8kSec
CASR Certification Logo
CASR CERTIFICATION

Certified Android Security Researcher

Demonstrate mastery of Android internals, AOSP, kernel customization, and advanced system-level security research.

24-Hour Exam
Corellium Lab Environment

Overview

The Certified Android Security Researcher (CASR) Certification is built on the foundations of the Offensive Android Internals course, offering an elite platform to demonstrate your mastery of Android internals and security.

This certification validates your deep understanding of Android's attack surface, app sandboxing, SELinux, AOSP debugging, and security mitigations. You'll go beyond theory, identifying and exploiting real-world vulnerabilities across system components, native code, and privileged apps.

Who Should Take This

  • Experienced security researchers focused on Android
  • Android developers with deep internals knowledge
  • Mobile kernel exploit developers
  • Firmware reverse engineers
  • Red team operators targeting Android ecosystems

Benefits

Advanced Expertise

Proves mastery over Android's internal architecture, low-level exploit development, and custom OS/kernel builds.

Career Opportunities

Opens specialized roles such as Android security researcher, mobile kernel exploit developer, and firmware reverse engineer.

Higher Earning Potential

Specialized and niche skill sets in mobile security command higher compensation.

Industry Recognition

Reflects high level of commitment and expertise, earning recognition from the infosec community.

Modern Security Practices

Stay ahead with the latest techniques in crash analysis, kernel symbolication, and Binder IPC exploitation.

Practical Problem Solving

Through real-world exploit case studies, tackle complex Android security challenges.

Exam Objectives

1

Android System Architecture and AOSP: Demonstrate understanding of Android's architecture and navigate AOSP source code.

2

Android Boot Process and Rooting: Exhibit knowledge of boot sequence, secure boot, and rooting mechanisms.

3

Binder IPC Internals: Analyze Android's IPC mechanisms with focus on Binder as an attack surface.

4

Crash Analysis and Kernel Symbolication: Perform crash analysis and symbolicate kernel crashes for vulnerability triage.

5

ARM and ARM64 Reverse Engineering: Show proficiency in ARM instruction sets for reverse engineering binaries.

6

Kernel and OS Customization: Build and modify Android OS and kernel images for security research.

7

Security Mitigations: Evaluate SELinux, DAC, CAP, RKP, MTE, and Scudo allocator.

8

Boot Image Extraction and Decryption: Demonstrate extraction, decryption, and analysis of Android boot images.

9

Privilege Escalation Techniques: Apply knowledge to escalate privileges based on real-world exploits.

10

Reverse Engineering Android Binaries: Dissect app and system binaries using Ghidra, Frida, Hopper, and more.

Exam Format

24 hrs

Exam Duration

Report

Final Deliverable

The CASR Exam evaluates your practical capabilities in real-world Android internals scenarios. Authentic scenarios involving 5 levels of varying difficulty challenge your skills in reverse engineering, pivoting, and exploiting Android applications, libraries, and platform components.

Passing Criteria: Your deliverable is a detailed report including fully functional proof-of-concept scripts, reviewed by a skilled team of industry experts.

Certificate: Successful candidates are awarded the 8kSec Certified Android Security Researcher certification, showcasing proficiency in Android internals and advanced exploitation.

Lab Environment

During the exam, you will have access to a dedicated lab environment providing virtualized ARM devices via Corellium for practical evaluations on both iOS and Android ecosystems.

Prerequisites

  • Solid grasp of Android internals, system architecture, and AOSP
  • ARM64 reverse engineering experience
  • Understanding of Binder IPC and Android kernel customization
  • Hands-on experience with vulnerability research across apps and platform components
  • Proficiency with security research tooling

Recommended Training

Offensive Android Internals Training

Advanced hands-on skills in reverse engineering, vulnerability research, and exploitation within Android OS. Covers AOSP, boot sequence, kernel customization, Binder IPC, SELinux, crash analysis, and real-world exploits.

Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this Certification intended for?
Intended for security professionals, Android developers, and researchers proving expertise in advanced Android security.
Is prior experience required?
Yes. The CASR certification assumes substantial hands-on experience with Android internals. This is not an entry-level certification.
How long does it take to prepare?
Preparation time varies based on your individual learning pace. On average, participants spend a few days to several weeks preparing. It is recommended to spend at least 2-3 weeks practicing before attempting the exam.
Is training mandatory before taking the exam?
The certification is currently offered upon successful completion of the accompanying training class.
Do I need to set up my own labs?
No, we will provide you access to our lab environment and an instruction guide during the exam.
How long does it take to get results?
Once you submit your report, a member of our review board will review it and provide results within 3 business days.
Take the Next Step

Ready to Get CASR Certified?

Prove your expertise with an industry-recognized certification from 8kSec.

Register Now View All Certifications