Mobile App Security: Beyond OWASP MASVS

Mobile App Security: Beyond OWASP MASVS

Introduction

The OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS) is a great baseline — but real attackers don’t follow checklists.

Today’s mobile threats target weaknesses in storage, runtime behavior, API interactions, and IPC mechanisms. To defend effectively, security testing must simulate how attackers actually operate — not just how documentation suggests.

At Siber Ninja, our Mobile Application Security Testing (MAST) methodology uncovers vulnerabilities that pass traditional reviews but fail in the wild.

What We Test — And Why It Matters

1. Insecure Storage

We look for sensitive data such as:

• API tokens, credentials, session IDs
• Hardcoded secrets in APK/IPA resources
• Unencrypted files, logs, and databases

Testing includes rooted/jailbroken device scenarios, where storage controls can be easily bypassed.

2. Tampering & Reverse Engineering

We perform both static and dynamic analysis to simulate:

• APK/IPA unpacking and patching
• Bypass of biometric, jailbreak/root, or license checks
• Injection of rogue logic during runtime

Mobile apps must assume device compromise — we test that assumption thoroughly.

3. Insecure Intents & IPC

Inter-app communication remains a high-impact blind spot, especially in Android.

We analyze:

• Exported activities, services, receivers
• Custom schemes and deeplinks
• Insecure broadcast usage or improperly defined permissions

Poor IPC hygiene often results in unauthorized access or privilege escalation.

4. API Coupling & Backend Dependencies

A secure app can still be vulnerable if the backend:

• Accepts weak tokens
• Misses rate limiting or abuse protection
• Leaks verbose errors or debugging output

We perform end-to-end testing — not just client review — to validate real-world attack surface.

💡 Real-World Case Insight

In a recent engagement, we:

• Reverse-engineered and patched a production APK
• Bypassed biometric checks by hooking into the login flow
• Injected a callback that granted access to PII within the app
• Demonstrated privilege escalation and data compromise — despite MASVS compliance

Compliance ≠ Security. Standards help — but adversaries don't stop there.

Strategic Recommendations

To build mobile apps that hold up under active attack:

• Implement Runtime Protections: Obfuscation, root detection, anti-debugging, tamper checks
• Secure Data at Rest: Use secure enclaves, keychains, and hardware-backed keystores
• Audit Inter-App Surfaces: Regularly test intents, URI handlers, and permissions
• Test on Real Devices: Emulate attack chains using static, dynamic, and manual analysis — not just emulators

Are You Testing What Attackers Actually Exploit?

Most mobile security assessments stop at checklists.
Siber Ninja’s Mobile Application Security Testing (MAST) goes further — simulating the tactics real attackers use to breach mobile ecosystems.

We assess iOS, Android, and hybrid apps for:

• Insecure data storage and local exposure

• Tampering and runtime manipulation

• Weak API/backend validation and trust flaws

• Full-stack exploit chaining — not just single-issue testing

• Lean More About Our Mobile App Testing Service

• Request a Mobile Application Security Testing Engagement

• Talk to Our Team to assess your mobile security posture

Secure your mobile apps the way attackers test them — thoroughly.