The OWASP MASVS (Mobile Application Security Verification Standard) is a standard that establishes mobile app security requirements for developers to build secure mobile apps and security teams to test mobile apps. In January 2023, OWASP published MASVS v1.5.0. In April 2023, MASVS v2.0.0 and in January 2024 MASVS v2.1.0. On Appdome, brands can easily comply with the OWASP MASVS standard.
Beyond the OWASP mobile top 10 high level indicators, the OWASP MASVS provides proper and effective mobile app security requirements. This is the culmination from years of work by industry practitioners, mobile researchers, and security analysts. The OWASP MASVS is the ideal guide for mobile architects, developers and security teams to follow to ensure they are delivering secure mobile apps.
Mobile brands across the world use Appdome to comply with the OWASP MASVS requirements. With Appdome’s no-code mobile app defense automation platform, they can achieve that outcome in minutes, directly inside their CI/CD pipeline. This is a win-win for both the Cyber as well as the Dev teams. Cyber teams can specify and enforce compliance with the latest OWASP MASVS standard. And dev team does not need to do any extra work to build the required security model since it is fully integrated in their existing DevOps workflows.
With Appdome, mobile brands can comply with all 3 versions of the MASVS. This blog details how brands can instantly comply with the latest OWASP MASVS 2.1.0.
What is the OWASP Mobile AppSec Verification Standard (MASVS)
The OWASP MASVS (Mobile Application Security Verification Standard) is an industry standard for mobile app security. The MASVS establishes baseline security requirements for mobile software architects and developers seeking to develop secure mobile applications, as well as security testers to ensure completeness and consistency of test results. Mobile brands can use the MAVSV:
- As a metric – To provide a security standard against which existing mobile apps can be compared by developers and application owners.
- As guidance – To provide guidance during all phases of mobile app development and testing.
- During procurement – To provide a baseline for mobile app security verification to ensure common corporate security standards are met before purchase.
Use Appdome to Deliver and Demonstrate Compliance with MASVS
Good news for all Cyber and Dev teams looking to comply with the MASVS v1.5.0, MASVS 2.0.0 and MASVS 2.1.0 standards. Appdome customers can instantly build all the protections needed into their Android and iOS apps, to comply with the OWASP MASVS in minutes, with no developer coding.
Using Appdome’s no-code mobile app defense automation platform, they can deliver controlled, consistent, auditable mobile app security, anti-fraud, anti-social engineering, anti-malware, anti-cheat, mobile bot and geo-compliance defenses in CI/CD pipeline. Appdome’s ThreatScope™ Mobile XDR provides production proof that the protections are working. And each build on Appdome comes with a Certified Secure™ Mobile DevSecOps certification. Each certificate is a separate, auditable, and detailed artifact of proof that documents all the protections in the mobile app and as such can be used to demonstrate compliance with the MASVS standard, build-by-build, release-by-release.
OWASP MASVS Requirements in Detail
OWASP defines the Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS) as a comprehensive security standard. This framework provides a clear and concise set of guidelines and best practices for assessing and enhancing the security of mobile applications. The MASVS is designed to be used as a metric, guidance, and baseline for mobile app security verification, serving as a valuable resource for developers, application owners, and security professionals.
The objective of the MASVS is to establish a high level of confidence in the security of mobile apps by providing a set of controls that address the most common mobile application security issues. These controls were developed with a focus on providing guidance during all phases of mobile app development and testing. And to be used as a baseline for mobile app security verification during procurement. By adhering to the controls outlined in the OWASP MASVS, organizations can ensure that their mobile applications are built with security in mind. This reduces the risk of security breaches and protecting sensitive user data. Whether used as a metric, guidance, or baseline, the OWASP MASVS is an invaluable tool for enhancing the security of mobile applications.
MASVS Control Groups
The standard is divided into various groups that represent the most critical areas of the mobile attack surface. These control groups, labelled MASVS-XXXXX, provide guidance and standards for the following areas:
- MASVS-STORAGE: Secure storage of sensitive data on a device (data-at-rest).
- MASVS-CRYPTO: Cryptographic functionality used to protect sensitive data.
- MASVS-AUTH: Authentication and authorization mechanisms used by the mobile app.
- MASVS-NETWORK: Secure network communication between the mobile app and remote endpoints (data-in-transit).
- MASVS-PLATFORM: Secure interaction with the underlying mobile platform and other installed apps.
- MASVS-CODE: Security best practices for data processing and keeping the app up-to-date.
- MASVS-RESILIENCE: Resilience to reverse engineering and tampering attempts.
- MASVS-PRIVACY: Privacy controls to protect user privacy.
Appdome Offers Mobile Brands Continuous Compliance with OWASP MASVS, Inside Their CI/CD Pipelines
Appdome is the only mobile app defense solution that offers mobile brands an automation platform to build, test, monitor and respond with mobile app defense features in Android and iOS apps inside their DevOps CI/CD pipeline.
With Appdome, mobile brands get an end-to-end automation platform for 300+ mobile app security, anti-fraud, anti-malware, anti-cheat, anti-bot, geo compliance and other defense features. Cyber teams get a cyber control center to build, certify, test and monitor every defense in their mobile apps. The platform also includes a Mobile XDR solution allowing them to respond to any attack in real time. This cyber control center is fully integrated in the CI/CD pipeline, allowing mobile brands to upgrade their DevSecOps from discovery to delivery. And the best part is that dev teams don’t have to do any work. All they see is an API call in their existing DevOps workflows.
Appdome Certified Secure™ is the Artefact of Proof that comes with complete build-by-build history, demonstrating to the cyber team that the security model deployed to production is in compliance with MASVS. With Appdome, mobile brands get Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery and Continuous Compliance.
Lastly, Appdome ThreatScope™ Mobile XDR delivers the production proof that the protections are effective against live attacks and the threat intelligence of new attacks as they emerge. Mobile brands get immediate detection and automated response across 300+ unique vectors of attack used against Android & iOS apps. This allows the cyber team to continuously manage threat exposure from mobile apps. With ThreatScope, they can monitor and respond to the entire range of mobile app security, mobile fraud, mobile malware, mobile cheat, mobile bot and other attacks that arise against their mobile apps.
Get Started Today
Request a demo today to learn how you can instantly comply the OWASP Android and OWASP iOS security requirements for mobile apps.
