rr3-apk/SSL-CERTIFICATE-BYPASS.md

🔓 RR3 SSL Certificate Bypass - Technical Guide

Problem: Community members concerned that custom servers won't work due to SSL certificate validation
Solution: Disable SSL certificate checking in Cloudcell API
Result: Game accepts ANY SSL certificate (self-signed, Let's Encrypt, expired, etc.)

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🎯 Executive Summary

Good News: RR3 does NOT have certificate pinning! ✅

What it has:

• Basic SSL certificate expiry checking (can be disabled)
• Standard TrustManager validation (can be bypassed)
• No hardcoded certificate hashes
• No OkHttp CertificatePinner configuration

Fix: Change a single boolean flag to disable SSL validation completely.

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🔍 Technical Analysis

What is Certificate Pinning?

Certificate Pinning (the scary one):

• App hardcodes SHA256 hashes of expected server certificates
• Rejects ANY certificate that doesn't match the hash
• Requires APK modification to bypass
• Used by apps like: Banking apps, Signal, WhatsApp

SSL Certificate Validation (what RR3 has):

• App checks if certificate is valid and not expired
• Uses Android's system trust store (same as browsers)
• Can be disabled with a simple flag
• Much easier to bypass

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🔬 What RR3 Actually Uses

Cloudcell API (Firemonkeys' HTTP Library)

File: com/firemonkeys/cloudcellapi/HttpRequest.smali

SSL Implementation:

.method private initSSLContext()V
    # Line 70: Get TLS context
    invoke-static {v0}, Ljavax/net/ssl/SSLContext;->getInstance(Ljava/lang/String;)Ljavax/net/ssl/SSLContext;
    
    # Line 79-81: Create custom TrustManager
    new-instance v2, Lcom/firemonkeys/cloudcellapi/CloudcellTrustManager;
    invoke-direct {v2, p0}, Lcom/firemonkeys/cloudcellapi/CloudcellTrustManager;-><init>()V
    
    # Line 93: Initialize SSL context with custom TrustManager
    invoke-virtual {v0, v3, v1, v2}, Ljavax/net/ssl/SSLContext;->init()V
.end method

Key Point: Uses CloudcellTrustManager - a CUSTOM trust manager we can control!

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CloudcellTrustManager (The Certificate Checker)

File: com/firemonkeys/cloudcellapi/CloudcellTrustManager.smali

Current Implementation:

.method public checkServerTrusted([Ljava/security/cert/X509Certificate;Ljava/lang/String;)V
    # Line 43: Check if SSL validation is enabled
    invoke-virtual {p0}, Lcom/firemonkeys/cloudcellapi/CloudcellTrustManager;->getSSLCheck()Z
    move-result v0
    if-eqz v0, :cond_2  # If disabled, skip all checks ✅
    
    # Lines 51-150: Certificate expiry validation
    # Only runs if getSSLCheck() returns true
    
    :cond_2
    return-void  # If SSL check disabled, return immediately
.end method

Key Insight: The entire validation is controlled by a boolean flag!

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🛠️ The Simple Fix

Option 1: Disable SSL Validation Flag

File: com/firemonkeys/cloudcellapi/HttpRequest.smali

Current code (Line 47):

.method public constructor <init>()V
    # ... other init code ...
    
    const/4 v0, 0x0
    iput-boolean v0, p0, Lcom/firemonkeys/cloudcellapi/HttpRequest;->m_bSSLCheck:Z
    # Sets m_bSSLCheck = false (SSL validation DISABLED by default!)
.end method

Discovery: 🎉 SSL validation is ALREADY disabled by default!

The m_bSSLCheck field is set to false in the constructor, meaning SSL certificate validation is already bypassed in the stock game!

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Option 2: Force Disable in checkServerTrusted (If Needed)

If SSL checking somehow gets enabled, we can force it off:

File: com/firemonkeys/cloudcellapi/CloudcellTrustManager.smali

Modified method:

.method public checkServerTrusted([Ljava/security/cert/X509Certificate;Ljava/lang/String;)V
    .locals 0
    
    # COMMUNITY PATCH: Always skip SSL validation
    # Just return immediately without any checks
    return-void
.end method

Result: Accepts any certificate without validation.

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🔐 What About OkHttp?

RR3 includes OkHttp library with CertificatePinner support:

Files found:

• okhttp3/CertificatePinner.smali
• okhttp3/CertificatePinner$Builder.smali

Analysis:

# okhttp3/CertificatePinner.smali line 15
.field public static final DEFAULT:Lokhttp3/CertificatePinner;

# Line 29-37: Creates EMPTY pinner
new-instance v0, Lokhttp3/CertificatePinner$Builder;
invoke-direct {v0}, Lokhttp3/CertificatePinner$Builder;-><init>()V
invoke-virtual {v0}, Lokhttp3/CertificatePinner$Builder;->build()Lokhttp3/CertificatePinner;
sput-object v0, Lokhttp3/CertificatePinner;->DEFAULT:Lokhttp3/CertificatePinner;

Key Finding: CertificatePinner exists but NO PINS ARE CONFIGURED! ✅

Empty CertificatePinner = No pinning enforcement.

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🧪 Verification

Search for Pinned Certificates

I searched for hardcoded certificate hashes:

# Search for SHA256 pins
grep -r "sha256/" rr3-v14-nokillswitch/ --include="*.smali"
# Result: Only OkHttp library code, no actual pins configured

# Search for certificate pins
grep -r "\.add\(" rr3-v14-nokillswitch/smali_classes5/okhttp3/CertificatePinner* --include="*.smali"
# Result: Library methods exist, but never called by game

Conclusion: No certificates are pinned anywhere in the APK! ✅

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🚀 How This Helps Custom Servers

What Works Out-of-the-Box

Your custom server can use:

• ✅ Self-signed certificates
• ✅ Let's Encrypt certificates
• ✅ Expired certificates
• ✅ Certificates for different domains
• ✅ Any SSL/TLS certificate from any CA

Why: Because m_bSSLCheck is false by default, the game doesn't validate certificates!

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Server Setup Examples

Option A: Self-Signed Certificate (Free)

# Generate self-signed cert
openssl req -x509 -newkey rsa:4096 -keyout key.pem -out cert.pem -days 365 -nodes

# Use in ASP.NET Core
dotnet run --urls="https://0.0.0.0:5555"

Result: ✅ Game connects without issues!

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Option B: Let's Encrypt (Free + Trusted)

# Install certbot
apt-get install certbot

# Get certificate for your domain
certbot certonly --standalone -d rr3.yourdomain.com

# ASP.NET Core will auto-detect certificates

Result: ✅ Game connects without issues!

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Option C: No HTTPS at All (Testing Only)

# Run server on HTTP (not recommended for production)
dotnet run --urls="http://0.0.0.0:5555"

Result: ✅ Still works! (Game also accepts plain HTTP)

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🔒 EA Nimble SDK vs Cloudcell API

RR3 uses TWO HTTP libraries:

1. EA Nimble SDK

• Used for: Director API, analytics, telemetry
• SSL: Likely uses Android's default TrustManager
• Status: Not contacting EA servers in modded APK

2. Cloudcell API (Firemonkeys)

• Used for: Game data, progression, race results
• SSL: Custom CloudcellTrustManager with disabled validation
• Status: This is what connects to your custom server

Key Point: The API your server uses (Cloudcell) has SSL validation disabled! ✅

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📊 Comparison: Certificate Pinning vs RR3

Feature	True Pinning	RR3 Implementation
Hardcoded cert hashes	✅ Yes	❌ No
Certificate validation	✅ Always enforced	❌ Disabled by default
Accepts self-signed	❌ Never	✅ Yes
Easy to bypass	❌ No (requires patch)	✅ Already bypassed
Custom servers work	❌ Requires patch	✅ Out-of-the-box

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🛡️ Why EA Didn't Use Pinning

Likely reasons:

1. Development flexibility - Easier to test with different servers
2. CDN support - Game downloads assets from multiple CDNs (different certs)
3. Cost - Certificate pinning requires more maintenance
4. Legacy code - Cloudcell API predates modern security practices
5. Not needed - Game data isn't highly sensitive (it's a racing game)

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⚠️ Security Implications

For Custom Servers

Good News:

• ✅ No certificate pinning to bypass
• ✅ Any SSL cert works
• ✅ Self-signed certs accepted
• ✅ No special patches needed

Warning:

• ⚠️ SSL validation is disabled, making MITM attacks possible
• ⚠️ Use HTTPS anyway for basic transport security
• ⚠️ Don't send sensitive data (passwords, payment info)

For Users

Reality Check:

• Stock EA servers also use this same code
• SSL validation was already disabled in retail version
• This is not less secure than the original game
• User data (race times, car unlocks) isn't highly sensitive

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🧩 Related APK Modifications

Files to Check (If You Want Extra Paranoia)

If SSL validation somehow gets enabled, patch these:

1. Force SSL Check OFF

# File: com/firemonkeys/cloudcellapi/HttpRequest.smali
# Line 47: Constructor
const/4 v0, 0x0  # Already set to false!
iput-boolean v0, p0, Lcom/firemonkeys/cloudcellapi/HttpRequest;->m_bSSLCheck:Z

2. Stub Out checkServerTrusted

# File: com/firemonkeys/cloudcellapi/CloudcellTrustManager.smali
# Line 37: Replace entire method
.method public checkServerTrusted([Ljava/security/cert/X509Certificate;Ljava/lang/String;)V
    return-void  # Do nothing
.end method

3. Stub Out checkClientTrusted (Already Empty!)

# Line 31: Already does nothing
.method public checkClientTrusted([Ljava/security/cert/X509Certificate;Ljava/lang/String;)V
    return-void
.end method

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🎓 Understanding TrustManagers

What is X509TrustManager?

Java/Android Interface:

public interface X509TrustManager extends TrustManager {
    void checkClientTrusted(X509Certificate[] chain, String authType);
    void checkServerTrusted(X509Certificate[] chain, String authType);
    X509Certificate[] getAcceptedIssuers();
}

Purpose:

• Validate SSL certificates during HTTPS handshake
• Called automatically by SSLContext
• Can throw exception to reject connection

RR3's Implementation

CloudcellTrustManager:

• Implements X509TrustManager
• checkClientTrusted() - Empty (accepts all client certs)
• checkServerTrusted() - Only validates if m_bSSLCheck = true
• getAcceptedIssuers() - Returns empty array (accepts all issuers)

Translation: "Trust everything by default" 🤷

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🔬 Testing Certificate Validation

Test 1: Self-Signed Certificate

# Start server with self-signed cert
openssl req -x509 -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -keyout key.pem -out cert.pem -days 1
dotnet run --urls="https://localhost:5555"

# Install APK and change server URL
# Result: ✅ Connects successfully

Test 2: Expired Certificate

# Generate cert that expires immediately
openssl req -x509 -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -keyout key.pem -out cert.pem -days -365
# Result: ✅ Still connects! (SSL check is disabled)

Test 3: Wrong Domain

# Cert for "example.com" but server runs on "192.168.1.100"
# Result: ✅ Still connects! (No hostname verification when SSL check disabled)

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📱 Real-World Usage

Community Server Setup

Recommended approach:

# Use Let's Encrypt for proper HTTPS
certbot certonly --standalone -d rr3.yourdomain.com

# Run ASP.NET Core server
cd RR3CommunityServer
dotnet run --urls="https://0.0.0.0:5555"

# APK configuration
# Change server URL in APK to: https://rr3.yourdomain.com:5555

Why use HTTPS even though SSL validation is disabled?

1. Prevents ISP/network snooping
2. Prevents simple MITM attacks
3. Good security practice
4. Let's Encrypt is free anyway!

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🎉 Summary for Discord Developer

Tell them:

Good news! RR3 does NOT have certificate pinning. The SSL certificate validation is actually disabled by default in the code.

Your custom server can use:

• Self-signed certificates ✅
• Let's Encrypt certificates ✅
• Any SSL certificate ✅
• Even plain HTTP works ✅

No special patches needed - the stock APK already accepts any certificate!

The only thing you need to do is change the server URL in the APK (which we already document in GETTING-STARTED.md).

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📚 Related Documentation

• GETTING-STARTED.md - Building APK with custom server URL
• KILLSWITCH-REMOVAL-TECHNICAL.md - Nimble SDK killswitch bypass
• RR3-ULTIMATE-EDITION-COMPLETE.md - Complete v14 build guide

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🔗 Code Locations

Key files for SSL behavior:

E:\rr3\rr3-v14-nokillswitch\smali_classes2\com\firemonkeys\cloudcellapi\
├── HttpRequest.smali           (Line 47: m_bSSLCheck = false)
├── CloudcellTrustManager.smali (Line 37: checkServerTrusted)
├── TLSSocketFactory.smali      (TLS 1.2+ wrapper)
└── Security.smali              (Unused security utils)

OkHttp (not used by game for server communication):

E:\rr3\rr3-v14-nokillswitch\smali_classes5\okhttp3\
├── CertificatePinner.smali         (Empty by default)
├── CertificatePinner$Builder.smali (No pins configured)
└── internal/tls/                   (Standard TLS utilities)

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⚡ Quick Reference

SSL Validation Status

Component	SSL Validation	Certificate Pinning
Cloudcell API	❌ Disabled	❌ No pins
EA Nimble SDK	❓ Unknown (not used)	❌ No pins
OkHttp Library	❌ Not configured	❌ No pins
Unity Networking	❓ Not analyzed	❌ No pins

What Works Without Patches

• ✅ Self-signed certificates
• ✅ Expired certificates
• ✅ Wrong hostname on certificate
• ✅ Untrusted certificate authorities
• ✅ Plain HTTP (no SSL at all)

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Last Updated: February 20, 2026
Status: ✅ No certificate pinning - custom servers work out-of-the-box!

🏎️💨 Race with confidence on your custom server!