Google Messages
Google LLC · Build messages.android_20260928_02_RC00.phone_dynamic
Static checks identify review items, not a guarantee of safety.
Overview
1 high or critical finding category to review
Google Messages (com.google.android.apps.messaging) scored grade D, 48 out of 100, in a static scan of version messages.android_20260928_02_RC00.phone_dynamic on 2026-10-09. It has 1 high or critical finding among 8 finding categories across 29 occurrences. 2 tracking SDKs are present in the package, which describes what ships, not what runs or what it sends. This is static analysis of a single build: it does not observe the app running and does not establish that any data is exposed.
Start with these findings
highPrivate key material2 occurrences
Interpretation & review guidance
A complete PEM private-key block is embedded in the app. This is a real finding worth review — but it is often a bundled library test/sample key rather than a production secret, so we flag it high and leave confirmation to you (a bare header alone no longer triggers it).
- Evidence
- 2 recorded occurrences in the analyzed APK. These are distinct stored findings, not a count of every source match.
- Verification
- Static detection; current reachability is not established.
mediumCleartext (HTTP) traffic permitted1 occurrence
Interpretation & review guidance
The manifest permits cleartext (HTTP) traffic. Data sent over plain HTTP can be read or tampered with on the network; modern apps should require HTTPS.
- Evidence
- 1 recorded occurrence in the analyzed APK. These are distinct stored findings, not a count of every source match.
- Verification
- Static detection; current reachability is not established.
mediumExported content provider without permission5 occurrences
Interpretation & review guidance
An exported content provider declares no permission. Other apps on the device may reach it — verify it enforces access control internally; this flags the attack surface, not a confirmed leak.
- Evidence
- 5 recorded occurrences in the analyzed APK. These are distinct stored findings, not a count of every source match.
- Verification
- Static detection; current reachability is not established.
Build & components
1 components recorded. Certificate parsing does not validate APK signature integrity.
Inspect build evidence →Findings
8 categories · 29 occurrences. Severity totals describe categories. Expand a finding for interpretation and review guidance.
highPrivate key material2 occurrences
Interpretation & review guidance
A complete PEM private-key block is embedded in the app. This is a real finding worth review — but it is often a bundled library test/sample key rather than a production secret, so we flag it high and leave confirmation to you (a bare header alone no longer triggers it).
- Evidence
- 2 recorded occurrences in the analyzed APK. These are distinct stored findings, not a count of every source match.
- Verification
- Static detection; current reachability is not established.
Evidence preview
- Evidence type
- Static string match
- Representative location
_split_config.arm64_v8a/lib/arm64-v8a/libgoogle3.so- Recorded match
Pattern recorded; identifying value redacted.- Detector rule
private_key- Recorded file locations
_split_config.arm64_v8a/lib/arm64-v8a/libgoogle3.so
2 recorded findings have inspectable metadata. Duplicate matches may share a representative location.
Review whether this belongs to intended app functionality or a bundled library. A static match does not establish runtime impact.
Preview evidence and Pro toolsSearch recorded evidence and save private review notes with Pro. $99/month plus applicable tax.
mediumCleartext (HTTP) traffic permitted1 occurrence
Interpretation & review guidance
The manifest permits cleartext (HTTP) traffic. Data sent over plain HTTP can be read or tampered with on the network; modern apps should require HTTPS.
- Evidence
- 1 recorded occurrence in the analyzed APK. These are distinct stored findings, not a count of every source match.
- Verification
- Static detection; current reachability is not established.
Evidence preview
- Evidence type
- Parsed app configuration
- Representative location
AndroidManifest.xml- Recorded match
android:usesCleartextTraffic="true"- Detector rule
manifest- Recorded file locations
AndroidManifest.xml
1 recorded findings have inspectable metadata. Duplicate matches may share a representative location.
Review whether this belongs to intended app functionality or a bundled library. A static match does not establish runtime impact.
Preview evidence and Pro toolsSearch recorded evidence and save private review notes with Pro. $99/month plus applicable tax.
mediumExported content provider without permission5 occurrences
Interpretation & review guidance
An exported content provider declares no permission. Other apps on the device may reach it — verify it enforces access control internally; this flags the attack surface, not a confirmed leak.
- Evidence
- 5 recorded occurrences in the analyzed APK. These are distinct stored findings, not a count of every source match.
- Verification
- Static detection; current reachability is not established.
Evidence preview
- Evidence type
- Parsed app configuration
- Representative location
AndroidManifest.xml:.messaging.shared.datamodel.BugleContentProvider- Recorded match
BugleContentProvider (exported, no permission)- Detector rule
manifest- Recorded file locations
AndroidManifest.xml:.messaging.shared.datamodel.BugleContentProvider
5 recorded findings have inspectable metadata. Duplicate matches may share a representative location.
Review whether this belongs to intended app functionality or a bundled library. A static match does not establish runtime impact.
Preview evidence and Pro toolsSearch recorded evidence and save private review notes with Pro. $99/month plus applicable tax.
lowFirebase Realtime Database reference1 occurrence
Interpretation & review guidance
A Firebase Realtime Database URL. Nearly every app that uses Firebase ships one. It's only an exposure if the database rules are world-readable — that's what live verification checks.
- Evidence
- 1 recorded occurrence in the analyzed APK. These are distinct stored findings, not a count of every source match.
- Verification
- Static detection; current reachability is not established.
Evidence preview
- Evidence type
- Static string match
- Representative location
resources.arsc- Recorded match
Pattern recorded; identifying value redacted.- Detector rule
firebase_db- Recorded file locations
resources.arsc
1 recorded findings have inspectable metadata. Duplicate matches may share a representative location.
Review whether this belongs to intended app functionality or a bundled library. A static match does not establish runtime impact.
Preview evidence and Pro toolsSearch recorded evidence and save private review notes with Pro. $99/month plus applicable tax.
lowFirebase Storage bucket reference1 occurrence
Interpretation & review guidance
A Firebase Cloud Storage bucket reference (the default <project>.appspot.com). Storing user files here is normal — it's only an exposure if the Storage security rules allow public read/list, which live verification tests.
- Evidence
- 1 recorded occurrence in the analyzed APK. These are distinct stored findings, not a count of every source match.
- Verification
- Static detection; current reachability is not established.
Evidence preview
- Evidence type
- Static string match
- Representative location
resources.arsc- Recorded match
Pattern recorded; identifying value redacted.- Detector rule
firebase_storage_bucket- Recorded file locations
resources.arsc
1 recorded findings have inspectable metadata. Duplicate matches may share a representative location.
Review whether this belongs to intended app functionality or a bundled library. A static match does not establish runtime impact.
Preview evidence and Pro toolsSearch recorded evidence and save private review notes with Pro. $99/month plus applicable tax.
lowGoogle API key (client-shipped; restriction unverified)17 occurrences
Interpretation & review guidance
Android apps are designed to ship Google API keys in the client; Google restricts them by app signing certificate + enabled API. This is only a problem if the key is left unrestricted — presence alone is expected, not an exposure.
- Evidence
- 17 recorded occurrences in the analyzed APK. These are distinct stored findings, not a count of every source match.
- Verification
- Static detection; current reachability is not established.
Evidence preview
- Evidence type
- Static string match
- Representative location
classes6.dex- Recorded match
AIza•••••••• (21–40 chars, redacted)- Detector rule
google_api_key- Recorded file locations
classes6.dex
17 recorded findings have inspectable metadata. Duplicate matches may share a representative location.
Review whether this belongs to intended app functionality or a bundled library. A static match does not establish runtime impact.
Preview evidence and Pro toolsSearch recorded evidence and save private review notes with Pro. $99/month plus applicable tax.
lowGoogle Cloud Storage reference1 occurrence
Interpretation & review guidance
A Google Cloud Storage reference. Normal for apps that use GCS; risky only if the bucket is publicly listable/readable (live-verified).
- Evidence
- 1 recorded occurrence in the analyzed APK. These are distinct stored findings, not a count of every source match.
- Verification
- Static detection; current reachability is not established.
Evidence preview
- Evidence type
- Static string match
- Representative location
classes2.dex- Recorded match
Pattern recorded; identifying value redacted.- Detector rule
gcs_bucket- Recorded file locations
classes2.dex
1 recorded findings have inspectable metadata. Duplicate matches may share a representative location.
Review whether this belongs to intended app functionality or a bundled library. A static match does not establish runtime impact.
Preview evidence and Pro toolsSearch recorded evidence and save private review notes with Pro. $99/month plus applicable tax.
infoApplication data is backup-enabled1 occurrence
Interpretation & review guidance
The app allows Android backups (android:allowBackup="true"). App data can then be extracted via adb backup on many devices — a concern if the app stores tokens or personal/health/payment data locally. Common and low-severity, but worth disabling for sensitive apps.
- Evidence
- 1 recorded occurrence in the analyzed APK. These are distinct stored findings, not a count of every source match.
- Verification
- Static detection; current reachability is not established.
Evidence preview
- Evidence type
- Parsed app configuration
- Representative location
AndroidManifest.xml- Recorded match
android:allowBackup="true"- Detector rule
manifest- Recorded file locations
AndroidManifest.xml
1 recorded findings have inspectable metadata. Duplicate matches may share a representative location.
Review whether this belongs to intended app functionality or a bundled library. A static match does not establish runtime impact.
Preview evidence and Pro toolsSearch recorded evidence and save private review notes with Pro. $99/month plus applicable tax.
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Privacy signals
Capabilities and bundled software do not prove that data was collected or transmitted.
Precise location Approx. location Camera Microphone Contacts Read SMS Send SMS Phone state
Requested permission inventory (82)
Data collection & flow (privacy signal, not part of the grade)
- Persistent-identifier APIs referenced in code (Android ID, Device ID / IMEI, Subscriber ID (IMSI) +1 more) with 2 analytics/ad SDK(s) present — the mechanism used for cross-app profiling.
- Camera, Contacts, Microphone, Personal info, Phone, Photos & files, SMS data requested with third-party analytics/ad SDKs present.
This maps what the app can access (permissions it requests, identifier APIs its code references) to the third parties bundled in it. It reflects capability and SDK presence — not proof that a specific value was transmitted.
Data Safety: declared vs observed (Play label vs our analysis)
We compare the developer's Google Play Data Safety declaration with what the binary can actually do (permissions it requests, identifier APIs and third-party SDKs it ships). A mismatch is a capability signal to confirm — a requested permission is not proof of collection.
Trackers & SDKs (2 detected · privacy signal, not part of the grade)
Build & components
Scanned build messages.android_20260928_02_RC00.phone_dynamic. Store metadata may describe a newer release.
bddd50df2a5c6cef4b48bf4966a34bf5035e9347d2e2690102b8a3901d7959fdSigning certificate (who signed this build — factual, not part of the grade)
cc:75:52:6d:6c:0f:80:ac:3b:3a:84:eb:44:83:84:40:db:be:6b:12:44:43:a7:c7:d7:bd:19:18:2a:c0:22:c9The certificate fingerprint identifies the parsed signing certificate. Knowing this public fingerprint does not establish ownership or validate the APK signature.
Component inventory
1 components. Advisory matching covers a curated set; no match is not proof that a component is vulnerability-free.
| Component | Version | Advisory matches |
|---|---|---|
com.squareup.okhttp3:okhttp | 5.4.0 | None recorded |
About this app · store information
About this app
Simple, helpful messaging by Google
Screenshots
Scan history
Each row is an observed scan. Gaps between scans do not establish how long a finding existed.
| Scanned (UTC) | Build | Score | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-09 06:49 UTC | messages.android_20260928_02_RC00.phone_dynamic | 48 | D |
| 2026-10-02 06:08 UTC | messages.android_20260917_03_RC00.phone_dynamic | 48 | D |
| 2026-09-25 06:03 UTC | messages.android_20260910_03_RC02.phone_dynamic | 47 | D |
| 2026-09-14 00:56 UTC | messages.android_20260827_01_RC02.phone_dynamic | 47 | D |
| 2026-09-06 09:53 UTC | messages.android_20260820_02_RC05.phone_dynamic | 65 | C |
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Exports describe the recorded assessment. Signed evidence proves origin and integrity, not completeness or safety.
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