Insights
This blog has been taken from Malcore’s analysis results. The points below are not an exhaustive list. For a full view of Malcore’s static analysis of the Instagram App APK view it on Malcore.
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High severity warnings from code analysis
The App uses an insecure Random Number Generator.
App uses SQLite Database and execute raw SQL query. Untrusted user input in raw SQL queries can cause SQL Injection. Also sensitive information should be encrypted and written to the database.
App can read/write to External Storage. Any App can read data written to External Storage.
Insecure Implementation of SSL. Trusting all the certificates or accepting self signed certificates is a critical Security Hole. This application is vulnerable to MITM attacks.
App creates temp file. Sensitive information should never be written into a temp file.
Files may contain hardcoded sensitive information like usernames, passwords, keys etc.
This App has capabilities to prevent against Screenshots from Recent Task History/ Now On Tap etc.
Suspicious severity warnings from code analysis
Application attempts to discover build version of device.
Application attempts to parse CPU information.
Dangerous Labelled permissions from Android
Android Dangerous labelled permissions as Dangerous from this library https://developer.android.com/reference/android/Manifest.permission.
Name: USE_CREDENTIALS
Description: Allows an application to request authentication tokens.
Name: BLUETOOTH
Description: Allows an application to view configuration of the local Bluetooth phone and to make and accept connections with paired devices.
Name: ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
Description: Access fine location sources, such as the Global Positioning System on the phone, where available. Malicious applications can use this to determine where you are and may consume additional battery power.
Name: REORDER_TASKS
Description: Allows an application to move tasks to the foreground and background. Malicious applications can force themselves to the front without your control.
Name: ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE
Description: Allows an application to view the status of all networks.
Name: READ_SETTINGS
Description: Allows applications to read the global setting of the device it is running on.
Name: WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
Description: Allows an application to write to the SD card.
Name: READ_PHONE_NUMBERS
Description: Allows read access to the device's phone number(s).
Name: READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
Description: Allows an application to read from SD Card.
Name: ACCESS_MEDIA_LOCATION
Description: Allows an application to access any geographic locations persisted in the user's shared collection.
Name: READ_PHONE_STATE
Description: Allows the application to access the phone features of the device. An application with this permission can determine the phone number and serial number of this phone, whether a call is active, the number that call is connected to and so on.
Name: CAMERA
Description: Allows application to take pictures and videos with the camera. This allows the application to collect images that the camera is seeing at any time.
Name: WAKE_LOCK
Description: Allows an application to prevent the phone from going to sleep.
Name: RECORD_AUDIO
Description: Allows application to access the audio record path.
Name: READ_CONTACTS
Description: Allows an application to read all of the contact (address) data stored on your phone. Malicious applications can use this to send your data to other people.
Name: MODIFY_AUDIO_SETTINGS
Description: Allows application to modify global audio settings, such as volume and routing.
Name: READ_PROFILE
Description: Allows an application to read the user's personal profile data.
To view how these results compare within industry see our analysis:
To view how these scores are created visit our transparency post where we published a description of our phone application threat scoring algorithm.