Android deeplink, Intent, and WebView bridge assessment helper

apk-interceptor is a portable Android testing APK for authorized application security assessments. It helps security engineers verify how an Android app handles external entry points such as custom URI schemes, deeplinks, exported Activities, and WebView JavaScript bridges.

The tool is intentionally constrained:

• It does not declare android.permission.INTERNET
• It does not send data to external servers
• It does not execute shell commands
• It does not require root, Magisk, Frida, or runtime instrumentation
• It serves only one local content:// payload file
• It registers one custom URI scheme fixed at build time

Motivation

During Android application security assessments, many findings from static analysis still need a small on-device proof of concept before they can be confirmed: registering a custom URI scheme, sending an explicit Intent, serving a local content:// payload, or checking whether JavaScript can reach a WebView bridge.

Building a new throwaway test app for each case is repetitive and error-prone. Small differences in manifest entries, authorities, URI grants, package names, or Intent construction can slow down verification and make results harder to reproduce.

apk-interceptor was created to make that confirmation step repeatable. Instead of writing a new PoC APK for every assessment, you build this tool with the authorized scheme or application ID you need, run the test on-device, and keep the workflow constrained by design: no INTERNET permission, no external data transmission, no shell execution, and no root dependency.

What You Can Test

apk-interceptor is useful for these assessment tasks:

Detailed vulnerability walkthroughs:

• Custom URI Scheme Hijacking
• Deeplink Open Redirect
• Exported Activity With Untrusted Intent Data
• WebView JavaScript Bridge Exposure Via content://

The app keeps an in-memory assessment log for sent Intents, received deeplinks, bridge callbacks, JavaScript results, and errors. Logs disappear when the app process is killed. Because logs are not persisted, capture evidence with screenshots or screen recording as you work.

How It Compares

apk-interceptor is a confirmation tool, not a discovery or exploitation framework. It assumes you already know what to test (scheme, Activity class, bridge name) from static analysis, and gives you a safe, on-device way to verify reachability and capture evidence. It is built to be installed on an assessment device and even shared with a client, so it ships no INTERNET permission, no shell execution, no data exfiltration, and no root requirement.

Where it sits next to the usual Android tooling:

The two areas where apk-interceptor has the clearest edge over the alternatives:

• Scheme-hijack evidence — acting as the second app that actually registers the scheme and logging every received parameter, which adb/static analysis cannot show.
• content:// → WebView bridge verification — a non-exported, single-file provider whose payload is delivered only through a temporary Intent read grant, plus a local self-test WebView to validate payload syntax first.

Sending Versus Intercepting

apk-interceptor treats sending and intercepting differently, and this is the most important thing to understand before using it:

To send a crafted deeplink to the assessed app, you do not need to rebuild: use the Sender tab's Implicit Deeplink mode and type any URI.

To intercept a deeplink — that is, to make Android route a custom scheme to apk-interceptor so you can observe a possible scheme-hijack — you must build the APK with that scheme via --scheme. The scheme is fixed at build time on purpose (a design guardrail); apk-interceptor never registers arbitrary schemes at runtime. If you change the scheme you are assessing, rebuild and reinstall.

Requirements

• Android Studio with Android SDK 35
• Android 12+ device or emulator
• JDK 17+
• adb for device installation and optional command-line testing

Build And Install

Build the APK with the custom URI scheme you are authorized to assess:

./build-interceptor.sh --scheme <authorized_custom_scheme>
adb install ./out/apk-interceptor-<authorized_custom_scheme>-debug.apk

Optional build flags:

./build-interceptor.sh \
  --scheme <authorized_custom_scheme> \
  --app-id <custom.application.id> \
  --output ./out

--app-id sets the installed application ID (the package identity on the device and the content://<applicationId>.payload authority) at build time. The default is com.sterrasec.apkinterceptor. Override it with --app-id when you need multiple separately installable builds for different assessments. The Windows equivalent is build-interceptor.bat.

The default scheme intercept-poc-example is a harmless placeholder. The build script refuses to produce an assessment APK with that default scheme.

First Launch

On first launch for each app version, apk-interceptor shows an authorized-use dialog. After you tap I understand, the same version does not show the dialog again. The Sender tab still shows a persistent warning because it can send Intents to other apps.

Screenshots

Sender	Payload	Interceptor

App Modules

Interceptor

Use this tab to verify custom URI scheme interception.

What it shows:

• The scheme compiled into this APK
• A warning if the dummy default scheme is still in use
• Received deeplink logs
• A test query parameter field
• Send Test Deeplink
• Clear

Basic workflow:

1. Build the APK with the assessed custom scheme.
2. Install it alongside the assessed app.
3. Trigger a deeplink for that scheme from the assessed flow, browser, adb, or the built-in Send Test Deeplink button.
4. If Android routes the link to apk-interceptor, open the Interceptor tab and review the received URI and query parameters.

About Send Test Deeplink: it always sends <scheme>://test?<your params> with a fixed test host, so it is meant for confirming that apk-interceptor receives and logs the scheme — not for driving the assessed app's specific deeplink routes. To send a crafted deeplink that matches the assessed app's required host or path, use the Sender tab's Implicit Deeplink mode instead.

adb example:

adb shell am start -W \
  -a android.intent.action.VIEW \
  -d 'my-authorized-scheme://test?source=adb\&message=hello%20world'

Use \& when sending multiple query parameters through adb shell; otherwise the device shell may treat & as a command separator.

Expected result:

• apk-interceptor opens to the Interceptor tab
• A RECEIVED log entry appears
• Tapping the log entry expands the full URI and parameter list

Sender

Use this tab to send controlled Intents during an authorized test.

Modes:

• Implicit Deeplink: sends Intent(ACTION_VIEW, Uri.parse(uri))
• Explicit Activity: sends an Intent to a specific package and Activity class

Fields and controls:

• URI for implicit deeplink mode
• Package name for explicit Activity mode
• Activity class for explicit Activity mode
• Attach content:// URI to set the local payload URI as Intent data (shown in Explicit Activity mode only — see note below)
• FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION to grant read access to the attached payload URI
• Send Intent

Implicit deeplink workflow:

1. Select Implicit Deeplink.
2. Enter a URI that matches the assessed app's deeplink pattern.
3. Tap Send Intent.
4. Observe the assessed app behavior and the apk-interceptor log.

Explicit Activity workflow:

1. Confirm the target Activity is exported and covered by your authorization.
2. Select Explicit Activity.
3. Enter the assessed app's package name.
4. Enter the exported Activity class name.
5. Optionally enable Attach content:// URI.
6. Tap Send Intent.

Notes:

• apk-interceptor does not know whether the assessed app handled the Intent safely. You must observe the assessed app behavior, logs, or test harness.
• The content:// attachment is useful when testing whether a target Activity passes untrusted Intent data to a WebView.
• Attach content:// URI is offered only in Explicit Activity mode. The payload is delivered as the Intent's data, which would overwrite the URI you type in Implicit Deeplink mode, so the option is hidden there.
• PayloadProvider is not exported. The assessed app can read the attached content:// payload only because the Intent grants it temporary read access via FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION. Keep that flag enabled, and deliver the URI through the Intent — a content:// URI opened any other way will not be readable by another app.

Payload

Use this tab to create a local HTML payload and validate JavaScript bridge syntax in apk-interceptor's own self-test WebView.

What it contains:

• HTML editor
• JavaScript evaluated after page load editor
• Bridge object name
• Generated content:// URI
• Save Payload
• Run Self-Test
• Self-test WebView
• Bridge result and console logs

Generated payload URI format:

content://<applicationId>.payload/current.html

The provider serves only this fixed file:

filesDir/payloads/current.html

Payload self-test workflow:

1. Enter or paste HTML in the HTML field.
2. Enter the bridge object name you want to test locally, for example localBridge.
3. Add JavaScript either inside your HTML or in the JavaScript editor.
4. Tap Save Payload.
5. Tap Run Self-Test.
6. Review BRIDGE_RESULT, console.log, and evaluateJavascript result entries in the log.

Example self-test JavaScript:

console.log("payload loaded");
window.localBridge.logResult(window.localBridge.getInfo());

The self-test bridge exposes:

window.<bridgeName>.logResult("message");
window.<bridgeName>.getInfo();

Important limitation:

The self-test WebView confirms that your local payload and bridge-call syntax work inside apk-interceptor. It cannot observe whether another app's WebView executed your payload or called its own bridge. For the assessed app, verify through that app's UI, logs, test hooks, or Chrome DevTools if the app is debuggable.

Vulnerability-Oriented Workflows

1. Custom URI Scheme Hijacking

Risk:

An Android app registers a custom URI scheme instead of a verified App Link. Any other app can register the same scheme, so Android may show an app chooser or route links to a different app.

Use apk-interceptor to check:

• Whether the scheme can be registered by another app
• Whether Android offers apk-interceptor as a handler
• Whether sensitive values appear in deeplink parameters

Steps:

1. Identify the assessed app's custom scheme from its manifest or documentation.
2. Build apk-interceptor with that scheme.
3. Install apk-interceptor and the assessed app on the same test device.
4. Trigger a deeplink from the authorized test flow.
5. If apk-interceptor receives it, inspect the Interceptor log.

Evidence to capture:

• OS chooser behavior, if shown
• Full received URI
• Query parameters and whether they contain sensitive values
• User interaction needed to route the link

2. Deeplink Parameter Injection

Risk:

The assessed app trusts deeplink parameters for navigation, URL loading, feature flags, account selection, or rendering without sufficient validation.

Use apk-interceptor to check:

• Whether crafted parameters are accepted
• Whether the app navigates to an unintended screen
• Whether unsafe URL/path/content values are used

Steps:

1. Identify the assessed app's deeplink format.
2. Open Sender.
3. Select Implicit Deeplink.
4. Enter an authorized test URI with controlled parameters.
5. Tap Send Intent.
6. Observe the assessed app behavior.

Example placeholder:

my-authorized-scheme://open?next=https%3A%2F%2Fauthorized-test.example%2Flanding

Do not use real third-party domains or accounts unless they are explicitly in scope.

3. Exported Activity Access Control

Risk:

An exported Activity performs sensitive actions or displays sensitive data without verifying the caller, user state, or required authorization.

Use apk-interceptor to check:

• Whether the exported Activity launches from another app
• Whether it performs sensitive behavior without expected checks
• Whether Intent data changes its behavior

Steps:

1. Confirm the Activity is exported and in scope.
2. Open Sender.
3. Select Explicit Activity.
4. Enter package name and Activity class.
5. Optionally attach the local content:// payload URI.
6. Tap Send Intent.
7. Observe whether the assessed app enforces access control.

Evidence to capture:

• Activity launched or blocked
• Any authentication or authorization prompt
• Sensitive action or data exposure
• Intent data used by the Activity

4. WebView JavaScript Bridge Exposure Via content://

Risk:

The assessed app loads untrusted content:// Intent data into a WebView that also exposes a JavaScript bridge via addJavascriptInterface.

Use apk-interceptor to check:

• Whether a local HTML payload can be delivered as content://
• Whether the target WebView loads the payload
• Whether JavaScript from that source can reach the bridge

Steps:

1. Identify the target Activity and bridge object name during authorized analysis.
2. Open Payload.
3. Create HTML/JS that calls the expected bridge.
4. Use Run Self-Test to validate your syntax locally.
5. Open Sender.
6. Select Explicit Activity.
7. Enter the target package and Activity class.
8. Enable Attach content:// URI and keep FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION enabled.
9. Tap Send Intent.
10. Observe the assessed app to determine whether its WebView loaded the payload and bridge calls executed.

Important limitation:

apk-interceptor cannot receive results from another app unless that app explicitly returns or displays them. The tool is designed to deliver a local payload and validate syntax, not to exfiltrate data.

Command-Line Checks

Verify the APK does not request network access:

aapt dump permissions ./out/apk-interceptor-<scheme>-debug.apk

Expected: no android.permission.INTERNET.

Trigger a deeplink explicitly to apk-interceptor:

adb shell am start -W \
  -n com.sterrasec.apkinterceptor/.InterceptActivity \
  -a android.intent.action.VIEW \
  -d 'my-authorized-scheme://test?source=adb'

Trigger a deeplink through Android's resolver:

adb shell am start -W \
  -a android.intent.action.VIEW \
  -d 'my-authorized-scheme://test?source=adb'

The explicit command confirms InterceptActivity behavior. The implicit command confirms the manifest intent-filter and resolver behavior.

Tests

Unit tests run on the JVM with Robolectric — no device or emulator is required. They cover PayloadProvider, including the path-whitelisting and traversal checks that keep the provider from serving anything other than the single current.html payload.

./gradlew testDebugUnitTest

Test results are written to app/build/reports/tests/testDebugUnitTest/index.html. The same task runs in CI on every push and pull request to main.

Design Guardrails

• No android.permission.INTERNET
• No external data transmission or automated exfiltration
• No shell command execution feature
• No root, Magisk, Frida, or instrumentation dependency
• No runtime registration of arbitrary schemes
• No generic file-serving provider
• Only /current.html is served by PayloadProvider

License

MIT