Research Article

Detection of SSL/TLS Implementation Errors in Android Applications

Volume: 9 Number: 2 June 27, 2021
TR EN

Detection of SSL/TLS Implementation Errors in Android Applications

Abstract

Security Socket Layer (SSL) / Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols are utilized to secure network communication (e.g., transmitting user data). Failing to properly implement SSL/TLS configuration during the app development results in security risks. The weak implementations include trusting all host names, trusting all certificates, ignoring certificate verification errors, even lack of SSL public key pinning usage. These unsecured implementations may cause Man-In-The-Middle (MITM) attacks. The major aim of this research is to detect configuration errors of SSL/TLS implementation in Android apps. We combine existing open-source tools and streamline the analysis process with the combination of automated static analysis and dynamic analysis with manual assistance. We scan for four types of vulnerabilities in the static analysis phase and verify misuse of SSL/TLS in the dynamic analysis phase. The dynamic analysis is essential for eliminating false positives generated at the static analysis stage. We analyze 109 apps from Google Play Store and the experimental results show that 45 (41.28%) apps contain potential security errors in the application of SSL/TLS. We verify that 19 (17.43%) out of 109 apps are vulnerable to MITM attacks.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Engineering

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

June 27, 2021

Submission Date

February 10, 2021

Acceptance Date

May 5, 2021

Published in Issue

Year 2021 Volume: 9 Number: 2

APA
Cibalık, K. E., & Koçak, C. (2021). Detection of SSL/TLS Implementation Errors in Android Applications. Gazi Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi Part C: Tasarım Ve Teknoloji, 9(2), 211-219. https://doi.org/10.29109/gujsc.878053
AMA
1.Cibalık KE, Koçak C. Detection of SSL/TLS Implementation Errors in Android Applications. GUJS Part C. 2021;9(2):211-219. doi:10.29109/gujsc.878053
Chicago
Cibalık, Kaya Emre, and Cemal Koçak. 2021. “Detection of SSL TLS Implementation Errors in Android Applications”. Gazi Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi Part C: Tasarım Ve Teknoloji 9 (2): 211-19. https://doi.org/10.29109/gujsc.878053.
EndNote
Cibalık KE, Koçak C (June 1, 2021) Detection of SSL/TLS Implementation Errors in Android Applications. Gazi Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi Part C: Tasarım ve Teknoloji 9 2 211–219.
IEEE
[1]K. E. Cibalık and C. Koçak, “Detection of SSL/TLS Implementation Errors in Android Applications”, GUJS Part C, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 211–219, June 2021, doi: 10.29109/gujsc.878053.
ISNAD
Cibalık, Kaya Emre - Koçak, Cemal. “Detection of SSL TLS Implementation Errors in Android Applications”. Gazi Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi Part C: Tasarım ve Teknoloji 9/2 (June 1, 2021): 211-219. https://doi.org/10.29109/gujsc.878053.
JAMA
1.Cibalık KE, Koçak C. Detection of SSL/TLS Implementation Errors in Android Applications. GUJS Part C. 2021;9:211–219.
MLA
Cibalık, Kaya Emre, and Cemal Koçak. “Detection of SSL TLS Implementation Errors in Android Applications”. Gazi Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi Part C: Tasarım Ve Teknoloji, vol. 9, no. 2, June 2021, pp. 211-9, doi:10.29109/gujsc.878053.
Vancouver
1.Kaya Emre Cibalık, Cemal Koçak. Detection of SSL/TLS Implementation Errors in Android Applications. GUJS Part C. 2021 Jun. 1;9(2):211-9. doi:10.29109/gujsc.878053

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