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Application & OT Security · Foundational

Insecure Data Storage (Mobile)

Storing sensitive data on a mobile device in a way that other apps, backups or someone with physical access can read.

Definition

Common issues include credentials in shared preferences or plist files, sensitive data in logs, caches, screenshots, clipboard and unencrypted databases. Mitigations: store as little as possible, use the Android Keystore or iOS Keychain for secrets, encrypt local data, exclude sensitive files from backups and disable caching of sensitive views.

Example

An app saves the user's session token in plaintext SharedPreferences.

Exam tip

M9 in the 2024 Mobile Top 10; the fix is platform secure storage plus minimizing stored data.

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