Understand Some Vulnerabilities And Threats In Mobile Applications

Vulnerabilities include concerns due to specific software susceptibilities found in mobile applications that operate on top of the mobile operating system. Note that some vulnerabilities are restricted to a particular mobile operating system, while others are common.

Apart from that, threats to mobile devices’ security are rising day by day. In 2014, on over 1 million consumer devices, Kaspersky discovered about 3.5 million malware parts. Kaspersky's in-lab detection methods detected 360,000 dangerous files per day were processed by 2017. And, 78 percent of the files were malware programs and many of which generally target mobile devices.

All these things are mandatory to understand if you are planning to create a mobile application for any reason. Therefore, in this article, we will discuss some top mobile device risks and vulnerabilities you should be aware of. So, stick with us till the end! Moreover, it is also recommended that you should hire a seasoned mobile app development company (ADWEBSTUDIO). Their expert mobile app developers will surely build a flawless mobile app with maximum security.

Some Vulnerabilities And Threats In Mobile Applications:

Following are some vulnerabilities and threats that are commonly found in mobile applications. Read on to know more about them!

1. Server-Side Vulnerabilities And Injection Flaws

A server is responsible for the majority of communication between an application and its users. The server stores and processes all of the data required for the program to function. For example, authentication data, business data, financial or transactional data, personal data, and the list goes on.

In the operation of a mobile application, the server is a critical component, and attackers can easily target, which frequently causes injection flaws and server-side vulnerabilities. If the setup is improper or controls are not followed, numerous weaknesses occur, and attackers can take advantage.

Thus, server-side flaws can have severe implications. Injection flaws involve an attacker sending back-end requests so, are the most widespread, the most dangerous, and the most diverse because they expose malicious code.

2. Data Exchange Security

Most mobile apps rely on communication with a server to function. Depending on the business needs like login credentials, user session data, personal data, financial data, and so on, a mobile app delivers or receives several sorts of data.

Mobile app developers use the HTTP protocol to communicate between clients and servers. But, HTTP protocol lacks built-in security protection, and messages can be intercepted, changed, or misdirected, risking the data exchange security.

An attacker can use ARP poisoning to approach to hijack communication flows between an application and a gateway, such as a router or a box. It is recommended to add an extra degree of security; certificate pinning.

3. Broken Cryptography:

When app developers utilize weak encryption methods, broken cryptography may occur. Broken encryption methods fail to apply strong encryption correctly (according to the Infosec Institute of training materials).

App developers may employ well-known encryption methods despite their recognized flaws to speed up the app development process. As a result, any attacker takes advantage of the flaws to crack passwords and get access. App developers develop highly secure algorithms but ignore other "back doors" leaving them accessible.

It is like leaving the front door of the palace open. Strong encryption limits the usefulness, and hackers may not be able to crack passwords, but if technicians leave weaknesses in the code that allow attackers to break in, they may not require passwords.

4. Data Leakage

Mobile app developers who do not check for security allow outsiders to access the data. To avoid the hard work, some app developers develop risk-free mobile applications. These apps do not have strong security and are not powerful enough.

These are usually free apps found in legitimate app stores and transfer personal data. They also send the data to a distant server that hackers can access. As a result of malicious enterprise-signed, mobile app data leakage can potentially occur.

Mobile malware programs exploit distribution code inherent to popular mobile operating systems like iOS and Android and transmit sensitive data across business networks without raising red flags. To avoid these issues, app developers should create apps that are absolutely necessary for them to work effectively.

Conclusive Remarks:

The bottom line is that the number of mobile device security threats is increasing because of the increased usage of mobile apps. Hence, to protect mobile devices and users’ data, mobile app developers must understand common attack vectors and be prepared for the next harmful actions. Nevertheless, you should make sure that you get in touch with an experienced Dubai App Development Company to create a mobile app with ultimate security.