Preface:

Numbers 31:3 “So Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian to execute the Lord’s vengeance on Midian.”

If you are familiar with Bible, you might know who’s Midian. Some scholars have suggested that Midian was not a geographical area but a league of tribes.

Cope with nowadays cyber security world.  Sounds like Midian equivalent of a  malware. Man kind is going to find a way protect the electronic devices including computer, mobile phone and IoT devices.

2017 threats predictions (mobile phone)

We all  known ransomware aggressive 1st quarter this year and believed that similar of attacks will continue to grow. We aware that malware and malicious code embedded on Google Play store applications significant increases. And therefore the downloading apps from unknown and untrusted markets has always been more dangerous. And predicts that similar type of incidents will be happens continuously. Besides  there are hardware vulnerabilities during the last several years—including vulnerabilities in microprocessors and DRAM technology. May be you might ask? How mobile phone especially Android to protect itself?

Let’s talk a closer look see whether we can find the hints

Fundamental of Android APT

Android use the standard process isolation to split application.  The application reading each-other’s data by requesting permissions in the apk’s. By requesting permissions in the apk’s
AndroidManifest it is possible to get those granted by the PackageManager. Such permissions can result in applications being run under the same user id.

Heads-up: This is the reason Google is having a hard time getting rid of malicious Android apps

APK Installation Process

An additional Android manifest file, describing the name, version, access rights, referenced library files for the application. As such, the Manifest files plays an important role for every android application. From the perspective of security the manifest file is usually the first thing that a penetration tester will check on an engagement. The android:protectionLevel attribute defines the procedure that the system should follow before grants the permission to the application that has requested it. This is a major part of Android security feature. And this is one of the important protection feature of Android.

All the permissions that the application requests should be reviewed to ensure that they don’t introduce a security risk.

Below is an example showing that an inherent risk found on Android manifest file. The setting lack of signature permission.

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<manifest package="org.qtproject.example.notification" xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android" android:versionName="1.0" android:versionCode="1" android:installLocation="auto">
    <application android:icon="@drawable/icon" android:name="org.qtproject.qt5.android.bindings.QtApplication" android:label="@string/app_name">
        <activity android:configChanges="orientation|uiMode|screenLayout|screenSize|smallestScreenSize|locale|fontScale|keyboard|keyboardHidden|navigation"
                  android:name="org.qtproject.example.notification.NotificationClient"
                  android:label="Qt Notifier"
                  android:screenOrientation="unspecified">
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN"/>
                <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER"/>
            </intent-filter>
            <meta-data android:name="android.app.lib_name" android:value="-- %%INSERT_APP_LIB_NAME%% --"/>
            <meta-data android:name="android.app.qt_sources_resource_id" android:resource="@array/qt_sources"/>
            <meta-data android:name="android.app.repository" android:value="default"/>
            <meta-data android:name="android.app.qt_libs_resource_id" android:resource="@array/qt_libs"/>
            <meta-data android:name="android.app.bundled_libs_resource_id" android:resource="@array/bundled_libs"/>
            <meta-data android:name="android.app.bundle_local_qt_libs" android:value="-- %%BUNDLE_LOCAL_QT_LIBS%% --"/>
            <meta-data android:name="android.app.bundled_in_lib_resource_id" android:resource="@array/bundled_in_lib"/>
            <meta-data android:name="android.app.bundled_in_assets_resource_id" android:resource="@array/bundled_in_assets"/>
            <meta-data android:name="android.app.use_local_qt_libs" android:value="-- %%USE_LOCAL_QT_LIBS%% --"/>
            <meta-data android:name="android.app.libs_prefix" android:value="/data/local/tmp/qt/"/>
            <meta-data android:name="android.app.load_local_libs" android:value="-- %%INSERT_LOCAL_LIBS%% --"/>
            <meta-data android:name="android.app.load_local_jars" android:value="-- %%INSERT_LOCAL_JARS%% --"/>
            <meta-data android:name="android.app.static_init_classes" android:value="-- %%INSERT_INIT_CLASSES%% --"/>
            <meta-data android:value="@string/ministro_not_found_msg" android:name="android.app.ministro_not_found_msg"/>
            <meta-data android:value="@string/ministro_needed_msg" android:name="android.app.ministro_needed_msg"/>
            <meta-data android:value="@string/fatal_error_msg" android:name="android.app.fatal_error_msg"/>
            <meta-data android:name="android.app.splash_screen_drawable" android:resource="@drawable/logo"/>
            -->
        </activity>
    </application>
    <uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="16" />
    <supports-screens android:largeScreens="true" android:normalScreens="true" android:anyDensity="true" android:smallScreens="true"/>
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"/>
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>
</manifest>

Android-APT project page:

As we know Android APT plugin officially obsoleted. The Android Gradle plugin (version 2.2) replaced the traditional plug in (Android APT) on Oct 2016.

An announcement issued by Android studio. Annotation Processing became available in Android Gradle plugin (2.2 and later) so there is now no need to use the Android APT plugin anymore if using version 2.2 of gradle or above.

You can remove the line :

apply plugin: 'com.neenbedankt.android-apt'

Question: How about the security status who still supports Android APT plugin?

If the Android Gradle plugin not in use, it is still a Eclipse project. Currently android-apt works fine with version 2.2 of the Android Gradle plugin, but it doesn’t work with jack.

Is there security concerns on Android APT plugin?

Plugin technology was initially introduced by third parties to add additional enhancements and capabilities to Android.The plugin will find all AspectJ aspects available in the project compile classpath, plugin class and weave .class files. Meanwhile AspectJ allow to hook. AspectJ to work on Android we have to make use of some hooks when compiling our app and this is only possible using the android-library gradle plugin.

From security point of view, plugin design might contain inherent risk because of the fundamental hook process design. The Android plugin technology is an innovative application-level virtualization framework that allows a mobile application to dynamically load and launch another app without installing the app. This technology was originally developed for purposes of hot patching and reducing the released APK size. The primary application of this technology is to satisfy the growing demand for launching multiple instances of a same app on the same device, sounds like I log in my personal and business Gmail  accounts simultaneously.

Abbreviations 1: Weave (Web-based Analysis and Visualization Environment)

Abbreviations 2: AspectJ is an aspect-oriented programming (AOP) extension created at PARC for the Java programming language. It is available in Eclipse Foundation open-source projects, both stand-alone and integrated into Eclipse.

APT, AspectJ, Javassist corresponding component

Sound scary but Android have their solution to mitigate the risk?

Can we wait for Android O?

Preface

I’m smart brain, gave me lazy….

The implementation of the smart phone change people life style. Any time any where you can get in touch with the world. It break follow the sun operation concept. Why? Both online shopping and settlement simultaneously because of electronic payment function. Below bar chart on left hand side shown internet users in select countries who purchase items via mobile device in 2013. Less than 3 years time, a significant usage of mobile payment has been growth in Greater China (see below picture right hand side).

Cyber attack is a never ending story. Malware infection technique take the advantage of computer users negligence. Even though Bank did not have expection. The headline news shocked the world includes The Bangladesh Bank robbery. It was so called the Bangladesh Bank heist, took place in February 2016, when SWIFT instructions to steal US$951 million from Bangladesh Bank.

In order to avoid cyber incident happen on electronic payment transaction. Financial industry especially payment gateway services provider find perfection of authentication method goal enhance the reliability of payment. For instance 2 factor authentication, a second random generation of pass code go through SMS forward to you mobile phone.

Electronic wallet upside down to the world

A third-party online payment platform was launched in China in 2004 by Alibaba Group. As times goes by, now the biggest market share in China with 400 million users. The coverage near 50% of China’s online payment market in October 2016. As of today electronic wallet looks like flooding went to different countries in the world especially China. Electronic wallet initiate by mobile phone. Below table can provide an hints to you in this regard.

Background

A digital wallet refers to an electronic device that allows an individual to make electronic transactions

Digital wallet infrastructure elements

.

The account information and Card type lure the interest of criminals. But are you aware that there are difference in between mobile computing (electronic wallet) and traditional internet payment function (without electronic wallet). See below informatic diagram. Even though how precise and advanced encryption technology are deployed. But it is difficult to avoid a single device facing compromise. Personally I am not suggest my friend to use electronic wallet on his mobile phone. My friend was told even though money lost because of malware, it only lost the charge money value. Yes, from technical point of view it is correct. But reminded you that mobile OS is fragile. Why does it say mobile OS is fragile?

Why does it say mobile OS is fragile?

Android phone

(Memory)

Both the Android Runtime (ART) and Dalvik virtual machine perform routine garbage collection, this does not mean you can ignore when and where your app allocates and releases memory. Software designer need to avoid introducing memory leaks, usually caused by holding onto object references in static memory variables, and release any Reference objects at the appropriate time as defined by lifecycle callbacks.

Side effect of above defect – The easiest way to leak an Activity is by defining a static variable inside the class definition of the Activity and then setting it to the running instance of that Activity. If this reference is not cleared before the Activity’s lifecycle completes, the Activity will be leaked. So all depends on mobile apps developer design. It is hard to avoid memory leak. As you know, what is the defect of memory leak? Hacker relies on this error can implant malware.

If you would like to know more details, please refer below articles.

Heard that Android operating not secure anymore, but it is properly not.

How about IOS?

Design weakness:

Every WebKit object is RefCountedBase object

Mobile Safari and most of WebKit Apps leak address – Fill in another object and use the JS pointer of the old object to read information of the new object.

Should you have interest know the details on above matter, please refer below:

Meteor shower – Apple iPhone

Checkpoint : If above 2 technical articles make you feeling confused. Tired, you are not able to read. No problem we can jump to summary of this discussion. The information will stay here, anytime you have interest you are free to read.

Summary:

IT & cyber security technologies due to limit development life cycle. OS claim itself is safe today but is it hard to guarantee next 6 months. The most fundamental weakness in mobile device security is that the security decision process is dependent on yourself. You are allow anywhere play online games & watch on-line TV program. Because of the web browser extend feature, uncountable plug-In drivers will install to your mobile phone. How about your personal information includes your personal account information. Do you think only relies on your local antivirus. The so called malware detection program can aviod the cyber attack?

My personal suggestion is that think it over before install or make use of electronic wallet on your mobile phone.

Have a nice day, Good Bye!

Preface:

What’s our objective to discussion this topic today? Our goal is going to protect user privacy. As we know, internet traffic are under surveillance. This activities not limited to China nowadays. It was includes the major leader countries in Europe, England and USA.

Situation in China

The country like China provides a clear announcement. The China government was told that all internet traffics in China are under surveillance. And thus that they build the great wall (firewall).  (Tianhe-1 and Tianhe-2 (Milkyway-2) are capable to take this responsibility.

2016 Supercomputer magazine

Situation in United State

How about the surveillance program status from NSA (National security agency) . The NSA has official announcement was that after a comprehensive review of mission needs, current technological constraints, United States person privacy interests, and certain difficulties in implementation, NSA has decided to stop some of its activities conducted under Section 702. For more details, please find below URL for references:

NSA Statement: NSA Stops Certain Section 702 “Upstream” Activities – For more detail, please refer below url for reference.

https://www.nsa.gov/news-features/press-room/statements/2017-04-28-702-statement.shtml

NSA Stops Certain Foreign Intelligence Collection Activities Under Section 702 – For more detail, please refer below url for reference.

https://www.nsa.gov/news-features/press-room/press-releases/2017/nsa-stops-certain-702-activites.shtml

NSA Transparency Report: THE USA FREEDOM Act Business Records FISA Implementation – 15 January 2016 – For more detail, please refer below url for reference.

https://www.nsa.gov/about/civil-liberties/reports/assets/files/UFA_Civil_Liberties_and_Privacy_Report.pdf

Above items given an idea to people our communications (electronic or without electronic) are under surveillance. A positive thinking of idea told yourself that such policy are going to fight against crimes. Apart from that are you aware of your personal privacy especially your mobile phone camera (Lens)? We known more secret on mobile phone recently. The execution of JavaScript or HTML5  allow access your mobile phone camera from Chrome (example shown as below):

Enable camera and microphone in packaged application for Chrome OS

navigator.webkitGetUserMedia({ audio: true, video: true },
            function (stream) {
                mediaStream = stream;
            },
            function (error) {
                console.error("Error trying to get the stream:: " + error.message);
            });    

Remark: The audio and video for a <webview>-embedded page require permission. It will alert mobile phone owner. A software developer hints that the require permission might embedded audioCapture and videoCapture and put the permissions in manifest.json. The mobile phone user might not aware.

Below HTML5 program language which allow to select the source and pass it in as optional into getUserMedia. This function is available in Chrome web browser.

Step 1: Select source

MediaStreamTrack.getSources(gotSources);

Step 2: pass it in as optional into getUserMedia

var constraints = {
  audio: {
    optional: [{sourceId: audioSource}]
  },
  video: {
    optional: [{sourceId: videoSource}]
  }
};
navigator.getUserMedia(constraints, successCallback, errorCallback);

Step 3: Put the permissions on manifest.json or manifest.xml. The mobile phone user might not aware.

Above audio and video capture functions only do a reverse engineering will transform to other criteria of function receive your personal photo. Are you aware of it ?

Summary:

Refer to above information. It looks that we need to spend more job affords to close the back door on your mobile phone, right? But the easy way to do from end user side is that just disable the camera on your mobile phone browser. Or just use a sticker to disable it. It is straight forward, bye!