hardax 5.5.0

Hardening Audit eXaminer: security configuration auditor for Android-based devices (POS, IoT, automotive, medical, kiosk)

HARDAX

pip install hardax

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Overview

HARDAX (Hardening Audit eXaminer) is a comprehensive security configuration auditor for Android-based devices. It performs 724 security checks across 25 categories to identify misconfigurations, vulnerabilities, and security weaknesses.

HARDAX is designed for:

• Security Researchers - Penetration testing and vulnerability assessment
• IoT Security Teams - Auditing Android-based IoT devices
• POS Security Auditors - PCI-DSS compliance verification for payment terminals
• Enterprise Security - MDM compliance verification
• Developers - Pre-release security validation

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Features

Feature	Description
724 Security Checks	Comprehensive coverage across 25 security categories
POS/Payment Terminal Support	24 PCI-DSS focused checks for payment devices
Malware & Hooking Detection	18 checks for rootkits, RATs, Frida, Xposed, keyloggers, memory scrapers
Certificate Audit	CA certificate analysis with expiry/age calculation - 27 checks
Root Auto-Detection	Detects root method (Magisk/SuperSU/su/ssh-root/uart-root) and adapts privilege escalation accordingly
ADB Resilience	5-layer protection: connection check, auto-reconnect, timeout, SKIPPED status
Triple Connection Modes	ADB (USB/Network), SSH, and UART serial console support
UART Shell Support	Connect over serial console with auto baud detection, user/root shell identification
SSH Root Awareness	Detects when SSH session is already root - skips unnecessary su probing
6 Status Levels	SAFE, WARNING, CRITICAL, VERIFY, INFO, SKIPPED
3 Report Formats	TXT, CSV, HTML with interactive dashboard
Smart False Positive Prevention	Catches empty output, service unavailability, and transport errors - marks as SKIPPED not CRITICAL
Extensible JSON Checks	Easy to add custom security checks - drop JSON, run
Beautiful CLI Output	Color-coded real-time progress display
Device Info Collection	Automatic device fingerprinting
Shell Environment Probe	SSH mode probes busybox, toybox, getprop, bash availability on connect

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Supported Devices

HARDAX works with any Android-based device accessible via ADB, SSH, or UART:

Device Type	Examples
POS Terminals	PAX, Verifone, Ingenico, Sunmi, Newland, Clover, Square
Smartphones & Tablets	Samsung, Pixel, OnePlus, Xiaomi, etc.
IoT Devices	Android Things, AOSP-based smart devices
Collaboration Panels	Poly, Neat, Webex Board
Android Automotive	Infotainment systems, head units
Medical Devices	Android-based clinical devices
Industrial Android	Rugged tablets, handheld scanners
Android TV	Smart TVs, set-top boxes
Wearables	Wear OS devices

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Installation

Prerequisites

• Python 3.10 or higher
• ADB (Android Debug Bridge) installed and in PATH
• USB Debugging enabled on target device

Install with pip (recommended)

# Core (ADB mode only)
pip install hardax

# With SSH support (paramiko)
pip install 'hardax[ssh]'

# With UART / serial support (pyserial)
pip install 'hardax[uart]'

# With certificate audit support (cryptography)
pip install 'hardax[certs]'

# Everything
pip install 'hardax[all]'

After installation the hardax console command is available:

adb devices
hardax

Install from source (development)

git clone https://github.com/V33RU/hardax.git
cd hardax
pip install -e '.[all]'

# Or run without installing
python3 -m hardax

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Usage

Basic Usage (ADB)

# Auto-detect connected device
hardax

# Show commands being executed
hardax --show-commands

# Load all check files from commands/ directory
hardax --json-dir commands

# Specify device by serial
hardax --serial DEVICE_SERIAL

# Custom output directory
hardax --out ./my_reports

# Skip certificate audit
hardax --skip-certs

SSH Mode (Network)

hardax --mode ssh --host 192.168.1.100 --ssh-user root --ssh-pass password

The target host's SSH key must be in ~/.ssh/known_hosts first, otherwise the connection is refused (strict host-key checking, the safe default). Populate it once with:

ssh-keyscan -H -t ed25519,rsa 192.168.1.100 >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts

For CI / lab environments auditing many fresh devices where pre-population is impractical, pass --ssh-tofu to silently accept unknown host keys on first contact. A clear warning is printed each time:

hardax --mode ssh --host 192.168.1.100 --ssh-user root --ssh-pass "$AUDIT_PASS" --ssh-tofu

The SSH password can also come from the HARDAX_SSH_PASS environment variable, which keeps it out of ps and shell history.

UART Mode (Serial Console)

# Auto-detect baud rate
hardax --mode uart --uart-port /dev/ttyUSB0

# Specify baud rate
hardax --mode uart --uart-port /dev/ttyUSB0 --baud 115200

# Windows
hardax --mode uart --uart-port COM3 --baud 115200

Network ADB

adb connect 192.168.1.100:5555
hardax --json-dir commands

All Options

usage: hardax [OPTIONS]

Options:
  --version             Show version
  --mode {adb,ssh,uart} Connection mode (default: adb)
  --serial SERIAL       ADB device serial number
  --host HOST           SSH hostname/IP
  --port PORT           SSH port (default: 22)
  --ssh-user USER       SSH username
  --ssh-pass PASS       SSH password (also accepts HARDAX_SSH_PASS env var)
  --ssh-tofu            SSH trust-on-first-use: silently accept unknown
                        host keys (CI / lab convenience; weakens MITM
                        protection on first connection). Default off.
  --uart-port PORT      UART serial port (e.g. /dev/ttyUSB0, COM3)
  --baud RATE           UART baud rate (0 = auto-detect, default: 0)
  --json FILE           Path to single JSON checks file
  --json-dir DIR        Directory with JSON check files
  --out DIR             Output directory (default: hardax_output)
  --progress-numbers    Show numeric progress counter
  --show-commands       Display each command being executed
  --skip-certs          Skip certificate audit

Hidden debug flags (prefix before other args):
  --net-debug           Verbose network check output
  --net-strict          Strict network check mode
  --cert-debug          Verbose certificate audit output
  --cert-limit N        Limit certificate files scanned (default: 50)

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Security Categories

HARDAX organizes 724 checks into 25 security categories:

Category	Checks	Description
SYSTEM	87	Kernel, memory, TEE (QSEE/Mobicore/TEEGRIS/Trusty), SECCOMP, time, power, build properties, emulator detection, SIM status, device provisioning, WebView
BLUETOOTH	83	BLE/Classic, pairing, profiles (PAN, HFP, A2DP, HID, SPP, OPP, MAP), L2CAP, ATT, SMP, GAP, attack surfaces
NETWORK	62	Ports, WiFi, cellular (incl. Allow 2G), VPN, MQTT, CoAP, CAN bus, HL7, DICOM, hotspot WPA mode, active connections
PRIVACY	48	Biometrics, screen lock, location, sensors, clipboard, audio, Android 13+ Restricted Settings
APPS	47	Permissions, overlay attacks, install sources, backup audit, APK signature scheme, QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES, REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES
BINARY_HARDENING	36	PIE, NX, RELRO, stack canaries, stripped symbols, ASLR, kptr_restrict
PARTITION	35	dm-verity, OverlayFS, A/B slots, FBE/FDE, mount flags (noexec / nosuid / nodev on /data, /storage/emulated, /mnt/media_rw, /cache, /metadata), block device permissions
SELINUX	31	SELinux enforcement, policy version, audit, context, boot flags
CERTIFICATE_AUDIT	25	CA certificates, user certs, pinning bypass, keystore, expiry analysis
POS_SECURITY	24	PCI-DSS compliance, payment apps, kiosk mode, RAM scraper, NFC relay, PAX CVE
STORAGE	24	Filesystem, backup, encryption, partitions
FORENSIC_INDICATORS	22	Crash history, kernel panics, logcat anomalies, temp artifacts, clipboard forensics
ATTESTATION	20	SafetyNet/Play Integrity, Knox warranty bit, TIMA, RKP, Titan M, fs-verity, bypass detection
AUTOMOTIVE	20	Vehicle-specific checks, CAN bus, infotainment
BOOT_SECURITY	20	Verified boot, AVB, dm-verity, bootloader, integrity
CRYPTOGRAPHY	20	Encryption, keys, credentials, API keys, certificates, kernel entropy, Widevine DRM level
MALWARE	18	Root/Magisk/SuperSU, Frida, Xposed/LSPosed, RATs, keyloggers, memory scrapers, root cloaking
CIS_BENCHMARK	17	CIS Android Benchmark v1.6.0 controls (89% coverage)
USB_SECURITY	16	USB debugging, interfaces, serial ports, gadget mode
CVE_INDICATORS	29	Dirty Pipe, Bad Binder, Dirty COW, MTK-su, Exynos baseband, Mali GPU, kernel CVE ranges, WebView debugging
DEVICE_MANAGEMENT	13	MDM, accounts, developer options
INPUT	9	Keyboards, accessibility, input methods
MEDICAL	7	Medical device-specific checks
NFC_SECURITY	7	NFC state, Android Beam, tap-to-pay, reader mode, secure element (eSE/UICC)
ADB_SECURITY	4	ADB keys, network ADB, debugging

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HTML Report Features

The interactive HTML report includes:

• Summary Dashboard - Total checks, pass/fail counts, doughnut chart
• Device Information - Model, Android version, build, serial, security patch level
• Collapsible Categories - Click to expand/collapse each security area
• Color-Coded Results - Green=SAFE, Yellow=WARNING, Red=CRITICAL
• Certificate Audit Table - CA certificates with expiry dates and risk status
• Search & Filter - Find specific checks by keyword
• Category Statistics - Per-category breakdown of findings

---

Extending HARDAX

Adding Custom Checks

Create or modify JSON files in the commands/ directory:

{
  "checks": [
    {
      "category": "CUSTOM",
      "label": "My Custom Port Check",
      "command": "netstat -tlnp 2>/dev/null | grep ':8080'",
      "safe_pattern": "^$",
      "level": "warning",
      "description": "Check if port 8080 is open",
      "empty_is_safe": true
    }
  ]
}

JSON Check Fields

Field	Required	Description
category	Yes	Category name (e.g. SYSTEM, NETWORK)
label	Yes	Human-readable check name
command	Yes	Shell command to run on device
safe_pattern	Yes	Regex pattern that indicates a safe result
level	Yes	Severity: info, warning, critical
description	Yes	What the check detects
empty_is_safe	No	If true, empty output = SAFE
why	No	Explanation of why this matters
risk_if_fail	No	What risk the failure represents
nist_800_53	No	Relevant NIST 800-53 control IDs
id	No	Unique check identifier (e.g. BT-001)

---

Project Structure

HARDAX/
├── pyproject.toml         # Package metadata, dependencies, entry point
├── README.md              # This file
├── LICENSE                # MIT
└── hardax/                # The installable Python package
    ├── __init__.py        # Main engine (was hardax.py)
    ├── __main__.py        # Enables 'python -m hardax'
    ├── templates/
    │   └── report.html    # Interactive HTML report template
    └── commands/          # Security check definitions (724 checks, 25 categories)
        ├── system.json        #  87 checks - Kernel, TEE (QSEE/Mobicore/TEEGRIS/Trusty), SECCOMP, build, emulator, WebView
        ├── bluetooth.json     #  83 checks - BLE/Classic, pairing, all profiles
        ├── network.json       #  62 checks - Ports, WiFi, VPN, IoT protocols, Allow 2G, hotspot WPA
        ├── privacy.json       #  48 checks - Biometrics, location, sensors, Restricted Settings
        ├── apps.json          #  47 checks - Permissions, overlay, backup, install, APK signature scheme
        ├── binary_hardening.json # 36 checks - PIE, NX, RELRO, stack canaries, ASLR
        ├── partition.json     #  35 checks - dm-verity, A/B slots, FBE, mount flags (noexec/nosuid/nodev)
        ├── selinux.json       #  31 checks - Enforcement, policy version, audit
        ├── certificate_audit.json # 25 checks - CA certs, expiry, MITM
        ├── pos_security.json  #  24 checks - PCI-DSS, kiosk, NFC relay, PAX CVE
        ├── storage.json       #  24 checks - Encryption, partitions, backup
        ├── forensic_indicators.json # 22 checks - Crashes, logcat, temp artifacts
        ├── attestation.json   #  20 checks - SafetyNet/Play Integrity, Knox, Titan M, bypass detection
        ├── automotive.json    #  20 checks - Vehicle, CAN bus, infotainment
        ├── boot_security.json #  20 checks - Verified boot, AVB, dm-verity
        ├── cryptography.json  #  20 checks - Keystore, StrongBox, kernel entropy, Widevine DRM
        ├── malware.json       #  18 checks - Root, Frida, Xposed, RATs, scrapers
        ├── cis_benchmark.json #  17 checks - CIS Android Benchmark v1.6.0
        ├── usb_security.json  #  16 checks - USB debug, MTP, gadget mode
        ├── cve_indicators.json # 29 checks - Dirty Pipe, Bad Binder, MTK-su, kernel CVEs, WebView debug
        ├── device_management.json # 13 checks - MDM, accounts, dev options
        ├── input.json         #   9 checks - Keyboards, accessibility, IME
        ├── medical.json       #   7 checks - Medical device-specific
        ├── nfc_security.json  #   7 checks - NFC, reader mode, secure element
        └── adb_security.json  #   4 checks - ADB keys, network ADB

---

Roadmap

Shipped

• --category flag to run specific categories (v5.0.0)
• --severity flag to filter by level (v5.0.0)
• --json-out for machine-readable JSON output (v5.0.0)
• --exit-code for CI/CD integration, exit 0/1/2 (v5.0.0)
• Branch-protected main with PR workflow (v5.0.0)
• CI workflow validates every commands/*.json regex (v5.0.0)
• 20 new checks: mount-flag hardening, Restricted Settings, Allow 2G, Hotspot WPA, kernel entropy, Widevine DRM level, SELinux policy version, APK signature scheme, app permission audits, WebView SafeBrowsing and debug (v5.1.0)
• Lock Screen Timeout false-positive fix (v5.1.0)
• Pip-installable Python package, pip install hardax (v5.2.0)
• PyPI Trusted Publishing on every GitHub release (v5.2.1)
• 5 new SELinux checks from the 8ksec internals audit (v5.3.0)
• Supply-chain hardening: SHA-pinned actions + Sigstore attestations on every wheel (v5.3.1)
• Python 3.10 support (v5.3.3)
• Safe SSH host-key default restored, --ssh-tofu opt-in for CI / lab convenience (v5.3.3)

Open

Grouped by theme. Order within a group is rough priority.

Analysis features

• Baseline capture and diff (compare two scans, surface regressions)
• HARDAX Risk Score (0-100 composite across all 25 categories)
• CVE correlation (map findings to relevant CVE IDs automatically)

Additional security checks

• TLS protocol minimum / cipher policy on the device
• Wi-Fi Protected Management Frames (PMF) state
• TrustZone / TEE OS specific version (beyond presence detection)
• Hidden SSID hotspot detection
• Samsung Knox Container / Workspace state

Compliance mappings

• CIS Android Benchmark v1.6.0: fill the remaining 11% to 100% coverage
• OWASP MASVS / MSTG mapping per check
• NIST 800-53 / 800-171 mapping per check
• PCI-DSS 4.0 detailed mapping (POS terminals)

Tooling and ergonomics

• --profile flag with built-in presets (kiosk / POS / automotive / medical / IoT)
• Inline remediation suggestions in the HTML report
• Multi-device parallel scanning
• Plugin architecture for custom check loaders
• Official Docker image with adb / paramiko / pyserial pre-installed
• Web dashboard (Flask / FastAPI) for centralised audit storage and history

Code quality

• pytest suite covering the engine, transports, and reporters
• Split the 2400-line hardax/__init__.py into modules (transports, engine, reporters, cli)
• Formal JSON schema for commands/*.json (jsonschema validation)
• Type hints throughout, clean under mypy --strict

External integration

• APK static analysis (apktool / jadx integration)
• SARIF output (for GitHub code scanning and similar tools)