Mobile Pentesting
Mobile penetration testing (pentesting) is the process of assessing the security of mobile applications and devices by simulating real-world attacks. It identifies vulnerabilities in app code, APIs, data storage, and network communications. Pentesters use static and dynamic analysis, reverse engineering, and exploitation techniques to uncover security flaws. The goal is to strengthen app security, prevent data breaches.
Ethan, a skilled cybersecurity researcher, was tasked with assessing the security of a newly developed Android application. His mission was to identify vulnerabilities before the app's official release. To begin, he needed to establish communication with the target device, so he turned to ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a versatile command-line tool that allowed him to interact with the Android system. Once connected, he prepared to analyze the app’s source code.
For static analysis, Ethan used MobSF (Mobile Security Framework), an automated tool designed to scan an application’s source code for security vulnerabilities. This initial scan provided valuable insights into potential weaknesses, but he needed to dive deeper. To exploit the exported components of the application, he utilized Drozer, a powerful tool that allowed him to assess exposed activities, services, and broadcast receivers. Through this, he discovered improperly secured components that could be exploited by malicious actors.
To inspect the inner workings of the app, Ethan needed to decompile the APK and view its files. He chose JADX, a popular decompiler that converted the app’s bytecode into readable Java source code. This gave him a clearer understanding of how the app functioned. To further streamline his security testing, Ethan leveraged MobSF once again, as it provided automated reports and helped him detect additional security flaws quickly.
As he progressed, Ethan decided to check if the app was linked to any exposed cloud storage buckets, which could potentially leak sensitive user data. He used GCPBucketBrute, a tool specifically designed to enumerate cloud storage misconfigurations. His suspicions were confirmed when he found unprotected files containing user credentials, highlighting a critical security risk.
Realizing he needed to modify the APK for further testing, Ethan generated and managed cryptographic keys using Keytool, which allowed him to sign the modified APK. To properly sign the application, he relied on two commonly used tools: Jarsigner and APKSigner, ensuring that his changes would be accepted by the Android system.
For dynamic analysis, Ethan employed Frida, an advanced tool that allowed him to inject scripts into the application at runtime. With Frida, he manipulated the app’s behavior, testing how it responded to different security scenarios. To complete his assessment, Ethan turned to Burp Suite, a powerful proxy tool that intercepted and analyzed network traffic. By doing so, he identified unencrypted transmissions, exposing another major vulnerability that needed to be addressed.
After compiling his findings, Ethan presented a detailed report to the development team. Thanks to his thorough assessment, the developers were able to patch the vulnerabilities before the app's release. His expertise in mobile security ensured that the application would be far more resilient against real-world attacks, ultimately safeguarding its users from potential threats.
A mysterious app, Craw Xport, has surfaced with potential vulnerabilities. Your mission is to infiltrate its system, exploit weaknesses, and retrieve classified data.
Your first task is to identify the package name of the app, the key to accessing its internal structure. Once found, locate the data directory, where sensitive files may be hidden. As you dig deeper, you uncover a critical flaw—an exported activity, a backdoor that could be exploited. Using tools like Drozer, execute an attack to retrieve the hidden flag and log your success.
But the app holds more secrets. A hardcoded flag hash is buried within its code, encrypted using techniques like Base64, SHA-256, or XOR. Decode it to uncover the real flag. Further investigation reveals a hardcoded password hash, hinting at insecure credential storage. Crack the password and extract it.
To complete your mission, analyze the app’s TargetSDK and MinSDK to assess its security level. Finally, examine its APK signature to reveal the Organization Unit (OU) behind its development.
Mission accomplished! You have successfully exposed Craw Xport, retrieved vital intelligence, and strengthened your expertise in mobile security. Stay sharp—there are always more vulnerabilities to uncover.