{securing}

Flutter Apps

Majid Hajian

mhadaily

More than 75% of mobile applications will fail basic security tests

https://www.pixelcrayons.com/blog/mobile-app-statistics/

Flutter Security Key Pillars

Identify

Detect

Protect

Respond

Recover

OWASP
OWASP Top 10
OWASP for Flutter
Modern Approach
- RASP

Agenda

ME.dart

import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
MaterialApp(
   ThemeData(
        name: "Majid Hajian",
        location: "Oslo, Norway",
        description: '''
                Google Developer Expert
        	Passionate Software engineer, 
	        Community Leader, Author and international Speaker
         ''',
        main: "Head of DevRel at Invertase.io",
        homepage: "https://www.majidhajian.com",
        socials: {
          twitter: "https://www.twitter.com/mhadaily",
          github: "https://www.github.com/mhadaily"
        },
        author: {
          Pluralsight: "www.pluralsight.com/authors/majid-hajian",
          Apress: "Progressive Web App with Angular, Book",
          PacktPub: "PWA development",
          Udemy: "PWA development",
        }
        founder: "Softiware As (www.Softiware.com)"
        devDependencies: {
          tea: "Ginger", 
          mac: "10.14+",
        },
        community: {
          MobileEraConference: "Orginizer",
          FlutterVikings: "Orginizer", 
          FlutterDartOslo: "Orginizer",
          GDGOslo: "Co-Orginizer",
          DevFestNorway: "Orginizer",
          ...more
        }));

mhadaily

Find me on the internet by

Head of DevRel at Invertase

{OWASP}

Open Web Application Security Project

https://owasp.org/Top10/

https://owasp.org/www-project-mobile-top-10/

Web

Mobile

M1. Improper Platform Usage

Misuse of the iOS Touch ID feature
Incorrect use of the iOS Keychain
Requesting excessive or wrong platform permissions

Adhere to the platform development best practices and guidelines.
Use secure configuration and coding to harden the server side.
Restrict applications from transmitting user data.
Restrict file access permissions.
Encrypt and store data securely.

Examples:

Solutions:

Stay up to date

Latest Flutter stable

Latest libraries updates

Latest guidelines for publishing apps

Regularly checking security guidelines by flutter team

https://docs.flutter.dev/security

Handle Permissions

https://pub.dev/packages/permission_handler

if (await Permission.contacts.request().isGranted) {
  // Either the permission was already granted before or the user just granted it.
}

// You can request multiple permissions at once.
Map<Permission, PermissionStatus> statuses = await [
  Permission.location,
  Permission.storage,
].request();
print(statuses[Permission.location]);

M2. Insecure Data Storage

Unencrypted storage / caching for storing sensitive data
Storing sensitive data in Shared preferences

encryption effectively
obfuscation and protection against buffer overflows & so on.
Avoid storing/caching data where feasible

Examples:

Solutions:

Handle sensitive

Usernames,
Authentication tokens,
Passwords,
Cookies,
Location data,
UDID/IMEI, Device Name,
Network Connection Name,
Debug information,

Personal Information (e.g., date of birth, address, Social, credit card data),
Application Data,
Stored application logs (e.g., for an Android App ADB logcat tool),
Cached application messages,
Transaction histories.

https://pub.dev/packages/flutter_secure_storage

Flutter Secure Storage provides API to store data in secure storage. Keychain is used in iOS, KeyStore based solution is used in Android.

https://pub.dev/packages/hive

Lightweight and blazing-fast key-value database written in pure Dart and strongly encrypted using AES-256.

Background snapshots protection

https://pub.dev/packages/secure_application

SecureApplication(
        onNeedUnlock: 
        (secure) => print(
            'need unlock maybe use biometric 
            to confirm and 
            then use sercure.unlock()'),
        child: MyApp(),
)

M3. Insecure Communication

Unencrypted data in transit
Sending data as cleartext that can be intercepted by anyone checking the network

Use SSL/TLS certificates for secure transmission
Use signed and trusted CA certificates
Use encryption protocols
Implement encryption before SSL channel transmission

Examples:

Solutions:

Certificate pinning

https://pub.dev/packages/http_certificate_pinning

Certificate pinning allows mobile applications to restrict communication only to servers with a valid certificate matching the expected value (pin). The connection is terminated immediately if communication is attempted with any server that doesn't match this "expected" value.

(MitM attacks)

openssl x509 -noout -fingerprint -sha256 -inform pem -in [certificate-file.crt]
// The Result is like:
// '59:58:57:5A:5B:5C:5D:59:58:57:5A:5B:5C:5D:59:58:57:5A:5B:5C:5D:59:58:57:5A:5B:5C:5D:59:58:57:5A:5B:5C:5D'

import 'package:http_certificate_pinning/secure_http_client.dart';
  
  // Uses SecureHttpClient to make requests
  SecureHttpClient getClient(List<String> allowedSHAFingerprints){
      final secureClient = SecureHttpClient.build(certificateSHA256Fingerprints);
      return secureClient;
  }

  myRepositoryMethod(){ 
    secureClient.get("myurl.com");
  }

// Other client - backend 

import 'package:http_certificate_pinning/http_certificate_pinning.dart';
  
Future myCustomImplementation(String url, Map<String,String> headers, List<String> allowedSHAFingerprints) async {
  try{
    final secure = await HttpCertificatePinning.check(
      serverURL: url,
      headerHttp: headers,
      sha: SHA.SHA256,
      allowedSHAFingerprints:allowedSHAFingerprints,
      timeout : 50
    );

    if(secure.contains("CONNECTION_SECURE")){
      return true;
    }else{
      return false;
    }
  }catch(e){
    return false;
  }
}

M4. Insecure Authentication

Only client-side authentication
Rely on local authentication

Avoid local authentication methods. Instead, shift this responsibility to the server and download application data only after successful authentication.
Refrain from using vulnerable authentication methods (such as device identity), don’t store passwords locally, implement multi-factor authentication (MFA), disallow using all four-digit PINs as passwords where feasible, etc.

Examples:

Solutions:

bit.ly/3TXrVju

Local Authentication

https://pub.dev/packages/local_auth

final List<BiometricType> availableBiometrics =
    await auth.getAvailableBiometrics();

if (availableBiometrics.isNotEmpty) {
  // Some biometrics are enrolled.
}

if (availableBiometrics.contains(BiometricType.strong) ||
    availableBiometrics.contains(BiometricType.face)) {
  // Specific types of biometrics are available.
  // Use checks like this with caution!
}

M5. Insufficient Cryptography

Improperly managing digital keys
Using deprecated encryption protocols
Bypassing built-in code encryption algorithms

Use robust cryptography algorithms
Avoid storing any sensitive data on the device whenever possible

Examples:

Solutions:

1- AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) Algorithm

2- Fernet Algorithm

3- Salsa Algorithm

& ...

Symmetric
Asymmetric

Use of Insecure and/or Deprecated Algorithms

RC2
MD4
MD5
SHA1

Secure developer identity

Any data that may expose developer identity needs to be encrypted. Encrypt sensitive files like key.jks & keystore.properties with GPG. Avoid keeping track of unencrypted sensitive data in your repository.

Encrypt your keys

https://pub.dev/packages/encrypt

import 'package:encrypt/encrypt.dart';

void main() {
  final plainText = 'Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit';
  final key = Key.fromUtf8('my 32 length key................');
  final iv = IV.fromLength(16);

  final encrypter = Encrypter(AES(key));

  final encrypted = encrypter.encrypt(plainText, iv: iv);
  final decrypted = encrypter.decrypt(encrypted, iv: iv);

  print(decrypted); // Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit
  print(encrypted.base64); // R4PxiU3h8YoIRqVowBXm36ZcCeNeZ4s1OvVBTfFlZRdmohQqOpPQqD1YecJeZMAop/hZ4OxqgC1WtwvX/hP9mw==
}

https://pub.dev/packages/crypto

M6. Insecure Authorization

fails to verify users and grant permissions
Client-side authorization

Verify requests with the backend
Validate the roles and permissions of an authenticated user using the information with backend not the data on the device or what you have stored

Examples:

Solutions:

M7. Client Code Quality

Integrating a 3rd party library without checking code quality
Relying on manual checking rather automated tools

Enforce good coding practices (come up with consistent pattern)
Perform static code analysis
Use automated tools to test memory leaks, buffer overflow, and code execution

Examples:

Solutions:

https://dart.dev/guides/language/effective-dart/design

M8. Code Tampering

a hacker modifies the app’s binary to include malicious content, install a backdoor

Implement anti-tamper techniques that prevent illicit apps from executing via the implementation of checksums, digital signatures, code hardening, and other validation methods.

Examples:

Solutions:

Rooting or Jailbreaking protection

https://pub.dev/packages/flutter_jailbreak_detection

import 'package:flutter_jailbreak_detection/flutter_jailbreak_detection.dart';

bool jailbroken = await FlutterJailbreakDetection.jailbroken;
bool developerMode = await FlutterJailbreakDetection.developerMode; // android only.

M9. Reverse Engineering

de-obfuscate the code using tools like IDA Pro and Hopper

Check if it’s possible to decompile the application
Ensure robust obfuscation (including metadata)
Use binary packaging to prevent attackers from decompiling code
Block debugging tools

Examples:

Solutions:

Obfuscation

https://docs.flutter.dev/deployment/obfuscate

 flutter build apk --obfuscate --split-debug-info=/project/debuginfo

Binary build

https://docs.flutter.dev/resources/faq#run-android

M10. Extraneous Functionality

A developer may accidentally include a password as a comment in a hybrid app
Disabling 2-factor authentication during testing

Examine the app’s configuration settings to discover any hidden switches;
Verify that all test code is not included in the final production build of the app;
Examine all API endpoints accessed by the mobile app to verify that these endpoints are well documented and publicly available;
Examine all log statements to ensure nothing overly descriptive about the backend is being written to the logs;

Examples:

Solutions:

RASP - Runtime Application Self-Protection*

Static versus Dynamic Analysis

Hook

Root

Debugger

Emulator

Fingerprints

https://pub.dev/packages/freerasp

@override
void initState() {
  //  config
  callback = TalsecCallback(
  // For Android
  androidCallback: AndroidCallback(
    onRootDetected: () => print('root'),
    onEmulatorDetected: () => print('emulator'),
    onHookDetected: () => print('hook'),
    onTamperDetected: () => print('tamper'),
    onDeviceBindingDetected: () => print('device binding'),
    onUntrustedInstallationDetected: () => print('untrusted install'),
  ),
  // For iOS
  iosCallback: IOSCallback(
      onSignatureDetected: () => print('signature'),
      onRuntimeManipulationDetected: () => print('runtime manipulation'),
      onJailbreakDetected: () => print('jailbreak'),
      onPasscodeDetected: () => print('passcode'),
      onSimulatorDetected: () => print('simulator'),
      onMissingSecureEnclaveDetected: () => print('secure enclave'),
      onDeviceChangeDetected: () => print('device change'),
      onDeviceIdDetected: () => print('device ID'),
      onUnofficialStoreDetected: () => print('unofficial store')),
  // Common for both platforms
  onDebuggerDetected: () => print('debugger'),
  );
}

Security is progressive

Security Testing

https://mas.owasp.org/

Majid Hajian

@mhadaily

Slides and link to source code

slides.com/mhadaily

SVG icons credited to undraw.co

Securing Flutter Apps

By Majid Hajian

Securing Flutter Apps

Majid Hajian

Majid Hajian is a passionate software developer with years of developing and architecting complex web and mobile applications. He is passionate about web platform especially flutter, IoT, PWAs, and performance.

{securing}

Flutter Apps

More than 75% of mobile applications will fail basic security tests

Flutter Security Key Pillars

Agenda

ME.dart

mhadaily

{OWASP}

M1. Improper Platform Usage

Adhere to the platform development best practices and guidelines.

Use secure configuration and coding to harden the server side.

Restrict applications from transmitting user data.

Restrict file access permissions.

Encrypt and store data securely.

Stay up to date

Handle Permissions

M2. Insecure Data Storage

Handle sensitive

Background snapshots protection

M3. Insecure Communication

Certificate pinning

(MitM attacks)

M4. Insecure Authentication

Local Authentication

M5. Insufficient Cryptography

Secure developer identity

Encrypt your keys

M6. Insecure Authorization

M7. Client Code Quality

Enforce good coding practices (come up with consistent pattern)

Perform static code analysis

Use automated tools to test memory leaks, buffer overflow, and code execution

M8. Code Tampering

Rooting or Jailbreaking protection

M9. Reverse Engineering

Obfuscation

Binary build

M10. Extraneous Functionality

RASP - Runtime Application Self-Protection*

Static versus Dynamic Analysis

Hook

Root

Debugger

Emulator

Fingerprints

Security is progressive

Security Testing

Securing Flutter Apps

More from Majid Hajian