[BUG] - Whatsapp (since Version 2-22-23-15) cannot be decompiled properly

[sickalot]

Information

1. Apktool Version - 2.6.1
2. Operating System - Windows
3. APK From? https://whatsapp-messenger.de.uptodown.com/android/download
4. APK From? https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.whatsapp&hl=de&gl=US
5. Before Version 2-22-23-15 decompiling worked
6. Since Version 2-22-23-15 this issue occurs

Stacktrace/Logcat

Include stacktrace here
I: Using Apktool 2.6.1 on whatsapp-messenger-2-22-24-18.apk
I: Loading resource table...
I: Decoding AndroidManifest.xml with resources...
I: Loading resource table from file: C:\Users\....\AppData\Local\apktool\framework\1.apk
I: Regular manifest package...
I: Decoding file-resources...
S: Could not decode file, replacing by FALSE value: cr.xml
S: Could not decode file, replacing by FALSE value: cg8.xml
S: Could not decode file, replacing by FALSE value: ckr.xml
S: Could not decode file, replacing by FALSE value: bh5.png
S: Could not decode file, replacing by FALSE value: l0.png
S: Could not decode file, replacing by FALSE value: og.png
S: Could not decode file, replacing by FALSE value: vn.png
S: Could not decode file, replacing by FALSE value: lc.png
S: Could not decode file, replacing by FALSE value: b0r.png
S: Could not decode file, replacing by FALSE value: bbd.9.png
S: Could not decode file, replacing by FALSE value: lw.9.png
S: Could not decode file, replacing by FALSE value: 4e.png

[...]

S: Could not decode file, replacing by FALSE value: csr.xml
S: Could not decode file, replacing by FALSE value: b9q.png
S: Could not decode file, replacing by FALSE value: bzx.png
S: Could not decode file, replacing by FALSE value: b3f.png
S: Could not decode file, replacing by FALSE value: bay.png
I: Decoding values */* XMLs...
I: Baksmaling classes.dex...
I: Baksmaling classes2.dex...
I: Baksmaling classes3.dex...
I: Baksmaling classes4.dex...
I: Copying assets and libs...
I: Copying unknown files...
I: Copying original files...
I: Copying META-INF/services directory

### Steps to Reproduce
1.  java -jar apktool.jar d whatsapp-messenger-2-22-24-18.apk

### Frameworks
-

### APK
https://whatsapp-messenger.de.uptodown.com/android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.whatsapp&hl=de&gl=US

### Questions to ask before submission
1. Have you tried `apktool d`, `apktool b` without changing anything?
Yes

2. If you are trying to install a modified apk, did you resign it?
I only try to decompile it

3. Are you using the latest apktool version?
Yes

[iBotPeaches]

Hmm an r and R and res.

Didn't expect this. Let me think on this, I think I can patch this easily.

[iBotPeaches]

➜  2933 apktool d whatsapp-messenger-2-22-24-18.apk -f
Picked up _JAVA_OPTIONS: -Dawt.useSystemAAFontSettings=on -Dswing.aatext=true
I: Using Apktool 2.6.2-eb105f-SNAPSHOT on whatsapp-messenger-2-22-24-18.apk
I: Loading resource table...
I: Decoding AndroidManifest.xml with resources...
I: Loading resource table from file: /home/ibotpeaches/.local/share/apktool/framework/1.apk
I: Regular manifest package...
I: Decoding file-resources...
I: Decoding values */* XMLs...
I: Baksmaling classes.dex...
I: Baksmaling classes2.dex...
I: Baksmaling classes3.dex...
I: Baksmaling classes4.dex...
I: Copying assets and libs...
I: Copying unknown files...
I: Copying original files...
I: Copying META-INF/services directory
➜  2933 

Disassembly should be good. Building is another story, but I believe an existing ticket with proguard/resproguard.

[sickalot]

Thank you
Sorry, I am not a developer, and I am not sure if I understood correctly. Is this fixed (Which version) or will this be fixed in a future version?

[iBotPeaches]

Thank you Sorry, I am not a developer, and I am not sure if I understood correctly. Is this fixed (Which version) or will this be fixed in a future version?

2.6.2 - expected before end of year.

[sickalot]

I see, thank you very much. Looking forward for it.

Is there any way to have a chat with you?
I would like to explain the purpose of decoding whatsapp.
Google wont help here, its too specific, unfortunately.

If you dont have time for this, I totally understand :D
But you maybe could save me a lot of time i might waste otherwise trying to get things running that will not work
thanks

[sickalot]

I tried v.2.7.0 and had no errors.
But I still have data like this below.

Is there anything I can do to avoid "Dummies"?

#ff000000 #ffffffff #ff7fa87f @android:color/black @android:color/black #ff112d2e @color/APKTOOL_DUMMYVAL_0x7f0606a5 @color/APKTOOL_DUMMYVAL_0x7f060453 @color/APKTOOL_DUMMYVAL_0x7f060695 @color/APKTOOL_DUMMYVAL_0x7f06069d @color/APKTOOL_DUMMYVAL_0x7f060461 @color/APKTOOL_DUMMYVAL_0x7f060702 @color/APKTOOL_DUMMYVAL_0x7f060453 @color/APKTOOL_DUMMYVAL_0x7f060321 @color/APKTOOL_DUMMYVAL_0x7f060322 @color/APKTOOL_DUMMYVAL_0x7f060453 @color/APKTOOL_DUMMYVAL_0x7f06045d @color/APKTOOL_DUMMYVAL_0x7f06045d @color/APKTOOL_DUMMYVAL_0x7f06069d @color/APKTOOL_DUMMYVAL_0x7f0606ee @color/APKTOOL_DUMMYVAL_0x7f060468 @null @color/APKTOOL_DUMMYVAL_0x7f060687 #ff008069 @color/APKTOOL_DUMMYVAL_0x7f0606a0 @color/APKTOOL_DUMMYVAL_0x7f0606d2 @color/APKTOOL_DUMMYVAL_0x7f0606fc

[iBotPeaches]

I tried v.2.7.0 and had no errors. But I still have data like this below.

Is there anything I can do to avoid "Dummies"?

No, we need those resources because the human-readable name of the resource is missing so we make up our own.

[teamb58]

I tried v.2.7.0 and had no errors. But I still have data like this below.
Is there anything I can do to avoid "Dummies"?

No, we need those resources because the human-readable name of the resource is missing so we make up our own.

Hi @iBotPeaches ,
Question on similar lines. These dummy entries were not there is past versions. Now, when I try out the old apk file(which used to work previously), they also produce these dummy variables.

Problem is, it's becoming difficult to identify the actual resource it's pointing to while doing backtracking from smali files.

Taking reference from #2970 (comment), the features states something like Additional features that can fix some Apktool errors, such as removing DUMMY_APKTOOL, clear framework before decompiling. So, is there anything you could do with this issue please?

If I have misunderstood your statement, could you please elaborate on this issue?

Thanks.