Hacking Mobile Platforms
Mobile devices store sensitive personal and corporate data and are always connected to networks, making them high-value targets for attackers.
Objective No. Objective 01 Explain Mobile Platform Attack Vectors 02 Explain Various Android OS Threats and Attacks 03 Explain Various iOS Threats and Attacks 04 Summarize Mobile Device Management (MDM) Concepts 05 Present Mobile Security Guidelines and Tools
MEMORY HOOK:Vectors → Android → iOS → MDM → Defense
Term Definition Mobile Platform Attack Vector A path or method used by attackers to compromise mobile devices, networks, or backend systems
Reason Always connected (Internet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Cellular) Carry sensitive data Used for authentication (OTP, banking apps) User trust in apps Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
MEMORY HOOK:Always on + personal data = prime target
Area Mobile device Wi-Fi device Telecom service provider Internet App store Website Corporate intranet Corporate VPN gateway
MEMORY HOOK:Device → Network → Cloud
Layer Description Device OS, apps, hardware Network Wi-Fi, cellular, Bluetooth Data center / Cloud Web servers, databases
ID Risk M1 Improper Credential Usage M2 Inadequate Supply Chain Security M3 Insecure Authentication/Authorization M4 Insufficient Input/Output Validation M5 Insecure Communication M6 Inadequate Privacy Controls M7 Insufficient Binary Protections M8 Security Misconfiguration M9 Insecure Data Storage M10 Insufficient Cryptography
MEMORY HOOK:Credentials → Supply → Auth → Input → Comm → Privacy → Binary → Config → Storage → Crypto
Details Weak credential handling Hardcoded passwords Insecure storage Transmission without encryption
Details Vulnerable third-party libraries Poor app signing Weak update mechanisms
Details Weak password policies Broken session handling Authorization bypass
Details SQL injection Command injection XSS
Details Weak SSL/TLS Invalid certificates Unencrypted data transmission
Details Poor PII protection Non-compliance with privacy laws
Details Reverse engineering Code tampering No obfuscation
Details Weak encryption Improper permissions Debugging enabled
Details Plaintext storage Unsecured databases Improper credential storage
Details Weak algorithms Poor key management Improper randomness
Point Target Point 01 Device Point 02 Network Point 03 Data Center / Cloud
MEMORY HOOK:Device → Network → Cloud
Attack Description Phishing Fake websites Framing Hidden malicious iframes Clickjacking UI deception Man-in-the-Mobile Malware intercepting data
Attack Description Baseband attacks GSM/3GPP exploitation Smishing SMS phishing Call-based attacks Premium numbers
Attack Description Insecure data storage Sensitive data exposed Weak encryption Data theft Improper validation Input abuse Configuration manipulation App logic abuse Escalated privileges Root-level access
Attack Description No passcode Data exposure Jailbreaking (iOS) Security bypass Rooting (Android) Privilege escalation OS data caching Sensitive data leaks Password cracking Weak crypto User-initiated code Malicious installs
Attack Wi-Fi sniffing Rogue access points Packet sniffing MITM Session hijacking DNS poisoning SSL stripping Fake certificates
MEMORY HOOK:Sniff → Intercept → Redirect
Attack Platform vulnerabilities Server misconfiguration XSS CSRF Web input validation flaws Brute-force SQL injection
Category Examples Surveillance Camera, mic, call logs Data theft Contacts, SMS, files Botnet activity DDoS, click fraud Impersonation Fake emails, social posts
MEMORY HOOK:Spy → Steal → Spread → Impersonate
Mobile attacks target devices, networks, and clouds.
Item Status Objective 01 COMPLETE OWASP Top 10 COMPLETE Attack vectors COMPLETE Exam alignment EXACT