EECS

710 -
Fall
2012

Mobile

Applica
tion
Securit
y

Himanshu Dwivedi
Chris Clark
David Thiel
 Presented by
Bharath Padmanabhan
The Authors Chris Clark is a David Thiel is a
principal security Principal Security
consultant at iSEC Consultant with iSEC
Himanshu Dwivedi is a Partners, where he Partners. His areas of
co-founder of iSEC writes tools, exper5se are web
Partners, an informa5on
performs applica5on
security firm specializing
penetra5on tests, and penetra5on tes5ng,
in applica5on security.
serves as a Windows network protocols,
He is also a
and fuzzing, Unix, and Mac
renowned industry
Mobile expert. OS X.
author with six
security books
published.
Contents

Part I Mobile Pla:orms

Top Issues Facing Mobile Devices

•
 Tips for Secure Mobile Applica8on Development
• •
Apple iPhone

Google Android
•
Part II Mobile Services

WAP and Mobile HTML Security

•
Bluetooth Security
•
SMS Security
•
Mobile Geoloca8on
•
Enterprise Security on the Mobile OS
•
Part I Mobile Platforms
Top Issues Facing Mobile Devices
 Physical Security Virus, Worms,
• •
Trojans,
Spyware,
Secure Data Storage (on Disk)
• and Malware
Strong Authen8ca8on with Difficult Patching/Update
• Poor • Process
Keyboards
Strict Use and Enforcement of
Mul8ple-User Support with • SSL
• Security
Phishing
Safe Browsing Environment •
• •
Cross-Site Request Forgery
Secure Opera8ng Systems
• (CSRF)
•
Loca8on Privacy/Security
Applica8on Isola8on Informa8on • •
•
Insecure Device Drivers Mul8factor
Disclosure •
Authen8ca8on

Top Issues Facing Mobile Devices

Physical Security

• Loss of informa5on from lost or stolen devices

• Unauthorized usage by borrower
• Physical security has always meant liKle-to-no security

Secure Data Storage (on Disk)

• Sensi5ve informa5on stored locally (password files, tokens, etc.)

• Prevent unauthorized access while making it accessible to certain
applica5ons on an as-needed basis

Top Issues Facing Mobile Devices

Strong AuthenBcaBon with Poor Keywords

• Password or passphrase that uses a combina5on of leKers, numbers,

special characters, and a space

• Same standard on a mobile keyboard is difficult, if not impossible

MulBple-User Support with Security

• Unlike tradi5onal client opera5ng systems that support mul5ple

users with different opera5ng environments, no such thing as logging
into a mobile device as a separate user

• No dis5nc5on between applica5ons for business purpose vs.

personal • Need unique security model by applica5on to prevent data
exposure

Top Issues Facing Mobile Devices

Safe Browsing Environment

• Lack of real estate makes phishing aKempts easier

• Inability to view the en5re URL or the URL at all
• Links are followed a lot more on mobile devices

Secure OperaBng Systems

• Securing an OS is no easy task but should s5ll be undertaken by all

mobile vendors

• Security oTen correlates to data loss but can also correlate to system
down5me and diminished user experience

Top Issues Facing Mobile Devices

ApplicaBon IsolaBon

• Very common to see various types of applica5ons (corporate,

gaming, social, etc) on a mobile device

• Ability to isolate these applica5ons and the data they require is

cri5cal

InformaBon Disclosure

• Data stored on a device (desktop, laptop, server, mobile) is worth

more than the device itself, however, mobile device more likely to be
lost or stolen

• Access from mobile device to other networks (say VPN) is another

area of concern if authen5ca5on mechanisms are not strong

Top Issues Facing Mobile Devices

Virus, Worms, Trojans, Spyware, and Malware

• Mobile devices also face threat of viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware,

and malware

• Lessons to learn from the desktop world but also need to adjust to
the mobile environment and new aKack classes

Difficult Patching/Update Process

• Patching and upda5ng not a technical challenge but several

considera5ons make it a difficult problem for mobile

• Carriers have big problems with immediate system updates and

patching due to liKle response 5me for tes5ng

• Requires coordina5on among OS developer, carriers, and handset

vendors

10

Top Issues Facing Mobile Devices

String Use and Enforcement of SSL

• Older devices lacked horsepower to enforce SSL without affec5ng

user experience; some s5ll allowed for backwards-compa5bility

• Some organiza5ons defaul5ng to clear-text protocols assuming

increased complexity of sniffing on 3G network

• Abundance of transi5ve networks between mobile device and the

end system

Phishing

• Users more prone to clicking links on mobile without safety

concerns • Lack of real estate to show en5re URL or the URL itself

11

Top Issues Facing Mobile Devices

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)

• Big problem for mobile HTML sites that are vulnerable

• Easy to get vic5ms to click on links due to previously men5oned
factors

• Allows aKacker to update a vic5m's informa5on (address, email,

password, etc) on a vulnerable applica5on

LocaBon Privacy/Security

• Most mobile users have assumed their loca5on privacy was lost as
soon as they started carrying a mobile device

• Users willingly give away their loca5on-specific informa5on through

applica5ons like Google La5tude, Foursquare etc.

12

Top Issues Facing Mobile Devices

Insecure Device Drivers

• Most applica5ons should not have system access to mobile device

but device drivers need such access

• Exposure to aKackers if third-party drivers provide methods to get

around protec5on schemes via poten5ally insecure code

MulBfactor AuthenBcaBon

• SoT mul5factor authen5ca5on schemes (same browser, IP range,

HTTP headers) used by mobile web applica5ons very vulnerable to
spoofing

• Typical to create a device signature using a combina5on of HTTP

headers and proper5es of the device's connec5on but s5ll not good
enough compared to na5ve mobile applica5ons

13

Tips for Secure Mobile Application Development

• Leverage TLS/SSL Update Process

• Follow Secure Programming • Understand the Mobile

Prac5ces Browser’s Security Strengths and
Limita5ons
• Validate Input
• Zero Out the Non-Threats
• Leverage the Permissions
Model Used by the OS • User Secure/Intui5ve Mobile
URLs
• Use the Least Privilege Model for
System Access

• Store Sensi5ve Informa5on

Properly

• Sign the Applica5on’s Code

• Figure out a Secure and Strong
Tips for Secure Mobile Application Development

Leverage TLS/SSL
• Turn on Transport Layer Security (TLS) or Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
by default

• Both confiden5ality and integrity protec5ons should be enabled;

many environments oTen enforce confiden5ality, but do not
correctly enforce integrity protec5on

Follow Secure Programming PracBces

• Big rush (and a small budget) to get a product out the door, forcing
developers to write code quickly and not make the necessary security
checks and balances

• Leverage the abundance of security frameworks and coding

guidelines available

15

Tips for Secure Mobile Application Development

Validate Input
• Valida5ng input is impera5ve for both na5ve mobile applica5ons and
mobile web applica5ons

• Mobile devices do not have host-based firewalls, IDS, or an5virus

soTware, so basic sani5za5on of input is a must

Leverage the Permissions Model Used by the OS

• Permissions model is fairly strong on the base device, however,

external SD card may not be as secure

• Applica5on isola5on provided by systems like iOS and Android should

be leveraged

16

Tips for Secure Mobile Application Development

Use the Least Privilege Model for System Access

• The least privilege model involves only asking for what is needed by
the applica5on

• One should enumerate the least amount of services, permissions,

files, and processes the applica5on will need and limit the applica5on
to only those items

• The least privilege model ensures the applica5on does not affect
others and is run in the safest way possible

Store SensiBve InformaBon Properly

• Do not store sensi5ve informa5on (usernames, passwords, etc.) in

clear text on the device; use na5ve encryp5on schemes instead

17

Tips for Secure Mobile Application Development

Sign the ApplicaBon’s Code

• Although signing the code does not make the code more secure, it
allows users to know that an applica5on has followed the prac5ces
required by the device’s applica5on store

• Unsigned applica5on may have a much reduced number of privileges

on the system and will be unable to be widely disturbed through the
various applica5on channels of the devices

• Depending on whether or not the applica5on is signed, or what type

of cer5ficate is used, the applica5on will be given different privileges
on the OS

18

Tips for Secure Mobile Application Development

Figure Out a Secure and Strong Update Process

• Much like in the desktop world, an applica5on that is not fully
patched is a big problem for the applica5on, the underlying OS, and
the user

• A secure update process needs to be figured out where an

applica5on can be updated quickly, easily, and without a lot of
bandwidth

Understand the Mobile Browser’s Security Strengths and LimitaBons

• Understand the limita5ons of cookies, caching pages locally to the

page, the Remember Password check boxes, and cached
creden5als

• Do not treat the mobile browser as you would treat a regular web
browser on a desktop opera5ng system

19

Tips for Secure Mobile Application Development

Zero Out the Non-Threats

• Although the threats to mobile devices and their applica5ons are
very real, it is important to understand which ones maKer to a given
applica5on

• The best way to start this process is to enumerate the threats that
are real, design mi5ga5on strategies around them, and note the
others as accepted risks ("threat model")

• Threat model should allow applica5on developers to understand all

the threats to the system and enable them to take ac5on on those
that are too risky to accept

20

OWASP Mobile Threat Model

 2
1
OWASP Mobile Threat Model
 22

Tips for Secure Mobile Application Development

Use Secure/IntuiBve Mobile URLs

• Some organiza5ons use third-par5es to host their mobile sites whose

domain will be different from the organiza5on
• Many organiza5ons have mobile-op5mized sites separate from their
regular websites but it is important to keep the URLs intui5ve

IntuiBve

• m.isecpartners.com

Not So IntuiBve

• isecpartners.mobi
• isecpartners.mobilevendor.com
23

Apple iPhone

• Development
• Security Tes5ng
• Applica5on Format
 • Permissions and User Controls
• Local Data Storage
• Networking
• Push No5fica5ons, Copy/Paste, and Other IPC
Development

• Performed with Xcode and the iPhone SDK

• Can be run either within the emulator or on a physical device • Debugging is done
within Xcode via gdb
• Objec5ve-C code can be decompiled fairly easily using standard OS X developer
tools

• It is not possible to prevent reverse-engineering of the code 25

Security Testing

• Threat of classic C exploits is reduced, but not eliminated, by using

high-level Objec5ve-C APIs

• To avoid buffer overflows, avoid manual memory management and

use Cocoa objects such as NSString for string manipula5on (Integer
overflows s5ll possible even when using NSInteger)

• Double-frees, where a segment of memory is already freed from use

and an aKempt is made to deallocate it again, are a problem

• Most commercial sta5c analysis tools haven’t matured to detect

Objec5ve-C specific flaws, but simple free tools can be used to fine C
API abuses

26
Application Format

• Applica5ons are compiled via Xcode using the GNU GCC compiler,
cross-compiled for the ARM processor and local machine
(emulator)

• Each applica5on bundle includes a unique ID, a plist of en5tlements

and preferences, a code signature, any required media assets, and
the executable itself

• All iPhone applica5ons have to be distributed through the “App

Store” which have to be approved by Apple prior to distribu5on and
can be revoked any5me at Apple’s discre5on

• All iPhone applica5ons have to be signed by a valid code-signing

cer5ficate; requires membership with the iPhone Developer
Program

• On “jailbroken” iPhones, using Cydia and Installer are the two most
popular ways to install unauthorized third-party soTware
 27

Permissions and User Controls

• Apple uses “Mandatory Access Control” (MAC) as its mechanism for

restric5ng the capabili5es of applica5ons

• The iPhone OS and OS X permission system (“sandboxing”) is based

on the TrustedBSD framework which allows for wri5ng policy files
that describe what permissions an applica5on should have

• Each applica5on is installed into its own directory (GUID); they are
allowed limited read access to some system areas but not allowed to
read/write directories belonging to other applica5ons

• Both the heap and stack are non-executable by default; newer

versions support ASLR (Address Space Layout Randomiza5on)

• Permissions gran5ng for specific func5onality (loca5on, contacts) is

granted via popups to the user at the 5me of API use

28
Local Data Storage

• SQLite Storage: This is a popular way to persist applica5on data but

is subject to injec5on aKacks like any type of SQL database.
Parameterized queries should be used to ensure third-party SQL is
not accidentally executed by the applica5on.

• Keychain Storage: The iPhone includes the Keychain mechanism

from OS X (with some differences) to store creden5als and other
data. The API is simpler compared to the Cocoa API and all the data
is stored in a dic5onary of key/value pairs. It is to be noted that
Keychain APIs only work on a physical device.

• Shared Keychain Storage: iOS 3.0 introduced this ability allowing for
separate applica5ons to share data by defining addi5onal
“en5tlements”. The developer has to explicitly specify this when
adding the aKribute and also define the en5tlement.

29
Networking

• URL Loading API: Supports HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and file resource types
using the NSURLConnec5on and NSURLDownload APIs with an NSURL
object as the input. It is to be noted that HTTP and HTTPS request
results are cached on the device by default and all cookies stored are
accessible by any applica5on that uses the URL loading system.

• NSStreams: Useful when using network sockets for protocols other

than those handled by the URL loading system, or in places where
you need more control over how connec5ons behave.

• Peer to Peer (P2P): iOS 3.0 introduced this ability to do P2P

networking between devices via Bluetooth. Opportuni5es for data
theT are increased since game and non-game applica5ons use it for
collabora5on and data exchange. Also, because data can poten5ally
be streamed to the device by a malicious program or user, it is
another untrusted input to be dealt with.

30
Push NotiFications, Copy/Paste, and Other IPC

• Push NoBficaBons: iOS 3.0 introduced this ability allowing

applica5ons to provide users with no5fica5ons when they are not
running. The device and push service plakorm perform mutual
cer5ficate authen5ca5on. No5fica5on types can include popups or
upda5ng the badge. It should be noted that push no5fica5ons are
not guaranteed to be delivered.

• UIPasteboard: Similar to OS X, this can be implemented to handle

copying and pas5ng of objects within an applica5on, or to handle
data to share among applica5ons. Copied and pasted data is stored
in item groupings with various representa5ons. Any informa5on on
shared pasteboards should be considered untrusted and poten5ally
malicious and needs to be sani5zed before use.

31
 Google Android

• Development
• Plakorm Security
Architecture

• Security Model
• Permissions
• Securable IPC Mechanisms
• Applica5on Signing
• Memory Management Security
Enhancements • Files, Preferences, and Mass
Storage
Development
• SDK provides free tools for building and debugging applica5ons, suppor5ng
developers on Linux, Windows, and OS X

• SDK provides an emulator that emulates ARM-based device and also alternate
virtual hardware configura5ons

• Debugging support is built into Android and working with a device or with the
emulator is mostly interchangeable

• Code developed using the SDK generally runs in the Dalvik VM 33

Platform Security Architecture

Android seeks to be the most secure and usable opera8ng system for mobile
•
 plaUorms by re-purposing tradi8onal opera8ng system security controls to:

Protect user data

•
Protect system resources (including the network)
•
Provide applica8on isola8on
•
To achieve these objec8ves, Android provides these key security features:
• •
Robust security at the OS level through the Linux kernel

Mandatory applica8on sandbox for all applica8ons

•
Secure interprocess (IPC) communica8on
•
Applica8on signing
•
Applica8on-defined and user-granted permissions
•

34
Security Model

• Android is based on the Linux security model with some abstrac5ons

unique to it and leverages Linux user accounts to silo applica5ons

• Android permissions are rights given to applica5ons to allow them to

take pictures, use the GPS, make phone calls, and so on

• When installed, applica5ons are given a unique user iden5fier (UID);

the UID is used to protect an applica5on’s data

• The need for permissions minimizes the impact of malicious

soTware, unless a user grants powerful rights to dubious soTware

• Android’s run5me system tracks which permissions each applica5on

has; these permissions are granted either when the OS was installed
or upon installa5on of the applica5on by the user

35
Permissions

• Android uses manifest permissions to track what the user allows

applica5ons to do, such as sending SMS, using the camera, etc.

• Prior to installa5on of any applica5on, the user is shown the different

permissions the applica5on is reques5ng. Once installed, an
applica5on’s permissions cannot be changed.
 Permissions at
Applica1on Install
Permissions of an
Installed
Applica1on

36
Permission Protection Levels
 37

Securable IPC Mechanisms

• AcBviBes are interac5ve screens used to communicate with users.

Intents are used to specify an Ac5vity.
• Broadcasts provide a way to send messages between applica5ons.
When sending a broadcast, an applica5on puts the message to be
sent into an Intent.

• Services are background processes that toil away quietly in the

background.

• ContentProviders provide a way to efficiently share rela5onal data

between processes securely. They are based on SQL.

• Binder provides a highly efficient communica5on mechanism. It is

commonly used to bridge Java and na5ve code running in separate
processes.

38

Application Signing

• Every applica5on that is run on the Android plakorm must be signed

by the developer. Applica5ons that aKempt to install without being
signed will rejected by either Google Play or the package installer on
 the Android device.

• The signed applica5on cer5ficate defines which user id is associated

with which applica5on. Applica5on signing ensures that one
applica5on cannot access any other applica5on except through well
defined IPC.

• Applica5ons can be signed by a third-party or self-signed. Android

provides code signing using self-signed cer5ficates that developers
can generate without external assistance or permission.

39

Memory Management Security Enhancements

ProPolice to prevent stack buffer overruns

•
safe_iop to reduce integer overflows
•
 Extensions to OpenBSD dlmalloc to prevent double free()
•
vulnerabili8es and to prevent chunk consolida8on a\acks

OpenBSD calloc to prevent integer overflows during memory alloca8on

• •
Format string vulnerability protec8ons

Hardware-based No eXecute (NX) to prevent code execu8on on the

•
stack and heap
Linux mmap_min_addr to mi8gate null pointer dereference privilege
•
escala8on
Address Space Layout Randomiza8on (ASLR) to randomize key
•
loca8ons in memory

40

Files, Preferences, and Mass Storage

• UNIX-style file permissions are present in Android; each applica5on

 runs as its own user so files created by one applica5on cannot be
read or altered by another applica5on (unless user allows it)

• SharedPreferences is a system feature that is backed by a file with

permissions like any others

• Android devices may support larger add-on file systems mounted on

memory cards since devices typically have limited amount of
memory

• Data stored on memory cards is unprotected and cannot be accessed

by any program on the device

41

Contents

Part I Mobile Pla:orms

 Top Issues Facing Mobile Devices
•
Tips for Secure Mobile Applica8on Development
• •
Apple iPhone

Google Android
•
Part II Mobile Services

WAP and Mobile HTML Security

•
Bluetooth Security
•
SMS Security
•
Mobile Geoloca8on
•
Enterprise Security on the Mobile OS
•
Part II Mobile Services
WAP and Mobile HTML Security
• WAP and Mobile HTML Basics
• Authen5ca5on on WAP/Mobile HTML
Sites • Encryp5on

• Applica5on AKacks on Mobile HTML

Sites • WAP and Mobile Browser
Weaknesses
WAP and Mobile HTML Basics

• WAP is a method to access the Internet from mobile

devices • WAP gateway acts like a proxy server transla5ng

content • WAP 2.0 does not require a WAP gateway

WAP Architecture

45

Authentication on WAP/Mobile HTML Sites

• One of the many problems that WAP and Mobile HTML developers
have with mobile devices is the keyboard.
 PDA-style keyboard
Non-PDA-style keyboard

• Strong passwords (consis5ng of leKers, numbers, and special

characters) difficult to type on Non-PDA-style keyboards.

46

Authentication on WAP/Mobile HTML Sites

• Mobile PIN, an alterna5ve to complex passwords, increases the user

experience at the cost of lowering the security of the authen5ca5on
process
• PIN typically consists of only 4-8 digit numbers, making it easier for
brute-force aKempts

• Crossover use of SMS and WAP/Mobile HTML applica5ons is another

avenue of exposure. Ex: Sending an SMS message to a predefined
number will return an account balance as long as the caller ID value is
correct.

• Spoofing of caller ID (“trusted value”) is quite simple

47

Encryption

• SSL/TLS is a cri5cal aspect of online security to keep sensi5ve

informa5on private over the Internet

• WAP 1.0 used TLS but not end to end due to the limited horsepower
 on mobile devices

• WTLS is similar to TLS; used for low-bandwidth data channels that

cannot support full-blown TLS implementa5on

WAP 1.0 and transport encryp1on

48

Encryption

• WAP 2.0 supports full end to end TLS to eliminate the “WAP
gap” • WAP gateway op5onal (can be used for op5miza5on
purposes) • WTLS is no longer needed

WAP 2.0 and transport encryp1on

49

Application Attacks on Mobile HTML Sites

• Many tradi5onal web applica5on aKacks will work on mobile

browsers/devices suppor5ng WAP 2.x/Mobile HTML sites

• Cross-Site Scrip5ng (XSS)

 • SQL Injec5on
• Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
• HTTP Redirects
• Phishing
• Session Fixa5on
• Non-SSL Login

50

WAP and Mobile Browser Weaknesses

• Known limita5ons of WAP and mobile browsers:

• Lack of HTTPOnly Flag Support
• Lack of SECURE Flag Support
 • Handling Browser Cache
• WAP Limita5ons

51
Bluetooth Security

• Overview of the Technology

• Bluetooth Security Features
• Pairing
• Authen5ca5on
• Authoriza5on
• Confiden5ality
• Threats to Bluetooth Devices and Networks • Bluetooth Vulnerabili5es

• Recommenda5ons
Overview of the Technology

• Conceived at Ericsson Mobile Communications to create a wireless

keyboard system and then adapted for more generic purposes

• Common Uses include:

• Wireless keyboard, mouse, and printer connectivity
• Device synchronization (phone to desktop)
• File transfer (phone to desktop or photo printer)
• Gaming console integration (Nintendo Wii remotes and Sony PS3
headsets)
 • Tethering for Internet access (using data-enabled mobile phone as a
modem for Internet access from a laptop with Bluetooth providing inter-
device connectivity)

• Hands-free and voice-activated mobile phone kits for cars

53

Bluetooth Security Features - Pairing

• Pairing, the process whereby two Bluetooth devices establish a link

and agree to communicate, is cri5cal to the overall security
architecture and is 5ghtly integrated with other security features

• During pairing, the communica5ng devices agree on and generate

keys used to iden5fy and relate to other devices; these keys are also
used for device authen5ca5on and communica5on encryp5on

• Prior to Bluetooth v2.1, pairing between devices is accomplished

through the entry of a PIN with a maximum length of 128 bits.
• Bluetooth v2.1 introduced Secure Simple Pairing to improve security
through the use of Ellip5c Curve Diffie-Hellman for key exchange and
link key genera5on

54

Bluetooth Security Features - Authentication

• Authen5ca5on is the process whereby one device verifies the iden5ty

of another device

• A tradi5onal challenge-response mechanism is used between the

claimant device and the verifier device

• Response to challenge based on a func5on involving a random

number, the claimant’s Bluetooth device address, and a secret key
generated during device pairing

• To prevent repeated aKacks in a limited 5meframe, on an

 authen5ca5on failure the verifier will delay its next aKempt to
authen5cate the claimant

55
Bluetooth Security Features - Authorization

• Authoriza5on allows for decision making about resource access and connec5on
configura5on based on permissions granted a given device or service

• Device Trust Levels: Bluetooth devices can be “trusted” (previously been paired
and have full access) or “untrusted” (not previously paired and have restricted access)
in rela5on to other Bluetooth devices

• Service Security Levels:

• Level 1 services require authen5ca5on and authoriza5on
• Level 2 services require authen5ca5on only
• Level 3 services have no security and are open to all devices 56

Bluetooth Security Features - ConFidentiality

• Confiden5ality is provided through the use of encryp5on

• Bluetooth uses E0, a stream cipher, as the basis for encryp5on and provides three
different encryp5on modes

• Mode 1 does not do any encryp5on; all traffic is unencrypted

• Mode 2 encrypts traffic between individual endpoints but broadcast traffic is
unencrypted

• Mode 3 encrypts both broadcast and point-to-point traffic 57

Threats to Bluetooth Devices and Networks

• Bluetooth devices and networks are also subject to threats like

eavesdropping, impersona5on, denial of service, and man-in-the
middle aKacks

• Addi5onal Bluetooth threats include:

• Loca5on tracking
• Key management issues
• Bluejacking
• Implementa5on issues (Bluesnarfing, Bluebugging, Car
whispering)

58
Bluetooth Vulnerabilities

• Bluetooth Versions Prior to v1.2

• The unit key is reusable and becomes public when used
• Bluetooth Versions Prior to v2.1
• Short PINs are permiKed
• The encryp5on keystream repeats
• All Versions
• Unknown RNG strength for challenge-response
• Nego5able encryp5on key length (as small as one byte!)
• Shared master key
• Weak E0 stream cipher (theore5cal known-plaintext aKack) 59
Recommendations
 • Use complex PINs for Bluetooth devices
• In sensi5ve and high-security environments, configure Bluetooth
devices to limit the power used by the Bluetooth radio

• Limit the services and profiles available on Bluetooth devices to only

those required

• Configure Bluetooth devices as non-discoverable except during

pairing

• Enable mutual authen5ca5on for all Bluetooth

communica5ons • Configure the maximum allowable size for
encryp5on keys
• Unpair devices that had previously paired with a device if a Bluetooth
device is lost or stolen

60
SMS Security
• Overview of Short Message Service
• Overview of Mul5media Messaging Service
• Protocol AKacks
• Applica5on AKacks

Overview of Short Message Service

• SMS is designed for one mobile subscriber to send a short message

(up to 160 characters) to another mobile subscriber
SMS message between phones using the
same carrier

SMS message between phones on

different carriers

62

Overview of Short Message Service

• A raw SMS message is known as a Protocol Data Unit (PDU)

• A basic SMS PDU contains several header fields as wells as message
 contents

6
3
Overview of Multimedia Messaging Service

• MMS can send various types of images, audio, and video in addi5on to text

• MMS is fundamentally different from SMS although they may look exactly the same
from a user’s perspec5ve
MMS from a user standpoint Detailed MMS diagram

64

Protocol Attacks

• Abusing Legi5mate Func5onality

• AKacks targe5ng func5onality that is meant to be hidden from
the end user. Ex: Administra5ve and provisioning
 communica5ons such as updates and voicemail no5fica5ons.

• AKacking Protocol Implementa5ons

• AKacks targe5ng vulnerabili5es in the implementa5ons of the

popular SMS protocols with the intent of sending a corrupted
message to a vic5m’s phone resul5ng in the phone running
hos5le code.

65

Protocol Attacks - Abusing Legitimate Functionality

• WAP Push AKack

• MMS No5fica5on
• BaKery-Draining AKack
• Silent Billing AKack
• OTA Sesngs AKack

66

Application Attacks

• Targets applica5ons that use SMS as a delivery mechanism

• Unlike protocol aKacks that are mostly version agnos5c, applica5on
aKacks are very specific to soTware versions running on phones
• Applica5on vulnerabili5es tend to fall into browser, MMS client, or
image categories

• Examples:
• iPhone Safari vulnerability results in heap overflow aTer viewing
a malicious page within mobile Safari, allowing aKacker to
execute arbitrary code on the iPhone

• Motorola RAZR JPG overflow vulnerability due to the way the

RAZR parsed thumbprints in the JPG EXIF header, allowing
arbitrary code execu5on using malicious JPG image

67

Mobile Geolocation

• Geoloca5on Methods
• Geoloca5on Implementa5on
• Android
 • iPhone
• Risks of Geoloca5on Services
• End User
• Service Providers
• Geoloca5on Best Prac5ces

Geolocation Methods

• Tower Triangula5on (Accuracy: 50m - 1,000m)

• Oldest widely used method of geoloca5on via cell phone

• Uses rela5ve power levels of radio signals between cell phone
and cell tower; requires at least two cell towers
 • Fairly inexact due to distance from cell towers and signal
strength • GPS (Accuracy: 5m - 15m)

• Uses satellite signals instead of cell phone or wireless

infrastructure; recep5on may be poor indoors

• Can provide con5nuous tracking updates, useful for real-5me

applica5ons

69

Geolocation Methods

• 802.11 (Accuracy: 10m - 200m but poten5ally erroneous)

• iPhone was the first smartphone to use this approach, using an

API from Skyhook Wireless which uses data from wireless access
points to create a large “wardriving” database
 • Allows for devices without GPS to get poten5ally highly accurate
loca5on data

• Faster and more accurate than tower triangula5on

• Drawbacks due to dependency on wireless access points which
could be moved

• Google’s “La5tude” service provides a newer implementa5on of

Skyhook’s technology

70

Geolocation Implementation - Android

• Permission to use geoloca5on features is requested via the program

manifest and is granted by the user at install 5me

• ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION (for cell triangula5on or Wi-

Fi) • ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION (for GPS)
 A permissions request for
A permissions request for only fine loca1on
services

coarse and fine

loca1on
services

71

Geolocation Implementation - iPhone

• Requires user approval every 5me an applica5on that uses
geoloca5on APIs is launched

• CLLoca5onAccuracyBest
•

CLLoca5onAccuracyNearestTenMeters

• CLLoca5onAccuracyHundredMeters
• CLLoca5onAccuracyThreeKilometers
 The iPhone
loca1on
permissions
dialog

72

Risks of Geolocation Services - End User

• Posi5onal data stored on remote servers, when it can be 5ed to an

individual, introduces a new avenue for data theT

• Along with other sensi5ve data, not only could this be a breach of
user privacy, but also a poten5al source of informa5on in court

• Broadcas5ng user’s loca5on voluntarily (think Foursquare) may also

lead to stalking or harassment

• Few points to ponder:

• Privacy and data reten5on policies for posi5onal
 informa5on • Third-party sharing and data transfer channels

• Course of ac5on for law enforcement requests

73

Risks of Geolocation Services - Service Providers

• Risk of nega5ve publicity from a data breach, legal or congressional

subpoenas, and poten5al assistance to criminal acts by allowing third
par5es to track individual users

• OTen 5mes, the stored geoloca5on data is not really necessary to

provide the required func5onality

• Legal obliga5on to follow privacy guidelines in countries like the UK

(“Data Protec5on Act”)
 74

Geolocation Best Practices

• Use the least precise measurement necessary

• Discard data aTer use
• Keep data anonymous
• Indicate when tracking is enabled
• Use an opt-in model
• Have a privacy policy
• Do not share geoloca5on data with other users or
services • Familiarize yourself with local laws
 75

Enterprise Security on the Mobile OS

• Device Security Op5ons

• PIN
• Remote Wipe
• Secure Local Storage
• Encryp5on
• Applica5on Sandboxing
• Applica5on Signing
• Buffer Overflow Protec5on
Device Security Options - PIN

• Enabling the PIN is the first step in securing a mobile device

• Unmo5vated aKacker could wipe and sell it instead of trying to break
into the OS

• Data on the device (or data that phone has access to) is at 5mes
worth more than the device

• Although a four-digit PIN only needs 10,000 aKempts to brute-force

it, many mobile devices have a 5me delay aTer ten failed aKempts

• On some devices like the iPhone, the SIM card also has PIN
protec5on

77
Device Security Options - Remote Wipe

• The ability to remote wipe data on a mobile device (especially if its a corporate
one) is impera5ve

• Remote wipe func5onality makes the loss of such devices a lot less stressful

• Both iPhone and Android support remote wipe func5onality 78

Secure Local Storage

• Ability to store sensi5ve informa5on locally in a secure fashion is also
an impera5ve security feature for mobile devices

• Many applica5ons store login informa5on, such as username and

password, locally on the device in clear text (without encryp5on)

• The iPhone addresses this need via the use of “Keychain” which can
be used to store, retrieve, and read sensi5ve informa5on, such as
passwords, cer5ficates, and secrets

79

Encryption
• Full Disk Encryp5on
• Unlike desktop OSes, mobile OSes have liKle or no solu5ons for
full disk encryp5on.

• iOS4 and Android ICS supposedly have this feature

• Email Encryp5on
• None of the most popular mobile OSes provide na5ve support for
local email

• Good for Enterprise supports both iPhone and Android

• File Encryp5on
• Most major mobile OSes support file encryp5on

80