OWASP Mobile Top 10 - More Security for Mobile Applications
The OWASP Mobile Top 10 is a list of the most urgent vulnerabilities you should protect mobile applications from.
Digitalization brings countless benefits that you can leverage in your business every day. At the same time, the online world is less secure than it may appear at first glance. Cyberattacks are a serious threat to any organization -- they not only cost money but also put your most sensitive data at risk. To counteract this, you need a robust security strategy. The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) provides the necessary frameworks to help you build secure web applications.
The OWASP Project for More IT Security
The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) is a non-profit initiative built on the security expertise of specialists worldwide. It is now internationally recognized as the leading organization for information systems security. OWASP was founded in the USA in 2001 and registered in Europe in 2011. Since then, its members have been working to identify security vulnerabilities in web applications and services. A key component is the OWASP Top Ten -- a list of the most critical vulnerabilities you should protect mobile applications against. This makes the OWASP Mobile Application Testing Guide an essential resource for improving cybersecurity.
The OWASP Mobile Top 10 at a Glance
The OWASP Mobile Top 10 provide an overview of the ten most critical security risks affecting your apps and web applications. They outline which attack vectors to expect and how to protect against them effectively.
1. Improper Platform Usage
The first item in the OWASP Top 10 is improper platform usage. Platforms such as iOS, Android, or Windows Phone provide various capabilities and features for developers to use. When an app fails to use an existing function -- or uses it incorrectly -- this constitutes improper platform usage. This may involve, for example, violating published guidelines in ways that compromise the app's security. Unlike the other items in the OWASP Mobile Top Ten, this aspect is not aimed exclusively at app developers. The core issue is that violating common conventions can enable unintended misuse.
2. Insecure Data Storage
Insecure data storage and unintentional data leaks also fall under the OWASP Mobile Top Ten. Mobile application penetration testing tools help uncover these vulnerabilities. The issue is not limited to your SQL database -- manifest files, log files, cookie storage, and cloud synchronization can all be affected. This problem occurs so frequently that it should be a key item on your OWASP Mobile Security Checklist. The root cause is almost always insufficiently documented or entirely undocumented internal processes.
3. Insecure Communication
Your app transports data from point A to point B. If this transport is insecure, the risk increases significantly. Here, too, mobile application penetration testing tools can help by detecting faulty app-to-server or mobile-to-mobile communication. The primary concern is the transfer of sensitive data between devices, including encryption keys, passwords, account details, and private user information. Without adequate security measures in place, attackers can easily intercept your data.
4. Insecure Authentication
Secure authentication is another critical aspect of your OWASP Mobile Security Checklist. There are numerous scenarios in which an app may exhibit insecure authentication. A classic example is a backend API request that the mobile app executes anonymously, without requiring an access token. Additionally, some apps still store passwords locally in plaintext. To mitigate these risks, you should consistently follow OWASP's recommendations.
5. Lack of Cryptography
Insufficient cryptography can be observed in most mobile applications. The cause is almost always one of two problems: a fundamentally flawed process behind the encryption mechanisms, or the implementation of a weak algorithm.
6. Insecure Authorization
Unlike authentication, authorization deals with verifying the permissions of an already identified person. It checks whether the required privileges are in place to perform certain actions. Although the two concepts are closely related, they are deliberately listed as separate items in the OWASP Top 10. They are mutually dependent: a lack of authentication almost always leads to insufficient authorization. You should address these vulnerabilities as quickly as possible to protect your sensitive corporate data from unauthorized access.
7. Poor Client Code Quality
This OWASP Top 10 item addresses implementation issues at the code level. Any vulnerability resulting from code-level errors can provide attackers with an entry point. The main challenge is that fixes must be applied directly in the code. Insecure API usage and unsafe language constructs are particularly common problems that require code-level remediation.
8. Code Manipulation
From a technical perspective, any code running on a mobile device is vulnerable to tampering, since it executes in an environment outside your organization's control. This creates numerous opportunities for unauthorized modification. You should always assess these potential changes in the context of their business impact.
9. Reverse Engineering
Attackers who want to understand how your app works can use reverse engineering to access all the information they need. Metadata, which is intended to simplify development, poses a particularly high risk. As a rule, if the binary's string table can be clearly understood or cross-functional analysis is possible, the app should be considered at risk.
10. Extraneous Functionality
Hidden backdoor functionality or internal security controls are a common problem in mobile applications. These features are not only useful for developers -- they can also be exploited by attackers. Through them, an attacker could, for example, disable two-factor authentication or alter the app's core functionality.
The OWASP Mobile Testing Guide: Guide to Better Mobile Security
Applications developed according to the OWASP framework are generally considered secure. By following this guide, you benefit from a significantly higher security standard than most apps achieve. The idea behind the OWASP Testing Guide is to provide you with processes, techniques, and tools that you can apply to the security testing of your mobile apps. While the OWASP Testing Guide is by no means mandatory, it is well worth leveraging this expert knowledge -- the OWASP Mobile Application Testing Guide forms the foundation of your app security.
Mobile Penetration Testing: What Mobile Application Pentests Can Do
Regular penetration testing is the foundation of your application security. Even standalone apps should never be considered in isolation, as they are always part of a larger system. As soon as your mobile app communicates with a server, you need to check for security vulnerabilities. This is best accomplished through a combination of infrastructure pentesting and targeted mobile pentesting. The basis for these tests is the OWASP Mobile Security Testing Guide, which helps you identify potential risks early on. The exact process depends on your specific requirements -- the OWASP Mobile Security Testing Guide serves as a guideline, not a mandate.
Frida - Efficient, Portable and Secure
Frida is a toolkit for developers, security researchers, and reverse engineering. It enables dynamic instrumentation while being scriptable, portable, and free. Frida's goal is to empower the next generation of developer tools and make mobile applications more secure -- based on fast and comprehensive analysis at scale.
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