How Can We Secure a REST API for Mobile Apps Against Sniffing and Impersonation Attacks?

Securing an API REST for Mobile App

You suspect that sniffing requests may provide access to an API's secrets, leaving it vulnerable to exploitation by extracting the "key." This has led you to question the ability to secure an API in a mobile environment.

Understanding the Difference: "What" vs. "Who"

When considering API security, it is crucial to differentiate between "what" and "who" is making the request to the API server.

• What: Refers to the device or application making the request.
• Who: Denotes the human user who initiated the request.

In the case of intercepted keys, the issue lies with impersonating "what," which is typically used to validate the authenticity of the mobile app making the request.

Hardening and Shielding the Mobile App

To prevent these secrets from being breached at the outset, consider implementing solutions that attempt to shield the mobile app itself:

• Mobile Hardening and Shielding: Protect against compromised or modified devices and unauthorized access at the app level. However, these measures have limitations as they can be bypassed with advanced tools like Frida.

Securing the API Server

Focus on hardening the API server to enhance its ability to detect and mitigate attacks:

• Basic API Security Defenses: Implement measures such as HTTPS, API keys, and IP address checks to establish a baseline of protection.
• Advanced API Security Defenses: Employ techniques such as API keys, HMAC, OAUTH, and certificate pinning to further enhance security while acknowledging their potential vulnerabilities.
• Additional Tools: Consider implementing tools like reCAPTCHA V3, Web Application Firewall (WAF), and User Behavior Analytics (UBA) to detect abuse and protect against targeted attacks.

A Potential Solution: Mobile App Attestation

Traditional approaches, where the mobile app contains secrets, can leave them exposed to extraction. A better solution involves implementing Mobile App Attestation:

• Concept: A service that verifies the integrity of the mobile app and device at runtime.
• Benefit: Allows for the removal of secrets from the mobile app, enabling JWT token verification by the API server to establish trust and prevent unauthorized access.

Additional Insights from OWASP

Refer to the OWASP foundation's resources for comprehensive guidance on:

• Mobile App Security: OWASP - Mobile Security Testing Guide
• API Security: OWASP API Security Top 10

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