Сommon mobile application vulnerabilities to know in 2025

Intro – The growing importance of mobile app security

It is hard to imagine your everyday routine without mobile apps. Both consumers and businesses find them indispensable, and the mobile app market is predicted to reach $330.61 billion in 2025. 

However, this widespread adoption has also led to a surge in mobile app security breaches. It is sufficient to look at the numbers – in 2024, over 75% of apps contained at least one vulnerability. Unpatched flaws contributed to 60% of data breaches.

For businesses, security breaches result in severe damage to a company’s reputation and erosion of customer trust. To avoid this, you need to think beyond general safety measures but rather know what to look for – and protect your app from. 

In this article, Touchlane’s mobile team highlights the biggest mobile application vulnerabilities​ to look for in 2025 so you can stay vigilant and save your business from security concerns.

1.

Insecure data storage

Mobile apps frequently process confidential user data that ranges from personal information to transaction records. Storing this data insecurely can expose systems to intrusion and trigger major financial and reputational losses for organizations.

Real-world example

In January 2025, a major security incident occurred with popular apps Candy Crush and Tinder. A popular location data broker suffered a data breach that exposed vast amounts of user location data sourced from these popular apps. The breach involved terabytes of consumer data stored in Amazon cloud servers and included sensitive locations like government and military sites. 

How to mitigate the risk

To protect your application and its users from the pitfalls of insecure data storage, consider the following strategies:

Encrypt sensitive data

Always encrypt sensitive information stored on devices. Utilize strong encryption standards and make sure that even if data is accessed, it remains unreadable without the proper decryption key.

Use secure storage solutions

Utilize secure storage APIs provided by mobile operating systems, which offer built-in protections against unauthorized data access.

Avoid storing sensitive data unnecessarily 

Refrain from storing sensitive information on devices unless absolutely necessary. If data must be stored, let it be stored for the shortest duration possible.

Conduct regular security audits 

Perform periodic security assessments of your mobile applications to identify and rectify potential vulnerabilities related to data storage.

2.

Reverse engineering

Reverse engineering happens when attackers dissect an app’s code to uncover its structure and logic, as well as security measures. They deconstruct the app to pinpoint vulnerabilities and exploit them to access sensitive data, alter the app’s behavior, or bypass security protocols. This threat is particularly alarming because it directly compromises the app’s integrity and defenses.

Real-world example

Reverse engineering can be applied for taking down malware and helping understand its behavior. In August 2023, a multinational effort dismantled Qakbot, a malware that stole banking data and encrypted infected computers to generate around $60 million in ransom. The FBI redirected traffic from infected machines to its servers. When the malware  attempted to retrieve payloads, it downloaded an uninstaller that removed Qakbot from the system instead.

How to mitigate the risk

Code obfuscation

This technique alters the app’s code so that it becomes difficult to understand, even when decompiled. If you make your code more complex and less readable, you can significantly reduce the risk of attackers understanding and exploiting your app’s functionality.

Encryption

Encrypt sensitive data both during transmission and while stored. This prevents hackers from extracting meaningful information if they manage to reverse-engineer your app.

Integrity checks

Implement checks that verify the integrity of your app’s code and files. If any part of the app has been tampered with, it can trigger a security alert or halt the app’s function.

3.

Weak authentication and authorization

Authentication flaws are straightforward but often critical due to their direct link to security. They can grant attackers access to sensitive data and expand the attack surface. Understanding how to detect and bypass these vulnerabilities is essential.

Authentication vulnerabilities typically stem from two issues:

1. Weak mechanisms that fail to block brute-force attacks
2. Flaws in logic or coding that let attackers bypass authentication entirely, known as “broken authentication.”

Logic flaws can cause unexpected website behavior, sometimes harmless. However, in authentication, they almost always introduce security risks.

Real-world example

An incident in late 2024 involved a significant telecommunications breach that exposed unencrypted text messages to hackers. This breach compromised SMS-based two-factor authentication (2FA) and highlighted the vulnerabilities of relying on SMS for securing user accounts.

How to mitigate the risk

Here are some measures your company can adopt to protect itself from common vulnerabilities with mobile applications​. 

Adopt multi-factor authentication (MFA) 

Considerably strengthen your app’s security and request users to provide multiple forms of verification, such as passwords combined with biometric data or authentication apps.

Avoid SMS-based 2FA 

Due to vulnerabilities in SMS transmission, opt for more secure methods like authentication apps or hardware tokens.

Implement strong password policies

Enforce the use of complex, unique passwords in your app. Encourage regular updates to reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

4.

Insecure communication

Modern mobile apps exchange data with remote servers, typically over carrier networks and the internet. If data is sent in plaintext or with weak encryption, attackers can easily intercept or alter it. Common threats include:

• Adversaries on the local network (e.g., compromised Wi-Fi)
• Rogue network devices (e.g., routers, cell towers, proxies)
• Malware on the mobile device.

Real-world example

Rapid7 uncovered security flaws in kids’ smartwatches designed for parents to track their children and communicate with them.

Though these watches were supposed to accept calls and messages only from approved contacts, the filters failed. Worse, they responded to configuration commands sent via text and allowed attackers to alter settings and compromise child safety.

How to mitigate the risk

Assume the network is not secure

Treat all network connections as potentially compromised and design communication protocols accordingly.

Use SSL/TLS for all transport channels

Encrypt all data transmitted between the mobile app and backend services using strong TLS configurations.

Avoid mixed SSL sessions

Make sure that all external services, for example, third-party analytics tools and social networks, use SSL/TLS. Mixing secure and non-secure connections can expose session IDs.

Adopt strong encryption standards

Use industry-approved cipher suites with appropriate key lengths to prevent attackers from decrypting intercepted data.

Rely on trusted certificate authorities (CAs)

Only use certificates signed by reputable CAs like Let’s Encrypt or GlobalSign and never accept self-signed, expired, or untrusted certificates.

5.

Code injection attacks

Code injection attacks occur when malicious actors insert harmful code into an application to exploit vulnerabilities and execute unauthorized commands. These breaches expose data, compromise systems, and disrupt operations.

Real-world example

In December 2024, attackers utilized a publicly available ASP.NET machine key to inject malicious code and deploy the Godzilla post-exploitation framework. 

How to mitigate the risk

Input validation 

Make certain all user inputs are validated to prevent malicious code execution. Implement strict input validation protocols to block unauthorized commands.

Regular software updates 

Keep systems and applications up to date to patch known vulnerabilities. Regular updates close security gaps that attackers might exploit.

Access control measures 

Restrict access to sensitive components and data within your applications. Implement role-based access controls to limit exposure.

Employee training 

Educate staff about secure coding practices and the dangers of code injection. Awareness and training are key defenses against such attacks.

6.

Poor API security

Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) serve as the backbone in an interconnected digital landscape. It facilitates communication between different software systems. However, inadequate API security can expose businesses to significant risks like data breaches, operational disruptions, and reputational damage.

Real-world example

Security researchers uncovered a simple flaw in Kia’s web portal API. It permitted hackers to remotely access and control vehicles using only the car’s license plate number. The vulnerability exposed the potential for unauthorized unlocking, tracking, and operation of various vehicle features.

How to mitigate the risk

Conduct regular testing of mobile applications for security vulnerabilities​ 

Regularly test your APIs for vulnerabilities through penetration testing and code reviews to identify and address potential weaknesses before they can be exploited.

Implement strong authentication and authorization 

Ascertain that only authorized users and systems can access your APIs through utilizing strong authentication methods, such as OAuth, and enforcing strict authorization policies.

Monitor API traffic

Continuously monitor API usage to detect unusual patterns that may indicate malicious activity. Implementing real-time monitoring tools can help in early detection and response to potential threats.

Secure data transmission

Use encryption protocols like TLS/SSL to protect data transmitted between APIs and clients, and safeguard it from interception and tampering.

Manage third-party API risks

Thoroughly vet third-party APIs for security standards and maintain an inventory to monitor their access and usage within your systems. Regular audits can help see if they comply with your security policies.

7.

Outdated libraries and dependencies

Mobile application development is heavily dependent on third-party libraries and components to speed up the development process and offer advanced features. But this method might leave applications highly vulnerable to malicious use. An outdated piece may not by itself be a threat, but well-known security holes can make it a potential back door for attackers.

Real-world example

Hidden in the OpenSSL library for years before its discovery in 2014, the Heartbleed vulnerability affected widely used systems like the Linux kernel, Apache, and OpenSSH. A fix was introduced within a week, but still, years later, more than 180,000 servers remained unpatched.

How to mitigate the risk

Regular audits and updates

Establish a routine process to audit all third-party components integrated into your applications. Stay informed about updates and patches released by library maintainers, and promptly incorporate them into your codebase.

Automated dependency management

Utilize tools designed to automatically monitor and manage dependencies. These tools can alert your development team to outdated or vulnerable libraries, which reduces the need for manual oversight.

Staying in touch with the developer community 

Actively participate in forums and communities related to the libraries you employ. Engagement keeps you updated on emerging vulnerabilities, patches, and best practices, and fosters a collaborative approach to security.

8.

Improper platform usage

Improper platform usage happens when developers do not follow documented platform-specific features and security controls, which creates vulnerabilities. This issue falls into three categories: violation of published guidelines, disregard for conventions or best practices, and unintentional misuse of features. Even well-intentioned applications introduce security risks when they set incorrect flags during API requests or misinterpret protective measures – this results in unintended exposure.

Real-world example

In its Top 10 Mobile Risks 2016 report, the OWASP Foundation shares the following malicious attack scenario for improper platform usage.

The iOS Keychain provides a secure space for storing sensitive app and system data, including session keys, passwords, and device enrollment details. Some apps mistakenly store this information in local storage, which leaves it exposed in unencrypted iTunes backups on a user’s computer. For applications handling sensitive data, this approach poses a security risk. In this case, Keychain is the appropriate choice.

How to mitigate the risk

Adhere to platform guidelines

Always make sure your development team follows the security practices recommended by platform providers. 

Implement secure data storage

Utilize encrypted storage solutions to safeguard sensitive information within your app.

Conclusion

Security of mobile applications continues to remain the top priority in 2025. With regular occurrences of documented vulnerabilities, we recommend staying vigilant, following the advice on how to mitigate the risk, and educating yourself on developments in mobile app security. Ask yourself, or your team, a question – can this issue potentially affect our app? What can we do now to avoid it?

At Touchlane, we pride ourselves on building secure applications that can pass the strictest industry audits. If you want to ascertain your app’s security, our stellar mobile team can help you with this. Contact us to see what we can do to make sure your app is as safe as it can be.