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Intercepting HTTPS traffic on Android has become increasingly complex due to recent OS updates, particularly with the of Mainline and Conscrypt. These changes impact how certificates are trusted, making traditional MITM (Man-in-the-Middle) techniques less effective.
🔗 Reference: Intercepting traffic on Android with Mainline and Conscrypt
Why Intercepting HTTPS Traffic is Harder Now
- Mainline Modules: Since Android 11, Google introduced Project Mainline, allowing critical security components (like Conscrypt) to be updated via Google Play instead of full OS updates.
- Conscrypt: Replaces the old BoringSSL library, enforcing stricter certificate validation.
- Restricted User Certificates: Android 14+ limits user-installed CA certificates to apps that explicitly opt-in.
You Should Know: Practical Steps for Intercepting Android Traffic
1. Install MagiskTrustUserCerts
Jeroen Beckers’ updated MagiskTrustUserCerts module forces Android to trust user-installed certificates system-wide.
Steps:
- Root your Android device using Magisk.
- Install the module via Magisk Manager:
adb push MagiskTrustUserCerts.zip /sdcard/
- Reboot and verify:
adb shell su -c "magisk --list-modules"
2. Bypass Certificate Pinning
Use Frida or Objection to bypass SSL pinning:
frida -U -f com.target.app -l ssl-pinning-bypass.js
Or with Objection:
objection explore -s "android sslpinning disable"
3. Set Up Burp Suite for MITM
- Configure Burp Suite’s proxy (e.g.,
127.0.0.1:8080). - Install Burp’s CA certificate on Android:
adb push cacert.der /sdcard/
- Manually install the certificate under Settings → Security → Encryption & Credentials.
4. Alternative: DNS Spoofing + Transparent Proxy
If certificate-based MITM fails:
sudo ettercap -T -i eth0 -M arp:remote /192.168.1.1// /192.168.1.2//
Then redirect traffic:
iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -p tcp --dport 80 -j REDIRECT --to-port 8080
What Undercode Says
Intercepting Android traffic is evolving, requiring deeper system modifications. Tools like MagiskTrustUserCerts, Frida, and Burp Suite remain essential, but expect more hurdles as Android tightens security. Future Android versions may enforce hardware-backed certificate storage, making interception even harder without physical access.
Expected Output:
✅ Successful MITM on Android using MagiskTrustUserCerts
✅ Bypassed SSL pinning via Frida
✅ Traffic intercepted in Burp Suite
🔗 Further Reading:
Prediction
As Android continues hardening security, red teams will increasingly rely on kernel-level exploits and custom ROM modifications to bypass restrictions. Expect more tools like Magisk modules to emerge, adapting to new Android security layers.
IT/Security Reporter URL:
Reported By: Beckersjeroen Intercepting – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
