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 Signal App APK view it on Malcore.
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Discovered Trackers
Google Firebase Analytics
High severity warnings from code analysis
SHA-1 is a weak hash known to have hash collisions.
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.
Files may contain hardcoded sensitive information like usernames, passwords, keys etc.
The App uses an insecure Random Number Generator.
The app uses Jackson deserialization library. Deserialization of untrusted input can result in arbitrary code execution.
App can read/write to External Storage. Any App can read data written to External Storage.
App creates temp file. Sensitive information should never be written into a temp file.
This App has capabilities to prevent against Screenshots from Recent Task History/ Now On Tap etc.
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.
Suspicious severity warnings from code analysis
Application attempts to discover build version of device.
Dangerous Labelled permissions from Android
Android Dangerous labelled permissions as Dangerous from this library https://developer.android.com/reference/android/Manifest.permission.
Name: CHANGE_NETWORK_STATE
Description: Allows an application to change the state of network connectivity.
Name: DISABLE_KEYGUARD
Description: Allows an application to disable the key lock and any associated password security. A legitimate example of this is the phone disabling the key lock when receiving an incoming phone call, then re-enabling the key lock when the call is finished.
Name: USE_CREDENTIALS
Description: Allows an application to request authentication tokens.
Name: READ_PHONE_NUMBERS
Description: Allows read access to the device's phone number(s).
Name: READ_CALENDAR
Description: Allows an application to read all of the calendar events stored on your phone. Malicious applications can use this to send your calendar events to other people.
Name: READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
Description: Allows an application to read from SD Card.
Name: WAKE_LOCK
Description: Allows an application to prevent the phone from going to sleep.
Name: ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION
Description: Access coarse location sources, such as the mobile network database, to determine an approximate phone location, where available. Malicious applications can use this to determine approximately where you are.
Name: WRITE_SETTINGS
Description: Allows an application to modify the system's settings data. Malicious applications can corrupt your system's configuration.
Name: WRITE_SYNC_SETTINGS
Description: Allows an application to modify the sync settings, such as whether sync is enabled for Contacts.
Name: BLUETOOTH
Description: Allows an application to view configuration of the local Bluetooth phone and to make and accept connections with paired devices.
Name: WRITE_CALENDAR
Description: Allows an application to add or change the events on your calendar, which may send emails to guests. Malicious applications can use this to erase or modify your calendar events or to send emails to guests.
Name: WRITE_CONTACTS
Description: Allows an application to modify the contact (address) data stored on your phone. Malicious applications can use this to erase or modify your contact data.
Name: SEND_SMS
Description: Allows application to send SMS messages. Malicious applications may cost you money by sending messages without your confirmation.
Name: WRITE_SMS
Description: Allows application to write to SMS messages stored on your phone or SIM card. Malicious applications may delete your messages.
Name: READ_SETTINGS
Description: Allows applications to read the global setting of the device it is running on.
Name: ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE
Description: Allows an application to view the status of all networks.
Name: WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
Description: Allows an application to write to the SD card.
Name: RECORD_AUDIO
Description: Allows application to access the audio record path.
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: AUTHENTICATE_ACCOUNTS
Description: Allows an application to use the account authenticator capabilities of the Account Manager, including creating accounts as well as obtaining and setting their passwords.
Name: CALL_PHONE
Description: Allows the application to call phone numbers without your intervention. Malicious applications may cause unexpected calls on your phone bill. Note that this does not allow the application to call emergency numbers.
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: READ_SMS
Description: Allows application to read SMS messages stored on your phone or SIM card. Malicious applications may read your confidential messages.
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: RECEIVE_MMS
Description: Allows application to receive and process MMS messages. Malicious applications may monitor your messages or delete them without showing them to you.
Name: CHANGE_WIFI_STATE
Description: Allows an application to connect to and disconnect from Wi-Fi access points and to make changes to configured Wi-Fi networks.
Name: RECEIVE_SMS
Description: Allows application to receive and process SMS messages. Malicious applications may monitor your messages or delete them without showing them to you.
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.