Vulnerabilities in Mobile Applications (en)

Vulnerabilities in Mobile Applications: Definition and Implications

Vulnerabilities in mobile applications are weaknesses or security gaps present in an application, whether it’s an Android or iOS app. These gaps can be exploited by malicious parties (hackers) to carry out various attacks, such as:

Stealing sensitive data: like passwords, credit card numbers, or other personal information.
Taking over device control: to perform malicious actions such as installing malware or stealing data.
Phishing: creating an app interface that mimics the original app to trick users into providing important information.
Denial of Service (DoS): overwhelming the app’s server so legitimate users cannot access it.

Example Topics on Mobile Application Vulnerabilities for Ethical Hacking Courses:

Injection:

SQL Injection: Injecting SQL code into user input to manipulate the database.
NoSQL Injection: Similar attack to SQL Injection but targets NoSQL databases.
OS Command Injection: Injecting operating system commands into user input to execute arbitrary commands.

Broken Authentication and Session Management:

Weak passwords: Using easily guessable passwords.
Lack of or weak two-factor authentication (2FA) mechanisms.
Session hijacking: Stealing a user’s session ID to access their account.

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS):

Stored XSS: Injecting malicious code into data stored on the server.
Reflected XSS: Injecting malicious code into user input that is then reflected on the web page.
DOM-based XSS: Injecting malicious code into the Document Object Model (DOM) of a webpage.

Insecure Direct Object References:

Directly accessing sensitive data without adequate authorization mechanisms.

Security Misconfiguration:

Insecure app configurations, such as using default settings, overly permissive permissions, or failing to enable essential security features.

Sensitive Data Exposure:

Storing sensitive data without sufficient encryption.

Missing Function Level Access Control:

Lack of adequate access control at the function level, allowing users to access features they shouldn’t.

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF):

Forcing a logged-in user to perform unwanted actions.

Using Components with Known Vulnerabilities:

Using libraries or frameworks known to have security weaknesses.

Insufficient Logging & Monitoring:

Lack of or insufficient logging to detect attacks.

How to Study Vulnerabilities in Mobile Applications:

Learn programming languages: Android (Java, Kotlin) or iOS (Swift, Objective-C).
Study application security principles: OWASP Mobile Security Testing Guide.
Use pentesting tools: Burp Suite, Kali Linux.
Take online courses: Udemy, Coursera, Hack The Box.
Join communities: Discussion forums, social media groups.
Practice hands-on: Build your own app and try to find its weaknesses.

Additional Tips:

Stay updated: Security technology continuously evolves, so it’s important to keep learning and stay current with the latest developments.
Think like a hacker: Try viewing the application from an attacker’s perspective.
Collaboration: Work with others to learn and share knowledge.

Practical Examples:

Build a simple app: For example, a to-do list or calculator app.
Pentest the app: Find existing weaknesses.
Analyze pentesting results: Determine the severity and how to fix them.

Important:

Do not pentest applications without permission.
Use this knowledge for good purposes, like improving application security.

By studying these topics, you will gain a better understanding of how mobile applications can be attacked and how to prevent it.

Interesting Links

Ethical Hacking