How to Detect Bootloader Manipulation Attempts in Android Apps Using AI

Last updated July 2, 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 Bootloader Manipulation Attempts in Android apps.

What are Bootloader Manipulation Attempts?

A bootloader manipulation attempt occurs when an attacker tampers with the way an Android device reports its boot state to disguise a compromised device as secure. The bootloader is the low-level program that starts the operating system and enforces Verified Boot, a security feature that checks whether the system image has been modified or corrupted.

Attackers may use tools that patch memory or modify low-level system values to make the device appear as if the bootloader is locked and verified, even when it is not. This allows them to bypass integrity checks, hide root access using tools like Magisk, or load unauthorized system images without detection. If these manipulations go undetected, apps can be exposed to fraud, unauthorized access to sensitive data, or ATOs, and the mobile app may fall out of compliance with security frameworks, such as OWASP MASVS.

How Appdome Protects Android Apps Against Bootloader Manipulation Attempts

Appdome’s dynamic Detect Bootloader Manipulation Attempts plugin continuously monitors Android devices for signs of tampering with the bootloader state. It detects changes in memory or system behavior that falsely indicate a secure boot.

Prerequisites for Using Appdome's Detect Manipulation Attempts Plugins:

To use Appdome’s mobile app security build system to Detect Bootloader Manipulation Attempts , you’ll need:

How to Implement Detect Bootloader Manipulation Attempts in Android Apps Using Appdome

On Appdome, follow these 3 simple steps to create self-defending Android Apps that Detect Bootloader Manipulation Attempts 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 Manipulation Attempts is compatible with: Java, JS, C++, C#, Kotlin, Flutter, React Native, Unity, Xamarin, Cordova and other Android apps.
  2. Select the defense: Detect Manipulation Attempts.

      1. Create and name the Fusion Set (security template) that will contain the Detect Manipulation Attempts feature as shown below:
        fusion set that contains Detect Manipulation Attempts

        Figure 1: Fusion Set that will contain the Detect Manipulation Attempts feature

      2. Follow the steps in Sections 2.2-2.2.2 of this article to add the Detect Manipulation Attempts feature to your Fusion Set via the Appdome Console.

      3. When you select the Detect Manipulation Attempts you'll notice that the Fusion Set you created in step 2.1 now bears the icon of the protection category that contains Detect Manipulation Attempts.

        Fusion Set applied Detect Manipulation Attempts

        Figure 2: Fusion Set that displays the newly added Detect Manipulation Attempts 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 Manipulation Attempts feature to your security template.

      1. Navigate to Build > Anti Malware tab > Detect Android Exploit section in the Appdome Console.
      2. Toggle On > Detect Manipulation Attempts.
        Detect Manipulation Attempts option

        Figure 4: Selecting Detect Bootloader Manipulation Attempts

        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 Manipulation Attempts:
        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 Bootloader Manipulation Attempts

        4. Detect Manipulation Attempts Threat Code™. Appdome uses AI/ML to generate a unique code each time Detect Manipulation Attempts 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 Manipulation Attempts protection is now added to the mobile app
  3. Certify the Detect Manipulation Attempts feature in Android Apps

    After building Detect Manipulation Attempts, Appdome generates a Certified Secure™ certificate to guarantee that the Detect Manipulation Attempts protection has been added and is protecting the app. To verify that the Detect Manipulation Attempts protection has been added to the mobile app, locate the protection in the Certified Secure™ certificate as shown below: Detect Manipulation Attempts 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 Manipulation Attempts has been added to each Android app. Certified Secure provides instant and in-line DevSecOps compliance certification that Detect Manipulation Attempts and other mobile app security features are in each build of the mobile app.

Using Threat-Events™ for Bootloader Manipulation Attempts Intelligence and Control in Android Apps

Appdome Threat-Events™ provides consumable in-app mobile app attack intelligence and defense control when Bootloader Manipulation Attempts are detected. To consume and use Threat-Events™ for Bootloader Manipulation Attempts in Android Apps, use registerReceiver in the Application OnCreate, and the code samples for Threat-Events™ for Bootloader Manipulation Attempts shown below.

The specifications and options for Threat-Events™ for Bootloader Manipulation Attempts are:

Threat-Event™ Elements Detect Bootloader Manipulation Attempts Method Detail
Appdome Feature Name Detect Manipulation Attempts
Threat-Event Mode
OFF, IN-APP DEFENSE Appdome detects, defends and notifies user (standard OS dialog) using customizable messaging.
ON, IN-APP DETECTION Appdome detects the attack or threat and passes the event in a standard format to the app for processing (app chooses how and when to enforce).
ON, IN-APP DEFENSE Uses Appdome Enforce mode for any attack or threat and passes the event in a standard format to the app for processing (gather intel on attacks and threats without losing any protection).
Certified Secure™ Threat Event Check x
Visible in ThreatScope™ x
Developer Parameters for Detecting Bootloader Manipulation Attempts Threat-Event™
Threat-Event NAME
Threat-Event DATA reasonData
Threat-Event CODE reasonCode
Threat-Event REF
Threat-Event SCORE
currentThreatEventScore Current Threat-Event score
threatEventsScore Total Threat-events score
Threat-Event Context Keys
message Message displayed for the user on event
externalID The external ID of the event which can be listened via Threat Events
osVersion OS version of the current device
deviceModel Current device model
deviceManufacturer The manufacturer of the current device
fusedAppToken The task ID of the Appdome fusion of the currently running app
kernelInfo Info about the kernel: system name, node name, release, version and machine.
carrierPlmn PLMN of the device. Only available for Android devices.
deviceID Current device ID
reasonCode Reason code of the occurred event
deviceBrand Brand of the device
deviceBoard Board of the device
buildUser Build user
buildHost Build host
sdkVersion Sdk version
threatCode The last six characters of the threat code specify the OS, allowing the Threat Resolution Center to address the attack on the affected device.

With Threat-Events™ enabled (turned ON), Android developers can get detailed attack intelligence and granular defense control in Android applications and create amazing user experiences for all mobile end users when Bootloader Manipulation Attempts are detected.


The following is a code sample for native Android apps, which uses all values in the specification above for Detect Manipulation Attempts:


Important! Replace all placeholder instances of <Context Key> with the specific name of your threat event context key across all language examples. This is crucial to ensure your code functions correctly with the intended event data. For example, The <Context Key> could be the message, externalID, OS Version, reason code, etc.



Using Appdome, there are no development or coding prerequisites to build secured Android Apps by using Detect Manipulation Attempts. 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 Manipulation Attempts

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:

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.

Thank you!

Thanks for visiting Appdome! Our mission is to secure every app on the planet by making mobile app security easy. We hope we’re living up to the mission with your project.

Want a Demo?

Android Malware Detection

GilWe're here to help
We'll get back to you in 24 hours to schedule your demo.

Search Appdome Solutions

Search
OSZAR »