M8: Security Misconfiguration

Security misconfiguration encompasses insecure defaults, missing hardening, or ad-hoc changes that leave the mobile app or its infrastructure open to exploitation. Because mobile systems span device settings, backend APIs, cloud services, and CI/CD tooling, misconfigurations can creep in at multiple layers.

Typical Weakness Patterns

• Leaving debug endpoints, verbose logging, or developer menus enabled in production builds.
• Shipping with overly broad platform permissions, entitlements, or exported components (activities, services, broadcast receivers).
• Misconfigured backend services (API gateways, authentication proxies, object storage buckets) that feed the mobile app.
• Using outdated configurations for security headers, SSL/TLS, or content security policies in web views and APIs.

Detection Cues

• Static review of Android manifest/iOS entitlement files for exported components or unnecessary permissions.
• Configuration scanning of backend infrastructure (IaC reviews, CIS benchmarks) supporting the mobile experience.
• Monitoring production logs for access to debug endpoints or other features that should be disabled.

Mitigation

• Integrate hardening checklists into the release process—disable debug features, restrict platform permissions, and enforce production build flags.
• Adopt configuration-as-code with peer review and automated policy enforcement to prevent drift.
• Continuously monitor infrastructure for deviations, enabling alerts when storage buckets become public or when security groups are modified.
• Document configuration baselines so teams know which settings must remain locked down for compliance and security.