An evolved requirement in the rapidly changing panorama of mobile technology is security but not an option for development. Today, we have the Secure Matrix, which simply provides an all-in guide for developers and security engineers to various complexities of mobile application security.
What is a Secure Matrix?
Mobile applications are fast exposing themselves to sophisticated threats that cut across the sensitive data as well as user privacy and company operations. The Secure Matrix provides the necessary instrument for such exposures and, consequently, the alignment with the OWASP framework is expected to give a thorough disaggregation of vulnerabilities and protections.
Exploring the Vulnerabilities of Mobile Applications in Depth
This is accompanied by the OWASP version for each attack as set out by our Secure Matrix, which also features clarity and actionable insights for the end-user:
Network Security Threats: How the unsecure VPN and proxy services can be alleviated by advanced RASP protections.
Platform Interaction: Protection against unauthorized actions, including fake GPS, location spoofing, and insecure IPC mechanisms.
Data Protection: Prevention of data leakage through harvesting from the clipboard or through unsafe data storage methods.
Authentication and Session Management: Insight into preventing SIM swapping attacks and biometric authentication bypass.
Resistance against Runtime Attacks: Discover how to make your app resistant to memory manipulation tools such as GameGuardian or dynamic code injection.
The Secure Matrix Table
Here’s a detailed overview of mobile application attacks, the corresponding RASP protections, and how they align with the OWASP framework:
| Attack/Vulnerability | RASP Protection | OWASP MASVS Category | OWASP MASWE Reference | OWASP MSTG Reference | OWASP Mobile Top 10 |
| Unsecure VPN Service | Detects and blocks connections through untrusted VPNs to prevent data interception. | MASVS-N: Network Security | MASWE-1.3.5: Untrusted Network Connections | MSTG-NETWORK-5: Test for untrusted networks | M3: Insecure Communication |
| Proxy-Aware Attacks | Identifies and mitigates proxy-based attacks by validating network requests and responses. | MASVS-N: Network Security | MASWE-1.3.6: Proxy-Aware Attacks | MSTG-NETWORK-6: Test for proxy vulnerabilities | M3: Insecure Communication |
| Fake GPS and Location Spoofing | Detects and blocks fake GPS applications and ensures location data integrity. | MASVS-P: Platform Interaction | MASWE-1.2.8: Location Spoofing | MSTG-PLATFORM-9: Test for location spoofing | M1: Improper Platform Usage |
| Root Certificate Swapping | Validates certificates at runtime to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks via root certificate manipulation. | MASVS-N: Network Security | MASWE-1.3.7: Root Certificate Manipulation | MSTG-NETWORK-7: Test for certificate validation | M3: Insecure Communication |
| App Installation from Untrusted Sources | Ensures the app is installed from trusted sources and detects sideloaded or tampered installations. | MASVS-P: Platform Interaction | MASWE-1.2.9: Untrusted Installation Sources | MSTG-PLATFORM-10: Test for installation source | M1: Improper Platform Usage |
| Biometric Authentication Bypass | Secures biometric authentication mechanisms against spoofing and unauthorized access. | MASVS-A: Authentication | MASWE-1.5.3: Biometric Authentication Bypass | MSTG-AUTH-2: Test biometric authentication | M4: Insecure Authentication |
| Lock Screen Disabled Functionality | Ensures sensitive app functionalities are inaccessible when the device lock screen is disabled. | MASVS-P: Platform Interaction | MASWE-1.2.10: Lock Screen Disabled Risks | MSTG-PLATFORM-11: Test for lock screen enforcement | M1: Improper Platform Usage |
| SIM Swapping Attacks | Detects changes in SIM card information and enforces re-authentication to prevent account takeover. | MASVS-A: Authentication | MASWE-1.5.4: SIM Swapping Risks | MSTG-AUTH-3: Test for SIM swap detection | M4: Insecure Authentication |
| GameGuardian and Cheat Tool Exploits | Detects and blocks memory manipulation tools like GameGuardian to prevent cheating in games. | MASVS-R: Resilience | MASWE-1.6.8: Game Cheat Tool Exploits | MSTG-RESILIENCE-9: Test for cheat tool detection | M7: Client Code Tampering |
| Malware Injections | Identifies and prevents malicious code injections during runtime. | MASVS-R: Resilience | MASWE-1.6.9: Malware Injection Risks | MSTG-RESILIENCE-10: Test for malware injection | M8: Code Tampering |
| Overlay Malware Attacks | Detects and blocks malicious overlays that attempt to steal user credentials or sensitive information. | MASVS-P: Platform Interaction | MASWE-1.2.11: Overlay Malware Attacks | MSTG-PLATFORM-12: Test for overlay malware | M1: Improper Platform Usage |
| Clipboard Data Harvesting by Malware | Prevents malware from accessing sensitive data copied to the clipboard. | MASVS-S: Data Storage | MASWE-1.1.4: Clipboard Data Harvesting | MSTG-STORAGE-4: Test for clipboard data protection | M2: Insecure Data Storage |
| Screen Recording by Malware | Detects and blocks unauthorized screen recording attempts by malicious applications. | MASVS-P: Platform Interaction | MASWE-1.2.12: Unauthorized Screen Recording | MSTG-PLATFORM-13: Test for screen recording protection | M1: Improper Platform Usage |
| Insecure Inter-Process Communication (IPC) | Secures IPC mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access and data leakage. | MASVS-P: Platform Interaction | MASWE-1.2.4: Insecure Inter-Process Communication | MSTG-PLATFORM-5: Test for insecure IPC mechanisms | M1: Improper Platform Usage |
| Weak Cryptographic Implementations | Enforces strong cryptographic standards during runtime to protect data integrity and confidentiality. | MASVS-C: Cryptography | MASWE-1.4.3: Weak Cryptographic Implementations | MSTG-CRYPTO-1: Ensure secure cryptographic practices | M5: Insufficient Cryptography |
| Insecure Data Storage | Encrypts sensitive data stored on the device to prevent unauthorized access from malware or attackers. | MASVS-S: Data Storage | MASWE-1.1.1: Insecure Data Storage | MSTG-STORAGE-1: Ensure data is encrypted in storage | M2: Insecure Data Storage |
| Runtime Memory Manipulation | Prevents unauthorized memory access or modification through tools like GameGuardian, preventing in-app cheats. (Indirectly addresses Root Detection) | MASVS-R: Resilience | MASWE-1.6.8: Game Cheat Tool Exploits | MSTG-RESILIENCE-9: Test for cheat tool detection | M7: Client Code Tampering |
| Hooking Framework Exploits (e.g., Frida, Xposed) | Detects and blocks runtime hooking attempts, preventing memory manipulation or code interception. (Indirectly addresses Jailbreak Detection) | MASVS-R: Resilience | MASWE-1.6.3: Code Injection via Hooking Frameworks | MSTG-RESILIENCE-5: Prevent code injection | M7: Client Code Tampering |
| Dynamic Code Loading or Injection | Blocks unauthorized dynamic code loading or runtime code injection attempts to alter app behavior. | MASVS-R: Resilience | MASWE-1.6.6: Dynamic Code Modification | MSTG-RESILIENCE-6: Test for runtime code changes | M8: Code Tampering |
| Memory Dumping | Encrypts memory sections and prevents dumping attempts to extract sensitive data or cryptographic keys. | MASVS-C: Cryptography | MASWE-1.4.4: Memory Dumping Risks | MSTG-CRYPTO-2: Protect keys in memory | M5: Insufficient Cryptography |
| Bypassing Runtime Integrity Checks | Validates app integrity dynamically and prevents attackers from disabling or bypassing integrity checks. | MASVS-R: Resilience | MASWE-1.6.5: Runtime Integrity Risks | MSTG-RESILIENCE-7: Test integrity verification | M8: Code Tampering |
| Library Hooking | Detects tampering with app dependencies or libraries and blocks maliciously modified calls. | MASVS-P: Platform Interaction | MASWE-1.2.13: Library Hooking | MSTG-PLATFORM-14: Test library integrity | M1: Improper Platform Usage |
| Stack Overflow Exploits | Detects and mitigates buffer overflow or stack manipulation attempts during runtime. | MASVS-C: Cryptography | MASWE-1.4.5: Stack Overflow Exploits | MSTG-CRYPTO-3: Prevent overflow risks | M8: Code Tampering |
| Code Execution via Dynamic Method Swizzling | Prevents malicious swizzling of app methods or APIs to manipulate app behavior. | MASVS-R: Resilience | MASWE-1.6.10: Method Swizzling | MSTG-RESILIENCE-11: Test for method swizzling | M7: Client Code Tampering |
| Debugger and Breakpoint Exploits | Prevents app execution under debuggers and blocks breakpoint injections during runtime. | MASVS-R: Resilience | MASWE-1.6.2: Debugger Detection Risks | MSTG-RESILIENCE-3: Anti-debugging mechanisms | M8: Code Tampering |
To Developers And Security Engineers
If you are a developer who builds that next great application or a security engineer devoted to the cause of protecting digital assets, then the Secure Matrix is for you. It serves as a comprehensive and organized approach to mobile security, pinpointing critical vulnerabilities as well as effective methods of their defense.
Stay Ahead of Security Threats
Secure Matrix empowers you to always keep a step ahead of possible threats to security. In this way, the development of these practices ensures that you not only have your applications secure but also improve your own mobile security skills.
On our blog, you’ll find ongoing articles as well as focused reports on individual vulnerabilities and more advanced security techniques. Together, we can build a safer mobile world for everyone.
