How to Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware in iOS Mobile Apps
Learn to Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware in iOS apps, in mobile CI/CD with a Data-Driven DevSecOps™ build system.
What is Gold Pickaxe Malware?
Gold Pickaxe malware is a sophisticated iOS trojan discovered by the security firm Group-IB. It is notable for being one of the first of its kind to target iOS devices. Once installed on an iPhone, Gold Pickaxe can perform a range of malicious activities, including collecting a user’s biometric information from photos, intercepting SMS text messages, and monitoring web activity. This level of access allows the attacker to remotely control significant aspects of the device, such as taking screenshots, restricting device functionalities, and manipulating application behaviors. The malware achieves this by exploiting vulnerabilities in the device’s operating system and leveraging sophisticated command-and-control (CNC) techniques to maintain persistent and covert access to the compromised device.
How Does Appdome Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware?
Appdome’s approach to defending against Gold Pickaxe malware involves detecting whether critical stages of the malware have been installed on the device, specifically through Mobile Device Management (MDM). The MDM stage allows a device to execute remote management commands or queries, indicating a potential compromise.
Our Detect Gold Pickaxe plugin performs two primary detections:
Checking the existence of MDM profiles: Appdome determines if an unauthorized MDM profile is installed by checking specific indicators on the device.
Registering for MDM server message notifications: This method captures changes in the device’s MDM configuration, alerting to potential malware activity.
Additionally, the “Detect CNC Malware Commands” sub-toggle enhances protection by analyzing network traffic and system logs for suspicious CNC command patterns. CNC (Command-and-Control) commands are instructions sent by a remote attacker to control the infected device, such as retrieving data, executing specific tasks, or modifying settings. This comprehensive defense mechanism ensures that any attempts by Gold Pickaxe malware to control the device or execute malicious commands are promptly detected and addressed, safeguarding the user’s data and device integrity.
Prerequisites for Using Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware:
To use Appdome’s mobile app security build system to Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware , you’ll need:
- Appdome account (create a free Appdome account here)
- A license for Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware
- Mobile App (.ipa for iOS)
- Signing Credentials (see Signing Secure Android apps and Signing Secure iOS apps)
Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware on iOS apps using Appdome
On Appdome, follow these 3 simple steps to create self-defending iOS Apps that Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware without an SDK or gateway:
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Upload the Mobile App to Appdome.
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Upload an app to Appdome’s Mobile App Security Build System
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Upload Method: Appdome Console or DEV-API
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iOS Formats: .ipa
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Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware Compatible With: Obj-C, Java, Swift, Flutter, React Native, Unity, Xamarin, Cordova and more
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Build the feature: Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware.
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Building Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware by using Appdome’s DEV-API:
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Create and name the Fusion Set (security template) that will contain the Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware feature as shown below:
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Follow the steps in Sections 2.2.1-2.2.2 of this article, Building the Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware feature via Appdome Console, to add the Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware feature to this Fusion Set.
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Open the Fusion Set Detail Summary by clicking the “...” symbol on the far-right corner of the Fusion Set. Copy the Fusion Set ID from the Fusion Set Detail Summary (as shown below):
Figure 2: Fusion Set Detail Summary
Note: Annotating the Fusion Set to identify the protection(s) selected is optional only (not mandatory). -
Follow the instructions below to use the Fusion Set ID inside any standard mobile DevOps or CI/CD toolkit like Bitrise, App Center, Jenkins, Travis, Team City, Circle CI or other system:
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Build an API for the app – for instructions, see the tasks under Appdome API Reference Guide
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Look for sample APIs in Appdome’s GitHub Repository
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Figure 1: Fusion Set that will contain the Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware feature
Note: Naming the Fusion Set to correspond to the protection(s) selected is for illustration purposes only (not required). -
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Building the Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware feature via Appdome Console
To build the Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware protection by using Appdome Console, follow the instructions below.
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Where: Inside the Appdome Console, go to Build > Anti Fraud Tab > Social Engineering Prevention section.
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How: Check whether is toggled On (enabled), otherwise enable it . The feature Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware is enabled by default, as shown below. Toggle (turn ON) Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware, as shown below.
If needed, Customize the Threat Notification to be displayed to the mobile end-user in a standard OS dialog notification when Appdome Detects Gold Pickaxe Malware.Figure 3: Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware option
Note: The App Compromise Notification contains an easy to follow default remediation path for the mobile app end user. You can customize this message as required to achieve brand specific support, workflow or other messaging. -
When you select the Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware you'll notice that your Fusion Set you created in step 2.1.1 now bears the icon of the protection category that contains Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware
Figure 4: Fusion Set that displays the newly added Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware protection
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Select the Threat-Event™ in-app mobile Threat Defense and Intelligence policy for Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware:
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Threat-Events™ OFF > In-App Defense
If the Threat-Events™ setting is cleared (not selected). Appdome will detect and defend the user and app by enforcing Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware.
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Threat-Events™ ON > In-App Detection
When this setting is used, Appdome detects Gold Pickaxe malware has been installed on the iOS mobile device and passes Appdome’s Threat-Event™ attack intelligence to the app’s business logic for processing, enforcement, and user notification. For more information on consuming and using Appdome Threat-Events™ in the app, see section Using Threat-Events™ for Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware Intelligence and Control in Mobile Apps.
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Threat-Events™ ON > In-App Defense
When this setting is used, Appdome detects and defends against Gold Pickaxe Malware (same as Appdome Enforce) and passes Appdome’s Threat-Event™ attack intelligence the app’s business logic for processing. For more information on consuming and using Appdome Threat-Events™ in the app, see section Using Threat-Events™ for Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware Intelligence and Control in Mobile Apps.
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Click Build My App at the bottom of the Build Workflow (shown in Figure 3).
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Congratulations! The Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware protection is now added to the mobile app -
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Certify the Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware feature in iOS Apps
After building Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware, Appdome generates a Certified Secure™ certificate to guarantee that the Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware protection has been added and is protecting the app. To verify that the Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware protection has been added to the mobile app, locate the protection in the Certified Secure™ certificate as shown below:
Figure 5: Certified Secure™ certificate
Each Certified Secure™ certificate provides DevOps and DevSecOps organizations the entire workflow summary, audit trail of each build, and proof of protection that Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware has been added to each iOS app. Certified Secure provides instant and in-line DevSecOps compliance certification that Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware and other mobile app security features are in each build of the mobile app
Using Threat-Events™ for Gold Pickaxe Malware Intelligence and Control in iOS Apps
Appdome Threat-Events™ provides consumable in-app mobile app attack intelligence and defense control when Gold Pickaxe Malware is detected. To consume and use Threat-Events™ for Gold Pickaxe Malware in iOS Apps, use AddObserverForName in Notification Center, and the code samples for Threat-Events™ for Gold Pickaxe Malware shown below.
The specifications and options for Threat-Events™ for Gold Pickaxe Malware are:
Threat-Event™ Elements | Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware Method Detail |
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Appdome Feature Name | Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware |
Threat-Event Mode | |
OFF, IN-APP DEFENSE | Appdome detects, defends and notifies user (standard OS dialog) using customizable messaging. |
ON, IN-APP DETECTION | Appdome detects the attack or threat and passes the event in a standard format to the app for processing (app chooses how and when to enforce). |
ON, IN-APP DEFENSE | Uses Appdome Enforce mode for any attack or threat and passes the event in a standard format to the app for processing (gather intel on attacks and threats without losing any protection). |
Certified Secure™ Threat Event Check | |
Visible in ThreatScope™ | |
Developer Parameters for Detecting Gold Pickaxe Malware Threat-Event™ | |
Threat-Event NAME | InstalledMDMProfileDetected |
Threat-Event DATA | reasonData |
Threat-Event CODE | reasonCode |
Threat-Event REF | 6801 |
Threat-Event SCORE | |
currentThreatEventScore | Current Threat-Event score |
threatEventsScore | Total Threat-events score |
Threat-Event Context Keys | |
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message | Message displayed for the user on event |
failSafeEnforce | Timed enforcement against the identified threat |
externalID | The external ID of the event which can be listened via Threat Events |
osVersion | OS version of the current device |
deviceModel | Current device model |
deviceManufacturer | The manufacturer of the current device |
fusedAppToken | The task ID of the Appdome fusion of the currently running app |
kernelInfo | Info about the kernel: system name, node name, release, version and machine. |
deviceID | Current device ID |
reasonCode | Reason code of the occurred event |
buildDate | Appdome fusion date of the current application |
devicePlatform | OS name of the current device |
updatedOSVersion | Is the OS version up to date |
timeZone | Time zone |
deviceFaceDown | Is the device face down |
locationLong | Location longitude conditioned by location permission |
locationLat | Location latitude conditioned by location permission |
locationState | Location state conditioned by location permission |
wifiSsid | Wifi SSID |
wifiSsidPermissionStatus | Wifi SSID permission status |
threatCode | The last six characters of the threat code specify the OS, allowing the Threat Resolution Center to address the attack on the affected device. |
With Threat-Events™ enabled (turned ON), iOS developers can get detailed attack intelligence and granular defense control in iOS applications and create amazing user experiences for all mobile end users when Gold Pickaxe Malware is detected.
The following is a code sample for native iOS apps, which uses all values in the specification above for Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware:
Important! Replace all placeholder instances of <Context Key> with the specific name of your threat event context key across all language examples. This is crucial to ensure your code functions correctly with the intended event data. For example, The <Context Key> could be the message, externalID, OS Version, reason code, etc.
x
let center = NotificationCenter.default
center.addObserver(forName: Notification.Name("InstalledMDMProfileDetected"), object: nil, queue: nil) { (note) in
guard let usrInf = note.userInfo else {
return
}
let message = usrInf["message"]; // Message shown to the user
let reasonData = usrInf["reasonData"]; // Threat detection cause
let reasonCode = usrInf["reasonCode"]; // Event reason code
// Current threat event score
let currentThreatEventScore = usrInf["currentThreatEventScore"];
// Total threat events score
let threatEventsScore = usrInf["threatEventsScore"];
// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
// let variable = usrInf["<Context Key>"];
// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
}
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[[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserverForName: @"InstalledMDMProfileDetected" object:nil queue:nil usingBlock:^(NSNotification *org_note) {
__block NSNotification *note = org_note;
dispatch_async(dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^(void) {
// Message shown to the user
NSString *message = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"message"];
// Threat detection cause
NSString *reasonData = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"reasonData"];
// Event reason code
NSString *reasonCode = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"reasonCode"];
// Current threat event score
NSString *currentThreatEventScore = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"currentThreatEventScore"];
// Total threat events score
NSString *threatEventsScore = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"threatEventsScore"];
// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
// NSString *variable = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"<Context Key>"];
// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
});
}];
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const { ADDevEvents } = NativeModules;
const aDDevEvents = new NativeEventEmitter(ADDevEvents);
function registerToDevEvent(action, callback) {
NativeModules.ADDevEvents.registerForDevEvent(action);
aDDevEvents.addListener(action, callback);
}
export function registerToAllEvents() {
registerToDevEvent(
"InstalledMDMProfileDetected",
(userinfo) => Alert.alert(JSON.stringify(userinfo))
var message = userinfo["message"] // Message shown to the user
var reasonData = userinfo["reasonData"] // Threat detection cause
var reasonCode = userinfo["reasonCode"] // Event reason code
// Current threat event score
var currentThreatEventScore = userinfo["currentThreatEventScore"]
// Total threat events score
var threatEventsScore = userinfo["threatEventsScore"]
// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
// var variable = userinfo["<Context Key>"]
// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
);
}
x
RegisterReceiver(new ThreatEventReceiver(), new IntentFilter("InstalledMDMProfileDetected"));
class ThreatEventReceiver : BroadcastReceiver
{
public override void OnReceive(Context context, Intent intent)
{
// Message shown to the user
String message = intent.GetStringExtra("message");
// Threat detection cause
String reasonData = intent.GetStringExtra("reasonData");
// Event reason code
String reasonCode = intent.GetStringExtra("reasonCode");
// Current threat event score
String currentThreatEventScore = intent.GetStringExtra("currentThreatEventScore");
// Total threat events score
String threatEventsScore = intent.GetStringExtra("threatEventsScore");
// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
// String variable = intent.GetStringExtra("<Context Key>");
// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
}
}
x
NSNotificationCenter.DefaultCenter.AddObserver(
(NSString)"InstalledMDMProfileDetected", // Threat-Event Identifier
delegate (NSNotification notification)
{
// Message shown to the user
var message = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("message");
// Threat detection cause
var reasonData = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("reasonData");
// Event reason code
var reasonCode = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("reasonCode");
// Current threat event score
var currentThreatEventScore = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("currentThreatEventScore");
// Total threat events score
var threatEventsScore = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("threatEventsScore");
// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
// var variable = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("<Context Keys>");
// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
}
);
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window.broadcaster.addEventListener("InstalledMDMProfileDetected", function(userInfo) {
var message = userInfo.message // Message shown to the user
var reasonData = userInfo.reasonData // Threat detection cause
var reasonCode = userInfo.reasonCode // Event reason code
// Current threat event score
var currentThreatEventScore = userInfo.currentThreatEventScore
// Total threat events score
var threatEventsScore = userInfo.threatEventsScore
// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
// var variable = userInfo.<Context Keys>
// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
});
x
import 'dart:async';
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:flutter/services.dart';
class PlatformChannel extends StatefulWidget {
const PlatformChannel({super.key});
State<PlatformChannel> createState() => _PlatformChannelState();
}
class _PlatformChannelState extends State<PlatformChannel> {
// Replace with your EventChannel name
static const String _eventChannelName = "InstalledMDMProfileDetected";
static const EventChannel _eventChannel = EventChannel(_eventChannelName);
void initState() {
super.initState();
_eventChannel.receiveBroadcastStream().listen(_onEvent, onError: _onError);
}
void _onEvent(Object? event) {
setState(() {
// Adapt this section based on your specific event data structure
var eventData = event as Map;
// Example: Accessing 'externalID' field from the event
var externalID = eventData['externalID'];
// Customize the rest of the fields based on your event structure
String message = eventData['message']; // Message shown to the user
String reasonData = eventData['reasonData']; // Threat detection cause
String reasonCode = eventData['reasonCode']; // Event reason code
// Current threat event score
String currentThreatEventScore = eventData['currentThreatEventScore'];
// Total threat events score
String threatEventsScore = eventData['threatEventsScore'];
// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
// String variable = eventData['<Context Keys>'];
});
}
// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
}
Using Appdome, there are no development or coding prerequisites to build secured iOS Apps by using Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware. There is no SDK and no library to code or implement in the app and no gateway to deploy in your network. All protections are built into each app and the resulting app is self-defending and self-protecting.
Releasing and Publishing Mobile Apps with Detect Gold Pickaxe Malware
After successfully securing your app by using Appdome, there are several available options to complete your project, depending on your app lifecycle or workflow. These include:
- Customizing, Configuring & Branding Secure Mobile Apps
- Deploying/Publishing Secure mobile apps to Public or Private app stores
- Releasing Secured Android & iOS Apps built on Appdome.
Related Articles:
- How to Prevent Social Engineering Attacks in Android & iOS Apps
- How to Use App Store Signature Validation in iOS Apps
- How to Test Anti Remote Desktop Control for iOS in TeamViewer
How Do I Learn More?
If you have any questions, please send them our way at support.appdome.com or via the chat window on the Appdome platform.
Thank you!
Thanks for visiting Appdome! Our mission is to secure every app on the planet by making mobile app security easy. We hope we’re living up to the mission with your project.