How to Prevent Objection Framework Attacks in Android Apps

Last updated December 9, 2024 by Appdome

This Knowledge Base article describes how to use Appdome’s AI/ML in your CI/CD pipeline to continuously deliver plugins that Prevent Objection Framework in Android apps.

What is an Objection Framework?

The Objection Framework is a runtime mobile security assessment toolkit designed to simplify penetration testing and security analysis for Android (and iOS) applications. It is built on top of the Frida dynamic instrumentation toolkit and provides a user-friendly interface to interact with and manipulate apps during runtime without requiring reverse engineering.

Key Features of the Objection Framework:

  • Simplified Runtime Manipulation: Allows testers to bypass security controls, explore app functionality, and extract sensitive data at runtime without modifying the app binary.
  • SSL Pinning Bypass: Easily disables SSL certificate validation, allowing for interception and analysis of encrypted traffic.
  • Sensitive Data Exploration: Access stored credentials, tokens, and other sensitive information.
  • Dynamic Hooking: Inject hooks to monitor or modify the behavior of the app in real-time.
  • Cross-Platform Support: Supports both Android and iOS applications.

Common Use Cases:

  • Penetration Testing: Testers use Objection to identify security flaws, such as weak encryption or poor authentication implementations.
  • Debugging and Analysis: Developers and researchers can use it to understand app behavior.
  • Malicious Activities: Attackers may use Objection to bypass security mechanisms and exploit app vulnerabilities.

Objection requires a rooted or jailbroken device for full functionality, making it a popular choice in environments where security testing requires deep access to app internals.

How Does Appdome Protect Android Apps from Objection Framework Attacks?

The Prevent Android Objection Framework feature is designed to detect and block the use of the Objection framework, a widely-used tool for bypassing security mechanisms and manipulating mobile applications on Android devices. This feature ensures that the application remains secure from unauthorized tampering or exploitation. Here’s how it works:

  • Detects Objection Framework Usage: Monitors for activity related to the Objection framework, such as initialization scripts, runtime hooks, or command execution targeting the app.
  • Blocks Unauthorized Activities: Prevents Objection from interacting with the application, ensuring that security mechanisms cannot be bypassed.
  • Secures App Processes: Ensures that all processes related to the application are protected from external manipulation or interference.

Why It’s Important

  • Prevents Security Bypasses: Blocks attackers from using Objection to disable features like root detection, SSL pinning, or other critical defenses.
  • Secures Application Logic and Data: Ensures sensitive data and app functionality remain protected against real-time tampering or unauthorized access.
  • Maintains Trusted Runtime Environment: Prevents attackers from exploiting vulnerabilities or altering app behavior during runtime.

Benefits

  • Protects against unauthorized use of the Objection framework to bypass security and tamper with the application.
  • Enhances the app’s overall resilience against runtime threats and manipulation tools.
  • Safeguards sensitive data and processes, ensuring compliance with security best practices.

This feature provides a vital layer of defense for applications running on Android devices, mitigating the risks associated with advanced runtime instrumentation and unauthorized exploitation tools like Objection.

Prerequisites for Using Appdome's Android Objection Framework Plugins:

To use Appdome’s mobile app security build system to Prevent Objection Framework , you’ll need:

How to Implement Prevent Objection Framework in Android Apps Using Appdome

On Appdome, follow these simple steps to create self-defending Android Apps that Prevent Objection Framework without an SDK or gateway:

  1. Designate the Mobile App to be protected.

    1. Upload an app via the Appdome Mobile Defense platform GUI or via Appdome’s DEV-API or CI/CD Plugins.

    2. Android Formats: .apk or .aab
    3. Android Objection Framework is compatible with: Java, JS, C++, C#, Kotlin, Flutter, React Native, Unity, Xamarin, Cordova and other Android apps.
  2. Select the defense: Android Objection Framework.

      1. Create and name the Fusion Set (security template) that will contain the Android Objection Framework feature as shown below:
        fusion set that contains Android Objection Framework

        Figure 1: Fusion Set that will contain the Android Objection Framework feature

      2. Follow the steps in Sections 2.2-2.2.2 of this article to add the Android Objection Framework feature to your Fusion Set via the Appdome Console.

      3. When you enable Prevent Android Objection Framework you'll notice that the Fusion Set you created in step 2.1 now bears the icon of the protection category that contains Android Objection Framework.

        Fusion Set applied Android Objection Framework

        Figure 2: Fusion Set that displays the newly added Android Objection Framework protection
        Note: Annotating the Fusion Set to identify the protection(s) selected is optional only (not mandatory).

      4. 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): fusion Set Detail Summary image

        Figure 3: Fusion Set Detail Summary

      5. Follow the instructions below to use the Fusion Set ID inside any standard mobile DevOps or CI/CD toolkit like Bitrise, Jenkins, Travis, Team City, Circle CI or other system:
        1. Refer to the Appdome API Reference Guide for API building instructions.
        2. Look for sample APIs in Appdome’s GitHub Repository.
    1. Add the Android Objection Framework feature to your security template.

      1. Navigate to Build > Anti Bot tab > Mobile Malware Prevention section in the Appdome Console.
      2. Toggle On Prevent Android Objection Framework > Android Objection Framework.
        Note: The checkmark feature Android Objection Framework is enabled by default, as shown below. Android Objection Framework option

        Figure 4: Selecting Prevent Objection Framework

    2. Initiate the build command either by clicking Build My App at the bottom of the Build Workflow (shown in Figure 4) or via your CI/CD as described in Section 2.1.4.
    Congratulations!  The Android Objection Framework protection is now added to the mobile app
  3. Certify the Android Objection Framework feature in Android Apps

    After building Android Objection Framework, Appdome generates a Certified Secure™ certificate to guarantee that the Android Objection Framework protection has been added and is protecting the app. To verify that the Android Objection Framework protection has been added to the mobile app, locate the protection in the Certified Secure™ certificate as shown below: Android Objection Framework shown in Certificate secure

    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 Android Objection Framework has been added to each Android app. Certified Secure provides instant and in-line DevSecOps compliance certification that Android Objection Framework and other mobile app security features are in each build of the mobile app.

Using Threat-Events™ for Objection Framework Intelligence and Control in Android Apps

Appdome Threat-Events™ provides consumable in-app mobile app attack intelligence and defense control when Objection Framework is detected. To consume and use Threat-Events™ for Objection Framework in Android Apps, use registerReceiver in the Application OnCreate, and the code samples for Threat-Events™ for Objection Framework shown below.

The specifications and options for Threat-Events™ for Objection Framework are:

Threat-Event™ Elements Prevent Objection Framework Method Detail
Appdome Feature Name Android Objection Framework
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 x
Visible in ThreatScope™ x
Developer Parameters for Preventing Objection Framework Threat-Event™
Threat-Event NAME
Threat-Event DATA reasonData
Threat-Event CODE reasonCode
Threat-Event REF
Threat-Event SCORE
currentThreatEventScore Current Threat-Event score
threatEventsScore Total Threat-events score
Threat-Event Context Keys
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.
carrierPlmn PLMN of the device. Only available for Android devices.
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
carrierName Carrier name of the current device. Only available for Android.
updatedOSVersion Is the OS version up to date
deviceBrand Brand of the device
deviceBoard Board of the device
buildUser Build user
buildHost Build host
sdkVersion Sdk version
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), Android developers can get detailed attack intelligence and granular defense control in Android applications and create amazing user experiences for all mobile end users when Objection Framework is detected.


The following is a code sample for native Android apps, which uses all values in the specification above for Android Objection Framework:


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.



Using Appdome, there are no development or coding prerequisites to build secured Android Apps by using Android Objection Framework. 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 Android Objection Framework

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:

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.

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