images, videos, audio)
Review contact information and chat metadata
Export specific conversations as HTML or PDF for reporting

6. Perform forensic analysis:

Search for keywords across all conversations
Filter messages by date range or sender
Identify deleted messages (where recoverable from database remnants)
Extract geolocation data from media metadata

Linux and Windows Integration for Advanced Forensic Workflows

Avilla Forensics primarily runs on Windows, but its data extraction outputs can be integrated into Linux-based forensic analysis pipelines. The tool generates standard forensic formats that can be processed using open-source tools on any platform.

Windows Commands for Forensic Automation:

 Launch Avilla Forensics with specific parameters
Start-Process -FilePath "C:\AvillaForensics\AvillaForensics.exe" -ArgumentList "/device:auto /extract:whatsapp /output:C:\cases\case001"

Batch process multiple devices
$devices = adb devices | Select-String "device$" | ForEach-Object { ($_ -split '\s+')[bash] }
foreach ($device in $devices) {
Start-Process -FilePath "AvillaForensics.exe" -ArgumentList "/device:$device /extract:full /output:C:\cases\case001\$device"
}

Verify .avilla file integrity
python verify_avilla.py -f C:\cases\case001\evidence.avilla -p "passphrase"

Linux Commands for Post-Processing and Analysis:

 Convert extracted data for IPED analysis
python avilla_to_iped.py -i /mnt/cases/case001/ -o /mnt/cases/iped_input/

Extract WhatsApp database for manual analysis
sqlite3 /mnt/cases/case001/com.whatsapp/databases/msgstore.db "SELECT  FROM messages WHERE timestamp > 1700000000;"

Generate hash manifest for chain of custody
find /mnt/cases/case001/ -type f -exec sha256sum {} \; > manifest.txt

Verify GPG signatures on evidence packages
gpg --verify evidence.tar.gz.sig evidence.tar.gz

Parse Android backup files
dd if=backup.ab bs=1 skip=24 | python -c "import zlib,sys; sys.stdout.write(zlib.decompress(sys.stdin.read()))" > backup.tar
tar -xvf backup.tar

What Undercode Say:

Key Takeaway 1: Avilla Forensics demonstrates that open-source forensic tools can compete with commercial solutions costing tens of thousands of dollars, winning the Forensic 4:Cast Award from SANS Institute and gaining recognition from international experts. The tool’s ability to exploit Android 12/13 vulnerabilities without root access provides investigators with a critical capability that was previously only available through expensive proprietary solutions.
Key Takeaway 2: The tool’s integrity system—AES-256 encryption combined with HMAC signatures—represents a best-practice approach to maintaining forensic chain of custody. This dual-layer protection ensures that extracted evidence remains admissible in court, addressing one of the most significant challenges in digital forensics.

Analysis:

The emergence of Avilla Forensics represents a paradigm shift in mobile device forensics. By making advanced acquisition techniques freely available, Daniel Avilla has democratized access to forensic capabilities that were previously gated behind expensive commercial licenses. The tool’s success in exploiting Android vulnerabilities—including those in Android 12, 13, 14, and 15—highlights the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between forensic investigators and mobile OS security teams.

From a technical perspective, the APK Downgrade technique is particularly noteworthy as it exploits Android’s own backup infrastructure—a design choice that Google has struggled to fully secure without breaking legitimate backup functionality. The tool’s support for over 400 applications and its ability to extract data from secondary user profiles demonstrate sophisticated understanding of Android’s multi-user architecture.

For law enforcement and corporate investigators, Avilla Forensics offers a cost-effective solution that can be deployed immediately without budget approvals or lengthy procurement processes. The tool’s compatibility with IPED and Cellebrite Physical Analyser ensures it can integrate into existing forensic workflows rather than requiring new infrastructure.

However, investigators must be aware that APK downgrade techniques may not work on all devices, particularly those with locked bootloaders or devices running the latest security patches. Additionally, the tool’s reliance on ADB means that devices with USB debugging disabled or those that have been factory reset may not be fully accessible.

Prediction:

+1 The continued development of Avilla Forensics and similar open-source forensic tools will force commercial vendors to innovate, potentially leading to more affordable licensing models and better features across the industry.
+1 As the tool gains wider adoption, we can expect to see more training programs and certifications specifically focused on open-source forensic methodologies, reducing the skill gap in digital forensics worldwide.
-1 Android security teams will likely prioritize patching the vulnerabilities exploited by APK downgrade techniques, potentially limiting the tool’s effectiveness on future Android versions and creating a continuous cycle of vulnerability discovery and patching.
-1 The reliance on ADB and USB debugging creates a potential attack surface that malicious actors could exploit if they gain physical access to forensic workstations, necessitating strict physical security controls in forensic laboratories.
+1 The integrity verification system implemented in Avilla Forensics sets a new standard for open-source forensic tools, and we can expect other projects to adopt similar AES-256 encryption and HMAC signing for evidence preservation.
+1 The tool’s success at the SANS Institute’s Forensic 4:Cast Awards validates the open-source model for forensic software and will likely encourage more developers to contribute to forensic tool development, expanding the ecosystem of freely available forensic solutions.

▶️ Related Video (76% Match):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VYA2JLBpdE

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