How to Detect Android De-ODEX Attacks Using AI

Last updated March 23, 2025 by Appdome

This Knowledge Base article describes how to use Appdome’s AI/ML in your CI/CD pipeline to continuously deliver plugins that Detect De-ODEX Attack in Android apps.

What is an Android De-ODEX Attack?

A De-ODEX attack is a reverse engineering technique where attackers convert ODEX (Optimized Dalvik Executable) files back into DEX (Dalvik Executable) format. This allows them to analyze, modify, and repackage Android apps. Android Runtime (ART), which replaced Dalvik in Android 5.0, improves performance by precompiling code at installation using Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compilation, storing optimized code in ODEX files. Attackers exploit ART or Dalvik Virtual Machine (DVM) modding techniques to extract decrypted DEX files, bypass optimization processes, and manipulate app behavior. Tools like Oat2Dex, Baksmali, and custom ART/DVM modifications enable hackers to remove integrity checks, disable anti-tampering protections, bypass licensing restrictions, and inject malware. Preventing De-ODEX attacks is essential for maintaining app integrity, protecting intellectual property, and preventing unauthorized modding.

How Appdome Detects Android De-ODEX Attacks?

Appdome’s dynamic Detect Android De-ODEX Attack plugin prevents attackers from de-optimizing Android apps and modifying runtime execution. This protection detects any attempts to extract, replace, or modify ODEX files, ART/DVM configurations, or compiled bytecode. It continuously monitors the app’s execution environment for anomalous runtime behavior, blocking unauthorized modifications before they impact security.

Prerequisites for Using Appdome's Detect Android De-ODEX Attack Plugins:

To use Appdome’s mobile app security build system to Detect De-ODEX Attack , you’ll need:

How to Implement Detect De-ODEX Attack in Android Apps Using Appdome

On Appdome, follow these simple steps to create self-defending Android Apps that Detect De-ODEX Attack without an SDK or gateway:

  1. Designate the Mobile App to be protected.

    1. Upload an app via the Appdome Mobile Defense platform GUI or via Appdome’s DEV-API or CI/CD Plugins.

    2. Android Formats: .apk or .aab
    3. Detect Android De-ODEX Attack is compatible with: Java, JS, C++, C#, Kotlin, Flutter, React Native, Unity, Xamarin, Cordova and other Android apps.
  2. Select the defense: Detect Android De-ODEX Attack.

      1. Create and name the Fusion Set (security template) that will contain the Detect Android De-ODEX Attack feature as shown below:
        fusion set that contains Detect Android De-ODEX Attack

        Figure 1: Fusion Set that will contain the Detect Android De-ODEX Attack feature

      2. Follow the steps in Sections 2.2-2.2.2 of this article to add the Detect Android De-ODEX Attack feature to your Fusion Set via the Appdome Console.

      3. When you enable Detect APK Modding Tool you'll notice that the Fusion Set you created in step 2.1 now bears the icon of the protection category that contains Detect Android De-ODEX Attack.

        Fusion Set applied Detect Android De-ODEX Attack

        Figure 2: Fusion Set that displays the newly added Detect Android De-ODEX Attack protection
        Note: Annotating the Fusion Set to identify the protection(s) selected is optional only (not mandatory).

      4. Open the Fusion Set Detail Summary by clicking the “...” symbol on the far-right corner of the Fusion Set. Copy the Fusion Set ID from the Fusion Set Detail Summary (as shown below): fusion Set Detail Summary image

        Figure 3: Fusion Set Detail Summary

      5. Follow the instructions below to use the Fusion Set ID inside any standard mobile DevOps or CI/CD toolkit like Bitrise, Jenkins, Travis, Team City, Circle CI or other system:
        1. Refer to the Appdome API Reference Guide for API building instructions.
        2. Look for sample APIs in Appdome’s GitHub Repository.
    1. Add the Detect Android De-ODEX Attack feature to your security template.

      1. Navigate to Build > Anti Fraud tab > Mobile Cheat Prevention section in the Appdome Console.
      2. Toggle On Detect APK Modding Tool > Detect Android De-ODEX Attack.
        Note: The checkmark feature Detect Android De-ODEX Attack is enabled by default, as shown below. Detect Android De-ODEX Attack option

        Figure 4: Selecting Detect De-ODEX Attack

        Note: The Appdome Platform displays the Mobile Operation Systems supported by each defense in real-time. For more details, see our OS Support Policy KB.

      3. Configure the User Experience Options for Detect Android De-ODEX Attack:
        With Threat-Events™ OFF, Appdome provides several user experience options for mobile brands and developers.
        1. App Compromise Notification: Customize the pop-up or toast Appdome uses to notify the user when a threat is present while using the protected mobile app.
        2. Short message Option. This is available for mobile devices that allow a banner notification for security events.
        3. Localized Message Option. Allows Appdome users to support global languages in security notifications.

          Localized Message

          Figure 5: Default User Experience Options for Appdome’s De-ODEX Attack

        4. Detect Android De-ODEX Attack Threat Code™. Appdome uses AI/ML to generate a unique code each time Detect Android De-ODEX Attack is triggered by an active threat on the mobile device. Use the code in Appdome Threat Resolution Center™ to help end users identify, find and resolve active threats on the personal mobile devices.
    2. Initiate the build command either by clicking Build My App at the bottom of the Build Workflow (shown in Figure 4) or via your CI/CD as described in Section 2.1.4.
    Congratulations!  The Detect Android De-ODEX Attack protection is now added to the mobile app
  3. Certify the Detect Android De-ODEX Attack feature in Android Apps

    After building Detect Android De-ODEX Attack, Appdome generates a Certified Secure™ certificate to guarantee that the Detect Android De-ODEX Attack protection has been added and is protecting the app. To verify that the Detect Android De-ODEX Attack protection has been added to the mobile app, locate the protection in the Certified Secure™ certificate as shown below: Detect Android De-ODEX Attack shown in Certificate secure

    Figure 6: Certified Secure™ certificate

    Each Certified Secure™ certificate provides DevOps and DevSecOps organizations the entire workflow summary, audit trail of each build, and proof of protection that Detect Android De-ODEX Attack has been added to each Android app. Certified Secure provides instant and in-line DevSecOps compliance certification that Detect Android De-ODEX Attack and other mobile app security features are in each build of the mobile app.


Using Appdome, there are no development or coding prerequisites to build secured Android Apps by using Detect Android De-ODEX Attack. There is no SDK and no library to code or implement in the app and no gateway to deploy in your network. All protections are built into each app and the resulting app is self-defending and self-protecting.

Releasing and Publishing Mobile Apps with Detect Android De-ODEX Attack

After successfully securing your app by using Appdome, there are several available options to complete your project, depending on your app lifecycle or workflow. These include:

Related Articles:

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How Do I Learn More?

If you have any questions, please send them our way at support.appdome.com or via the chat window on the Appdome platform.

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