Android VerifyError exception

Question

I am using Fingerprint sensor in my application. I know that api is available for marshmallow and above OS. So while running in my class I am checking dynamically for sdk version.

Even the code for fingerprint not execution I am facing following exception on 4.0 android os, while the same executes for 5.0 and above.

**java.lang.VerifyError: com/cloudzon/gratzeez1/GiveGratuityActivity
                                                                        at java.lang.Class.newInstanceImpl(Native Method)
                                                                        at java.lang.Class.newInstance(Class.java:1215)
                                                                        at android.app.Instrumentation.newActivity(Instrumentation.java:1061)
                                                                        at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2265)
                                                                        at android.app.ActivityThread.handleLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2417)
                                                                        at android.app.ActivityThread.access$800(ActivityThread.java:151)
                                                                        at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1342)
                                                                        at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:110)
                                                                        at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:193)
                                                                        at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5322)
                                                                        at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method)
                                                                        at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:515)
                                                                        at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:829)
                                                                        at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:645)
                                                                        at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method)**

I found that because of following code in my class I am facing this issue.

public boolean cipherInit() {
    try {
        cipher = Cipher.getInstance(KeyProperties.KEY_ALGORITHM_AES + "/" + KeyProperties.BLOCK_MODE_CBC + "/" + KeyProperties.ENCRYPTION_PADDING_PKCS7);
    } catch (NoSuchAlgorithmException | NoSuchPaddingException e) {
        throw new RuntimeException("Failed to get Cipher", e);
    }

    try {
        keyStore.load(null);
        SecretKey key = (SecretKey) keyStore.getKey(KEY_NAME,
                null);
        cipher.init(Cipher.ENCRYPT_MODE, key);
        return true;
    } catch (KeyPermanentlyInvalidatedException e) {
        return false;
    } catch (KeyStoreException | CertificateException | UnrecoverableKeyException | IOException | NoSuchAlgorithmException | InvalidKeyException e) {
        throw new RuntimeException("Failed to init Cipher", e);
    }
}

Are you sure that the same code works in 5.0? – Ponsuyambu Feb 04 '17 at 22:58 — Ponsuyambu, Feb 04 '17 at 22:58
yes its working fine in 5.0 – Jay Vyas Feb 06 '17 at 04:25 — Jay Vyas, Feb 06 '17 at 04:25

score 7 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 10:30

I ran into this as well and another answer got me on the right track; How to Use Unsupported Exception for Lower Platform Version

I change that method to;

public boolean cipherInit() {
    try {
        cipher = Cipher.getInstance(KeyProperties.KEY_ALGORITHM_AES + "/" + KeyProperties.BLOCK_MODE_CBC + "/" + KeyProperties.ENCRYPTION_PADDING_PKCS7);
    } catch (NoSuchAlgorithmException | NoSuchPaddingException e) {
        throw new RuntimeException("Failed to get Cipher", e);
    }

    try {
        keyStore.load(null);
        SecretKey key = (SecretKey) keyStore.getKey(KEY_NAME, null);
        cipher.init(Cipher.ENCRYPT_MODE, key);
        return true;
    } catch (Exception e) {
        if(e instanceof KeyPermanentlyInvalidatedException)
            return false;
        else if(e instanceof KeyStoreException|e instanceof CertificateException|e instanceof UnrecoverableKeyException|e instanceof IOException|e instanceof NoSuchAlgorithmException|e instanceof InvalidKeyException)
            throw new RuntimeException("Failed to init Cipher",e);
    }
    return false;
}

Changing the catch block for KeyPermanentlyInvalidatedException from (KeyPermanentlyInvalidatedException e) to (e instanceof KeyPermanentlyInvalidatedException) seemed to fix the issue for some reason.

coming across this error for the first time. no one seems to have an answer for it on here.im getting it in my application module when creating a new instance of a class — filthy_wizard, Mar 27 '17 at 10:15
If your error isn't related to adding Cipher and/or Fingerprint code to your Android project, then I suggest you open a new question. — opt05, Mar 27 '17 at 13:38

Pedro Romão · Answer 2 · 2020-05-14T20:53:14.867

2

I simply solve it by changing the catch exception block. The KeyPermanentlyInvalidatedException is a subclass of InvalidKeyException and if we use the KeyPermanentlyInvalidatedException we got the VerifyError.

catch (KeyPermanentlyInvalidatedException e) {
(...)
}

Instead, use InvalidKeyException

catch (InvalidKeyException e) {
(...)
}

@opt05 answer help me to solve my problem, but I didn't like his approach using the instance of.

edited May 14 '20 at 20:53

answered Jan 22 '19 at 15:12

Pedro Romão

2,285
28
22

+1 for advocating against `instanceof`. It has uses and although Android is already one hell of a mess, there are usually better solutions – Kaiser Keister May 14 '20 at 11:42

Android VerifyError exception

2 Answers2