M8: Security Misconfiguration

Overview

Security misconfiguration refers to the improper configuration of security settings, permissions, and controls in mobile apps that can lead to vulnerabilities and unauthorized access. This can include insecure default settings, improper access controls, weak encryption or hashing, lack of secure communication, unprotected storage, misconfigured session management, and more.

Description

Security misconfigurations in mobile apps are common due to factors such as time constraints, lack of awareness, or human error during development. These misconfigurations can have severe technical and business impacts, including unauthorized access to sensitive data, account hijacking or impersonation, data breaches, and compromise of backend systems. To prevent security misconfigurations, it is important to follow secure coding and configuration practices, such as securing default configurations, avoiding hardcoded default credentials, using secure network configurations, disabling debugging features, and conducting thorough security assessments.

How to Prevent ?

To prevent security misconfigurations in mobile apps, follow these prevention measures: - Secure default configurations - Avoid using hardcoded default credentials - Store application files with proper permissions - Request only necessary permissions - Use secure network configuration - Disable debugging features - Disable backup mode (Android) - Limit application attack surface by only exporting necessary activities, content providers, and services

Example Attack Scenarios:

• Scenario #1: Insecure default settings:  A mobile app is released with default settings that have weak security configurations enabled. Attackers exploit these misconfigurations to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or perform malicious actions.

• Scenario #2: Insecure file provider path settings:  A mobile app exposes its root path in an exported file content provider, allowing other apps to access its resources.

• Scenario #3: Overly permissive storage permissions:  A mobile app stores application shared preferences with world-readable permissions, allowing other apps to read them.

• Scenario #4: Exported activity:  A mobile app exports some activity that is meant for internal use, giving attackers extra attack surface to the application.

• Scenario #5: Unnecessary permissions:  A mobile app requests excessive permissions that are not essential for its core functionality, exposing user data to unnecessary risks.