Overview
Supply chain attacks target vulnerabilities in software development tools, third-party libraries used in mobile apps, or other components in the software supply chain, such as build pipelines or update mechanisms. They occur when attackers compromise software development tools, third-party libraries, or dependencies used to build or update mobile applications. These attacks may involve inserting malicious code into a commonly used library, which is then unknowingly included in multiple apps. Because mobile apps often rely on open-source libraries or third-party components, a successful supply chain attack can lead to the compromise of many apps at once, allowing attackers to steal data, inject malware, or disrupt services
Risk factors
Supply chain attacks can arise from:
- Using outdated or unverified third-party libraries that contain vulnerabilities or malicious code.
- Compromised development tools or environments used to build and sign mobile apps.
- Failing to audit and verify the security of third-party components or libraries used in the app.
- Not implementing checks to verify the integrity of third-party libraries or dependencies before integrating them into the app.
- Reliance on untrusted or poorly maintained open-source repositories.
- Weak access controls in CI/CD pipelines or development environments.
Consequences
If an attacker successfully conducts a supply chain attack, the following could happen:
- Malware distribution: Compromised third-party libraries can spread malware to multiple mobile apps, leading to widespread infections and data breaches.
- Data theft: Attackers can exploit compromised apps to steal sensitive user data, including personal information, payment details, and login credentials.
- Service disruption: Malicious code inserted via a supply chain attack can disrupt app functionality or cause app crashes.
- Widespread impact: A successful supply chain attack can affect many apps and users, leading to significant damage and loss of trust in the affected software.
- Software compromise: Compromise of backend systems or APIs connected to the affected apps.
- Further attacks: Potential for supply chain attacks to enable additional attacks (e.g., lateral movement in enterprise environments).
Solutions and best practices
To mitigate the risks associated with supply chain attacks, organizations should implement the following security measures:
- Audit third-party libraries: Regularly audit and verify the security of third-party libraries, dependencies, and components used in the app.
- Use secure development tools: Ensure that development tools, build systems, and code repositories are properly secured and free from malicious code.
- Implement code integrity checks: Use digital signatures or checksums to verify the integrity of third-party code before including it in the app.
- App shielding: Application shielding can add runtime protection, ensuring that apps are not tampered with after distribution and that third-party components are properly secured.
- Component tracking: Adopting a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) to track all components in the app.
