What is the Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS)?

In an era where mobile devices have become indispensable extensions of our lives, safeguarding them against evolving cyber threats is paramount. The recent revelations about eighteen critical 0-day vulnerabilities in Exynos Modems produced by Samsung Semiconductor serve as a stark reminder of the dire consequences of mobile security breaches. These vulnerabilities, four of which allowed for Internet-to-baseband remote code execution (CVE-2023-24033, CVE-2023-26496, CVE-2023-26497, and CVE-2023-26498), could compromise devices silently and remotely with no user interaction, solely based on the knowledge of the victim.

As mobile applications continue to thrive, ensuring their resilience against potential attacks becomes more crucial than ever. This is where the Open Web Application Security Project’s Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (OWASP MASVS) comes into play. Read on to learn more about OWASP MASV and how it can be helpful for mobile penetration testing.

Understanding OWASP MASVS

The OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS) is a comprehensive cybersecurity framework developed by OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project), a community of cybersecurity professionals, developers, and IT security stakeholders. MASVS is specifically designed to address the security challenges faced by mobile applications on both Android and iOS platforms.

MASVS also introduces a two-tiered approach to security, with Level 1 focusing on fundamental security issues and Level 2 addressing more advanced and complex security challenges. By following the guidelines provided in the OWASP MASVS, mobile app developers, security analysts, and IT organizations can assess, evaluate, and enhance the security of their mobile applications, ultimately reducing the risk of security breaches and creating a safer mobile app environment for users.

Why should organizations focus on OWASP MASVS?

Implementing the OWASP MASVS principles and guidelines during the development cycle can improve overall performance and security. During the development cycle, the key security challenges are investigated – thus saving organizational expenses later. This left shift of the security check also changes the DevOps team’s mindset – thus bringing in additional responsibilities for the DevSecOps team too.

With mobile application security breaches increasing by over 20% compared to last year, trust building amongst the end users is becoming more critical. With the OWASP MASVS guidelines, being compliant with them shows a dedication toward protecting sensitive user data and maintaining a secure ecosystem.

7 Control Groups of the OWASP MASVS

The OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS) outlines seven control groups that encompass the critical risks of a mobile attack surface. These control groups are essential for secure mobile app development and provide guidelines for mitigating vulnerabilities. Each of these control groups addresses specific aspects of mobile app security and provides developers with actionable measures to create a safe application for users. Following the guidelines outlined in the OWASP MASVS helps ensure that mobile apps are less susceptible to attacks and protect user data and privacy effectively.

• MASVS CRYPTO This control group focuses on ensuring cryptographic practices within the mobile app to safeguard sensitive data. By emphasizing proper key management, developers can protect data at rest and during transmission, thwarting potential attackers attempting to exploit weak encryption methods.
• MASVS STORAGE With a strong emphasis on handling sensitive data securely, the MASVS STORAGE control group aims to prevent unintentional data leaks that could expose user information. By implementing encryption, data compartmentalization, and secure data storage mechanisms, developers can minimize the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches.
• MASVS AUTH The MASVS AUTH control group addresses authentication and authorization mechanisms in the mobile app. By enforcing secure connections and implementing local authentication methods, developers can protect user credentials and ensure that only authorized users have access to sensitive app functionalities.
• MASVS NETWORK Focusing on secure network connections, the MASVS NETWORK control group helps developers defend against potential data tampering or interception during data transmission. Implementing secure communication protocols and enforcing certificate validation contribute to a more resilient mobile app.
• MASVS PLATFORM The MASVS PLATFORM control group emphasizes implementing secure interactions with the mobile device’s operating system. By addressing areas like inter-process communication, WebView implementation, and user interface security, developers can safeguard against potential attacks that exploit OS vulnerabilities.
• MASVS CODE The MASVS CODE control group revolves around secure coding practices. By adhering to best practices in coding, data sanitization, and careful usage of third-party libraries and components, developers can minimize the risk of code-level vulnerabilities and potential exploitation by attackers.
• MASVS RESILIENCE Enhancing app security against reverse engineering and tampering is the focus of the MASVS RESILIENCE control group. By incorporating anti-debugging, code obfuscation, and anti-tampering techniques, developers can make it more challenging for attackers to reverse engineer or manipulate the app’s code and functionalities.

Using the OWASP MASVS for Mobile Penetration Testing

With the help of OWASP MASVS, penetration testing for vulnerabilities in mobile applications can be enhanced. Pentesting with this industry standard helps identify and mitigate critical vulnerabilities that malicious attackers are likely to exploit to hack mobile applications. MASVS is an ideal framework to use for mobile penetration testing in the following ways.

• Alignment with security standards: Using a standardized security standard will enhance the secure design of the mobile application. The MASVS can be used as that security standard in mobile app pen testing.
• Penetration testing against the outlined vulnerabilities:the OWASP MASVS outlines the key vulnerabilities that application developers and DevOps engineers must address during code design and testing. Using the scenarios in MASVS, the DevSecOps team can test and remediate accordingly. Moreover, different use cases can be framed and tested based on the specific vulnerability as per the MASVS.
• Report creation and monitoring: Using the MASVS framework as a reference, testing results can be reported in a structured format. It can be used to categorize how the key vulnerabilities have been tested, the impact on the related IT systems, and prioritized remediation actions.

Check this out to learn more about OWASP 2022 Frameworks.

Secure your Mobile Applications with PTaaS

Securing mobile applications is no longer an option but a necessity in today’s cyber threat landscape. With the ever-growing risks of security breaches and data theft, organizations must take proactive measures to protect their mobile ecosystems. By leveraging Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS) with BreachLock and adhering to the Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS) guidelines, you can fortify your mobile applications against potential vulnerabilities.

BreachLock’s expertise in PTaaS and commitment to achieving MASVS compliance make them a trusted partner in your journey toward a more secure mobile environment. Our in-house expert assesses and provides valuable insights into the vulnerabilities present in your applications, empowering you to take immediate action and strengthen your defense.

Schedule a consultation with BreachLock to make your mobile applications MASVS compliant today.