| name | performing-android-app-static-analysis-with-mobsf |
| description | Performs automated static analysis of Android applications using Mobile Security Framework (MobSF) to identify hardcoded secrets, insecure permissions, vulnerable components, weak cryptography, and code-level security flaws without executing the application. Use when assessing Android APK/AAB files for security vulnerabilities before deployment, during penetration testing, or as part of CI/CD security gates. Activates for requests involving Android static analysis, MobSF scanning, APK security assessment, or mobile application code review.
|
| domain | cybersecurity |
| subdomain | mobile-security |
| author | mahipal |
| tags | ["mobile-security","android","mobsf","static-analysis","owasp-mobile","penetration-testing"] |
| version | 1.0.0 |
| license | Apache-2.0 |
| nist_csf | ["PR.PS-01","PR.AA-05","ID.RA-01","DE.CM-09"] |
Performing Android App Static Analysis with MobSF
When to Use
Use this skill when:
- Conducting security assessment of Android APK or AAB files before production release
- Integrating automated mobile security scanning into CI/CD pipelines
- Performing initial triage of Android applications during penetration testing engagements
- Reviewing third-party Android applications for supply chain security risks
Do not use this skill as a replacement for manual code review or dynamic analysis -- MobSF static analysis catches pattern-based vulnerabilities but misses runtime logic flaws.
Prerequisites
- MobSF v4.x installed via Docker (
docker pull opensecurity/mobile-security-framework-mobsf) or local setup
- Target Android APK, AAB, or source code ZIP
- Python 3.10+ for MobSF REST API integration
- JADX decompiler (bundled with MobSF) for Java/Kotlin source recovery
- Network access to MobSF web interface (default: http://localhost:8000)
Workflow
Step 1: Deploy MobSF and Obtain API Key
Launch MobSF using Docker for isolated, reproducible scanning:
docker run -it --rm -p 8000:8000 opensecurity/mobile-security-framework-mobsf:latest
Retrieve the REST API key from the MobSF web interface at http://localhost:8000/api_docs or from the startup console output. The API key enables programmatic scanning.
Step 2: Upload APK for Static Analysis
Upload the target APK using the MobSF REST API:
curl -F "file=@target_app.apk" http://localhost:8000/api/v1/upload \
-H "Authorization: <API_KEY>"
Response includes the hash identifier used for subsequent API calls. MobSF automatically decompiles the APK using JADX, extracts the AndroidManifest.xml, and indexes all resources.
Step 3: Trigger and Retrieve Static Scan Results
Initiate the static scan and retrieve results:
curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/api/v1/scan \
-H "Authorization: <API_KEY>" \
-d "scan_type=apk&file_name=target_app.apk&hash=<FILE_HASH>"
curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/api/v1/report_json \
-H \
-d
