OWASP Mobile Top 10 – Simplified

The OWASP Mobile Top 10 is a crucial guide for developers and security professionals focused on mobile application security. It outlines the most significant risks associated with mobile apps, helping teams prioritize their security efforts. In this blog, we’ll explore the latest OWASP Mobile Top 10 for 2024 and discuss examples of each risk.

Why Do We Need OWASP Mobile Top 10?

The OWASP Mobile Top 10 is important for several reasons:

1. Identifying Key Risks: It lists the most serious security risks that mobile apps face. This helps developers know what to focus on to keep users safe.
2. Guidelines for Developers: It gives clear guidelines and best practices for developers to follow. This helps them build more secure applications and avoid mistakes.
3. Staying Updated: The list is updated regularly to include the latest threats and changes in technology. This ensures that developers have current information about potential risks.
4. Real-World Relevance: The OWASP Mobile Top 10 is based on real incidents where apps were hacked or compromised. This makes it a practical resource for improving app security.
5. Building User Trust: By addressing the risks outlined in the OWASP Mobile Top 10, developers can create safer apps. This protects users and builds trust in the application.

The OWASP Mobile Top 10 Risks for 2024

Here’s a breakdown of the top ten mobile risks as of 2024:

Risk Number	Risk Description
M1	Improper Credential Usage
M2	Inadequate Supply Chain Security
M3	Insecure Authentication/Authorization
M4	Insufficient Input/Output Validation
M5	Insecure Communication
M6	Inadequate Privacy Controls
M7	Insufficient Binary Protections
M8	Security Misconfiguration
M9	Insecure Data Storage
M10	Insufficient Cryptography

M1. Improper Credential Usage

What It Is:
Improper credential usage refers to how user credentials—like usernames and passwords—are not handled correctly. This can happen in several ways:

• Hardcoding Credentials: Sometimes, developers write sensitive information directly into the app’s code. This means that if someone can access the code, they can easily find these credentials and misuse them.
• Storing Passwords in Plaintext: If passwords are saved without any encryption, they can be read easily if someone hacks into the database. This means that all user accounts could be compromised if the database is accessed.
• Weak Password Policies: Allowing users to create simple passwords makes it easier for hackers to guess them. For example, passwords like “123456” or “password” are very easy for attackers to crack.

These practices can lead to significant security breaches, identity theft, and loss of user trust. When user accounts are compromised, it can result in unauthorized access to personal information and sensitive data.

Example:
In 2019, a popular fitness app was found to store users’ passwords in plaintext within its code. This mistake allowed hackers to access thousands of accounts easily, leading to unauthorized access to personal health data and potentially harmful consequences for users.

M2. Inadequate Supply Chain Security

What It Is:
Inadequate supply chain security occurs when third-party components or libraries used in an app are not secure. Many mobile applications rely on external libraries or software components to function properly. If these components are outdated or have known vulnerabilities, they can be exploited by attackers. Key factors include:

• Using Outdated Libraries: Applications often rely on external libraries that may not be updated regularly. If these libraries have known vulnerabilities, attackers can exploit them to gain access to the application.
• Vulnerabilities in Open Source Software: Some libraries are open source and might have known weaknesses that attackers can exploit if they are not properly maintained or patched.
• Lack of Vendor Security Assessments: Not evaluating the security practices of third-party vendors can lead to integrating components that do not meet necessary security standards.

The consequences can be severe; attackers may exploit these vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access or disrupt services, leading to data breaches and loss of user data.

Example:
In 2020, a children’s smartwatch was discovered to use outdated software libraries that contained known vulnerabilities. Hackers exploited these weaknesses to track children’s locations and listen in on their conversations without parental consent, raising serious safety concerns for parents.

M3. Insecure Authentication/Authorization

What It Is:
Weak authentication and authorization mechanisms can allow unauthorized access to user accounts and sensitive data. Authentication is the process of verifying who a user is, while authorization determines what resources a user can access after logging in. Important points include:

• Insufficient Authentication Methods: If an app only requires a username and password without additional verification (like a text message code), it is easier for hackers to break in.
• Poor Session Management: If session tokens (which keep users logged in) are predictable or not invalidated after logout, attackers can hijack accounts and take control of sensitive information.
• Excessive Permissions: Granting users more permissions than necessary increases the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data.

These vulnerabilities can allow attackers to impersonate legitimate users, leading to data theft and misuse.

Example:
In 2016, Uber experienced a major breach when hackers accessed personal information of 57 million users because their authentication measures were weak. The attackers exploited an exposed API endpoint that did not require sufficient authentication checks, allowing them easy access without proper verification.

M4. Insufficient Input/Output Validation

What It Is:
Failing to validate user inputs properly can lead to serious security issues such as SQL injection attacks and cross-site scripting (XSS). Input validation is essential for ensuring that data received from users meets expected formats before being processed by the application. This includes:

• Lack of Input Sanitization: If an app does not check what users enter into forms or input fields, attackers can inject harmful code into those fields. This can cause the application to behave unexpectedly or reveal sensitive information.
• Improper Output Encoding: Not encoding data correctly before displaying it back to users can expose them to XSS attacks where malicious scripts run in their browsers, potentially stealing cookies or session tokens.
• Ignoring Data Type Constraints: Accepting any type of input without checking if it matches expected formats (like numbers or dates) can lead to unexpected behavior or crashes.

These practices create opportunities for attackers to manipulate application behavior and gain unauthorized access.

Example:
In 2018, an online retail platform suffered a SQL injection attack because it did not validate input fields properly. Attackers could manipulate queries and gain access to sensitive customer data like credit card information by entering malicious commands into input fields.

M5. Insecure Communication

What It Is:
Data transmitted over insecure channels is at risk of being intercepted by attackers. When sensitive information is sent without proper security measures, it becomes vulnerable. Key issues include:

• Use of Unencrypted Protocols: Sending sensitive information over HTTP instead of HTTPS exposes it to eavesdropping by malicious actors who can intercept the data during transmission.
• Lack of End-to-End Encryption: Without proper encryption methods in place, messages sent between users can be intercepted and read by anyone monitoring the network.
• Insecure API Communications: APIs that do not use secure communication protocols are vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers intercept and manipulate data being sent back and forth.

Implementing secure communication protocols is essential for protecting user data during transmission.

Example:
In 2017, researchers found that several popular messaging apps did not encrypt messages during transmission. This allowed attackers to intercept private conversations over public Wi-Fi networks easily, putting users’ personal information at risk.

M6. Inadequate Privacy Controls

What It Is:
Applications must respect user privacy by managing their data responsibly and transparently. Important aspects include:

• Excessive Data Collection: Collecting more personal information than necessary increases privacy risks and makes users vulnerable if the data is leaked or stolen.
• Lack of User Consent Mechanisms: Not obtaining explicit consent from users before collecting or processing their personal data violates privacy regulations like GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).
• Opaque Privacy Policies: Users should have clear visibility into how their data is collected, used, and shared; vague policies lead to mistrust among users who want assurance about their privacy.

Inadequate privacy controls can result in significant legal repercussions and damage to brand reputation.

Example:
Facebook faced significant backlash in 2018 when it was revealed that the platform collected extensive personal data from users without their explicit consent. This incident led to legal challenges and increased regulatory scrutiny regarding user privacy practices.

M7. Insufficient Binary Protections

What It Is:
Without adequate protections in place, compiled application code can be reverse-engineered by attackers. Reverse engineering allows hackers to analyze how an application works and extract sensitive information. Important factors include:

• Lack of Code Obfuscation: Not using techniques that make code difficult to understand allows attackers easy access to the application’s inner workings.
• Unprotected APIs: Exposing APIs without proper authentication allows attackers to discover sensitive functionalities easily.
• Failure to Encrypt Sensitive Data in Binaries: If sensitive information is stored in binaries without encryption, it becomes accessible through reverse engineering techniques.

These vulnerabilities enable attackers to extract sensitive information or create malicious versions of applications that could harm legitimate users.

Example:
In 2020, hackers reverse-engineered a popular mobile game and extracted sensitive API keys due to insufficient protections put in place by the developers. This allowed them to create cheats that disrupted gameplay for legitimate users.

M8. Security Misconfiguration

What It Is:
Misconfigured settings can leave applications vulnerable due to human error during setup or maintenance processes. Common issues include:

• Default Credentials Left Unchanged: Many systems come with default usernames and passwords that should be changed immediately; failure to do so leaves systems open for attack.
• Improper Cloud Storage Configurations: Misconfigured cloud storage settings may inadvertently expose sensitive files intended for private use only, allowing unauthorized access.
• Inadequate Firewall Rules: Failing to configure firewalls properly can allow unauthorized traffic into secure networks where sensitive data is stored.

Regular audits and reviews are essential for identifying misconfigurations before they are exploited by attackers.

Example:
In 2019, a misconfigured cloud storage bucket exposed millions of records containing personally identifiable information (PII) due to improper security settings that allowed public access instead of restricting it only for authorized users.

M9. Insecure Data Storage

What It Is:
Storing sensitive information insecurely poses significant risks for users and organizations alike. Key issues include:

• Plaintext Storage of Sensitive Data: Storing passwords or credit card numbers without encryption makes them easy targets if a device is compromised or hacked.
• Weak Encryption Practices: Using outdated or weak encryption algorithms puts stored data at risk; strong encryption standards must be implemented.
• Failure to Securely Delete Data When No Longer Needed: Retaining unnecessary sensitive information increases exposure risks if the system is breached; old data should be securely deleted when no longer needed.

Developers should prioritize secure storage practices for all sensitive information so that user privacy is effectively protected.

Example: In 2021, a banking application was found storing sensitive customer information like passwords and credit card numbers in plaintext on devices without adequate encryption measures. This flaw left users vulnerable if their devices were lost or stolen since anyone who found the device could easily access this information.

M10. Insufficient Cryptography

What It Is:
Weak cryptographic practices expose applications to attacks that compromise data confidentiality and integrity. Important aspects include:

• Use of Outdated Algorithms: Relying on deprecated cryptographic algorithms (like MD5 or SHA-1) makes it easier for attackers to decrypt sensitive information quickly using modern computing power.
• Poor Key Management Practices: Failing to rotate encryption keys regularly or using weak keys increases vulnerability; strong key management policies are essential for maintaining security over time.
• Inadequate Implementation of Cryptographic Protocols: Improper implementation of protocols like TLS (Transport Layer Security) can leave communications vulnerable despite using strong algorithms; correct configuration is critical for effective protection.

Adopting robust cryptographic practices is crucial for safeguarding sensitive data against theft and manipulation by malicious actors.

Example:
A major e-commerce platform was discovered using outdated cryptographic protocols for securing transactions in 2020 during a breach investigation. Attackers exploited this weakness during a breach event which led them to compromise thousands of customer credit card details and put their financial security at risk as a result.

Conclusion

The OWASP Mobile Top 10 is a guide that helps developers understand and fix weaknesses in mobile apps. It provides clear descriptions of each risk, along with real-life examples, so developers can see how these problems might show up in their own apps. By focusing on security from start, developers can make sure their apps are safe for users, help build trust in mobile technology and can stay safe from cyber attacks.