Things to Know About the OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard
Do you develop mobile applications? Then you'll want to know about the OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard. This is a free and open-source standard that establishes best practices for creating secure mobile applications. It covers identification, secure development, attack surface management and secure coding. Here, we'll discuss the top things to know about the OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS).
Overview of the OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard
The OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS) is a comprehensive mobile application security standard issued by the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP). It sets out a set of best practices and criteria for developing secure mobile applications. It is based on the principles of the widely used OWASP Top 10.
The MASVS outlines security requirements for mobile application software, focusing on threats and vulnerabilities, as well as development guidelines. It is designed to be both comprehensive and easy to use. The MVASVS can be used by organizations to guide their own mobile application development process and assess their mobile applications' security.
Identification
Identification is an important step in the process that helps to verify the application’s content and ensures that only authorised users can access it. This can be achieved through the use of strong authentication such as passwords or biometrics. However, it is important to bear in mind that while strong authentication will prevent unauthorised access it does little to prevent malicious manipulation of the application. Therefore, it is also important to ensure that all data is encrypted at rest and during transit to mitigate the risks associated with malicious manipulation.
Secure Development Practices
The MVASVS emphasises the need for an appropriate secure development process to be in place before development begins. This should include a secure coding standard, continuous integration and a secure development process.
The secure development process should involve the use of tools such as static analysis and dynamic analysis which are designed to identify potential security vulnerabilities and help developers to address them before they become exploitable.
Attack Surface Management
In addition to the secure development process, the MVASVS also outlines the need for a comprehensive attack surface management strategy. This includes the identification of potential attack surfaces, analysing the attack surface, developing a security strategy for each surface, and ongoing monitoring of the attack surface for any new threats. This will help to ensure that the application does not become a target for attack.
Secure Coding Practices
Secure coding practices are essential to ensure that applications do not become vulnerable to attack. The MVASVS outlines a set of secure coding practices that must be followed to ensure the security of an application. These include the use of encryption, the prevention of injection attacks, the use of robust input validation and the reliance on secure coding libraries.
Reporting and Vulnerability Tracking
The MVASVS also outlines the need for an effective vulnerability tracking and reporting system to be in place to ensure that all identified vulnerabilities are addressed promptly. This system should also be used to log all security issues that have been identified and their resolution. This will help to ensure that any security issues are identified and closed promptly.
Verification Process
The MVASVS also outlines a rigorous and comprehensive security verification process that must be completed to ensure that the application is secure. This process includes designing and executing a penetration test, manual code review, security auditing, and performance testing, as well as the regular monitoring of the application for any new threats.
Mobile Application Security Tools
The MVASVS also outlines the use of mobile application security tools such as static analysis, dynamic analysis, vulnerability scanning, and vulnerability management to ensure the security of an application. These tools can help to identify potential vulnerabilities in an application and can be used to help close any found vulnerabilities promptly.
Benefits of OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard
The MVASVS provides numerous benefits to those developing mobile applications. Firstly, it provides a comprehensive set of best practices and criteria for creating secure mobile applications. Secondly, it provides a detailed verification process that must be followed to ensure that the application is secure. Thirdly, it guides the use of security tools and techniques which can help to identify and close any identified vulnerabilities. Finally, it ensures that all possible threats are identified and addressed promptly.
The field of mobile application security is an ever-evolving space that is of utmost importance to our digital safety. Fortunately, organizations and individuals alike can benefit from utilizing the Open Web Application Security Project’s (OWASP) Mobile Application Security Verification Standard, which provides an important toolset for recognizing potential security threats and understanding the best practices of app security. This article will outline the many benefits of utilizing the OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard and explain the different steps involved.
Overview of the OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard
The OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS) is an open-source standard for improving the security of mobile applications. It provides detailed and specific security requirements for both Android and iOS applications, as well as mobile web applications. The MASVS Project was created by OWASP to help organizations and individuals better understand the security goals and requirements for keeping mobile applications secure. It provides a comprehensive set of guidelines, test cases, and checklists workers can use to build and maintain secure mobile apps.
What Are the Benefits of Utilizing the OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard?
The OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard provides many benefits to users who are developing or maintaining mobile applications. Its guidelines can help quickly identify weaknesses in mobile apps and assist in rectifying those weaknesses. Utilizing the standard also helps improve the security of any application by giving developers and testers an in-depth system to review.
Secure Mobile App Development Lifecycle
The OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard also provides a helpful lifecycle guide that can be used to secure applications in various stages of development. The secure development lifecycle (SDLC) can help ensure that each app is thoroughly tested and secure. Additionally, using the guide helps ensure that the development process is consistent and that security is part of every step of the process, from design to testing and beyond.
Threat Modeling
The OWASP ASVS also includes a guide for threat modelling that can help ensure that applications are as secure as possible. The guide helps users identify potential threats and security risks in an application before it is deployed. Additionally, it helps organizations prioritize the security of their applications by evaluating which threats are the most serious and could potentially cause the most harm.
Security Testing
The OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard also provides a variety of security testing methods that users can use to test mobile apps for security vulnerabilities. This includes static analysis and source code analysis, which can help identify any potential security flaws in the source code of applications, as well as dynamic tests, which can help identify any potential flaws in the functionality of applications. We recommend you to check Oxeye for more and additionally, the standard provides a guide that helps users recognize when various security tests are appropriate.
What Are the Different Components of the OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard?
The main components of the OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard are its secure development lifecycle requirements, threat modelling process, and security testing procedures. Additionally, the standard includes several supporting materials such as checklists, templates, and guidelines that workers can use to ensure the security of their apps. These components help users ensure that all security goals and requirements are met when developing mobile applications and maintaining them over time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard provides a comprehensive set of best practices and criteria for creating secure mobile applications. It outlines a rigorous verification process and guides the use of security tools, ensuring that all possible threats are addressed promptly. By following the guidance provided in the MVASVS, organizations can ensure that their mobile applications are as secure as possible.
