Unknown chunk type after skipping bad string block

[L0rd-grimm]

Information

1. Apktool Version (apktool -version) -2.9.3
2. Operating System (Mac, Linux, Windows) -Linux
3. APK From? (Playstore, ROM, Other) - Other
4. Java Version (java --version) -21.0.3

Stacktrace/Logcat

I: Using Apktool 2.9.3 on sample.apk
I: Loading resource table...
S: Unknown chunk type: a6e9
I: Decoding file-resources...
I: Decoding values */* XMLs...
I: Decoding AndroidManifest.xml with resources...
W: Bad string block: string entry is at 244, past end at 244
I: Loading resource table from file: /home/kira/.local/share/apktool/framework/1.apk
W: Unknown chunk type at: (0x00000938) skipping...
W: Unknown chunk type at: (0x00000940) skipping...
W: Unknown chunk type at: (0x000014a4) skipping...
W: AXML hit unexpected end of file at byte: 0x14A4
I: Regular manifest package...
[Fatal Error] :3:62: XML document structures must start and end within the same entity.
I: Baksmaling classes.dex...
I: Baksmaling classes10.dex...
I: Baksmaling classes11.dex...
I: Baksmaling classes13.dex...
I: Baksmaling classes14.dex...
I: Baksmaling classes15.dex...
I: Baksmaling classes16.dex...
I: Baksmaling classes2.dex...
I: Baksmaling classes3.dex...
I: Baksmaling classes4.dex...
I: Baksmaling classes5.dex...
I: Baksmaling classes6.dex...
I: Baksmaling classes7.dex...
I: Baksmaling classes8.dex...
I: Baksmaling classes9.dex...
I: Copying assets and libs...
I: Copying unknown files...
I: Copying original files...

Steps to Reproduce

apktool d sample.apk

Frameworks

If this APK is from an OEM ROM (Samsung, HTC, LG). Please attach framework files
(.apks that live in /system/framework or /system/priv-app)

APK

If this APK can be freely shared, please upload/attach a link to it.

Questions to ask before submission

1. Have you tried apktool d, apktool b without changing anything?Y
2. If you are trying to install a modified apk, did you resign it?Y
3. Are you using the latest apktool version?Y

[iBotPeaches]

Generally with an apk throwing all these obfuscation steps we'd need a sample to investigate further.

[L0rd-grimm]

https://github.com/grimm-65/Android/blob/master/sample.apk

Link to the sample apk

[iBotPeaches]

It looked to disassemble fine for me, but it is missing some logic. I'm guessing we didn't read a chunk properly and got shifted and skipped entire arsc file.

This is definitely a highly obfuscated application.

sample.apk: warn: invalid type name 'NP_MANAGER14' for type with ID 14.
sample.apk: warn: invalid type name 'NP_MANAGER16' for type with ID 16.
ResourceType W 07-08 06:43:30 928361 928361] Bad string block: string #139 entry is at 4784210, past end at 1892

ResourceType W 07-08 06:43:30 928361 928361] Bad string block: string #149 entry is at 6357038, past end at 1892

I'll mark as a bug.

[bottle0928]

I catch the same problem.
When can you fix it?

[Lohita9]

Here is the decompiled resources.arsc file using MT Manager.
arsc.zip