Breaking Down Mobile and Client-Side Security: Debunking 3 Common Myths

The Importance of Client-Side Mobile App Security

When it comes to mobile application vulnerabilities, security professionals often think about zero-day attacks or attempts to access sensitive data. These are very real threats, but it’s crucial to also consider more nuanced attacks, like reverse engineering and hooking. These attacks take advantage of the industry’s too-narrow understanding of mobile or client-side security, which often extends to device infrastructure and no further.

In 2022, Instagram found this out the hard way when a developer well-known for reverse engineering mobile apps spotted an unreleased feature in their code. This developer, Alessandro Paluzzi, was able to identify and access the feature by analyzing the mobile app’s code, bypassing any device-level protections. This incident underscores the unique security challenges that mobile apps face, as many of their processes and code are executed on the user’s device, making them more susceptible to analysis and tampering.

Impact of a Compromised Mobile App

A compromised mobile app can have severe consequences for a business:

• Stolen intellectual property and lost competitive advantage
• Damage to brand and consumer trust
• Revenue loss due to modified versions of the app uploaded to third-party stores
• Fines for regulatory violations

An example of the potential impact of a compromised mobile app is evident in the Peloton rower product leak in 2021. Details about an unreleased Peloton rowing machine were found in the company’s Android app, ultimately undermining planned marketing efforts, calling Peloton’s app security into question, and giving competitors a chance to beat them to market.

Three Client-Side Security Myths

Unfortunately, there are several misconceptions in the industry that hinder comprehensive mobile app security. Here are three commonly seen myths:

1. All Sensitive Data Is Protected

Myth: All sensitive data stays on the server side, so I’m confident it’s encrypted and protected. Since I don’t store any sensitive data on the user’s mobile device, I don’t need additional protection.

Counterpoint: While it’s true that very little sensitive data is stored on the user’s device, it doesn’t mean it’s secure. The application’s processes, code, and communications with the server are all exposed when the app is running. Without additional protections, an attacker can gain insight into how the app communicates with the server, where it does encryption, how it handles authorization, and where it captures sensitive information.

2. User-Based Threats Are Beyond My Control

Myth: I have no control over the app user’s device or how they use it, so there’s nothing I can do to prevent malware or phishing attacks anyway.

Counterpoint: While you may not be able to protect against all types of malware attacks, there are still steps you can take to protect your app against other threats. Leaving portions of the code and strings unobfuscated or comments in the code as metadata can serve as jumping-off points for reverse engineering and hooking. These vulnerabilities can provide unauthorized exposure to “secrets” within the code, leading to stolen intellectual property, brand damage, or other detrimental consequences.

3. The Operating System Will Protect Me

Myth: I’ve done my part by keeping all components used within my mobile app up to date, so I can rely on the security of the operating system (OS).

Counterpoint: The primary concern of the operating system is not the security of any specific mobile app, but rather the security of the device itself. There have been instances where vulnerabilities within mobile apps went undetected by OS protections, leading to breaches and potential exploitation. It’s essential to always assume that an app is running in a hostile environment and prepare accordingly.

How to Improve Client-Side Security

To protect your mobile application investment, it’s crucial to implement a comprehensive mobile app security strategy. Here are some recommendations:

1. Lean on Security Standards and Frameworks

Utilize well-established security standards and frameworks, such as OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS) and Mobile Application Security Testing Guide (MASTG), to guide your mobile app security strategy.

2. Integrate Security Throughout the DevSecOps Life Cycle

Make security an integral part of every stage of the development process, rather than treating it as a last-minute step before release.

3. Implement App-Level Protection Mechanisms

Incorporate powerful app-level protection mechanisms, such as code hardening and Runtime Application Self Protection (RASP) checks. It’s essential to ensure that the protection solutions you choose offer the necessary level of security.

4. Prioritize Security Testing

Perform thorough security testing to identify and address common vulnerabilities earlier in the development process. Choose a testing solution specifically designed for mobile applications and based on industry standards like OWASP.

5. Use Ongoing Threat Monitoring

Implement continuous threat monitoring to detect any suspicious activity, fraud, or cheating. Regularly refine and update your security strategy based on new threats and emerging vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

It’s imperative for security professionals to focus on client-side mobile app security to protect against malicious actors analyzing, tampering with, and reverse engineering their application’s code. A comprehensive mobile app security strategy, including protection, testing, and monitoring processes and tools, is the only defense against the threats attempting to access and exploit the code of your app.

Building a strong foundation of mobile app security requires a proactive approach that incorporates the latest security standards, integrates security into the development life cycle, implements robust app-level protection mechanisms, prioritizes security testing, and maintains ongoing threat monitoring. By adopting these practices, organizations can safeguard their mobile apps and prioritize the protection of sensitive data, intellectual property, brand reputation, and consumer trust.