M8—Security Misconfiguration

>Control Description

**Application Specific** Security misconfiguration in mobile apps refers to the improper configuration of security settings, permissions, and controls that can lead to vulnerabilities and unauthorized access. Threat agents who can exploit security misconfigurations are attackers aiming to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or perform malicious actions. Threat agents can be an attacker with physical access to the device, a malicious app on the device that exploits security misconfiguration to execute unauthorized actions on the target vulnerable application context.

>Prevention & Mitigation Strategies

1.Review and secure default configurations; ensure default settings do not expose sensitive information or provide unnecessary permissions.
2.Refrain from using hardcoded default credentials; change all default usernames and passwords before release.
3.Apply the least privilege principle: request only the permissions necessary for the app's core functionality.
4.Configure secure network settings: disallow cleartext traffic and use certificate pinning when possible.
5.Disable debugging features in production builds and disable backup mode (Android) to prevent sensitive data exposure.
6.Limit the application's attack surface by only exporting activities, content providers, and services that are necessary; avoid exposing internal file provider paths.

>Attack Scenarios

>References

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