Simplified Security: The Ultimate Actionable MASVS Checklist for Security Teams

Most developers and security researchers in charge of compliance need help with the complexity and volume of standards that MASVS (Mobile Application Security Verification Standard) encompasses, including a vast array of standards that are daunting to comprehend and implement effectively. 

Transforming abstract security principles into secure coding practices can be a significant hurdle, and most developers often lack the readily available resources and practical examples to integrate MASVS recommendations seamlessly into their development workflow. 

To overcome this, we’ve compiled a guide with an actionable list of activities to comply with for each MASVS ID to demystify MASVS compliance.

Understanding MASVS: Your foundation for mobile app security

While working towards a mission of building better, more secure mobile applications, the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) has spearheaded this effort with the Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS) and the Mobile Application Security Testing Guide (MASTG). These invaluable resources provide a comprehensive framework for safeguarding your mobile apps, ensuring trust, and protecting user data.

The OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS) serves as the industry's north star for mobile app security, providing a standardized framework that harmonizes security requirements across the mobile ecosystem. Created by the OWASP Foundation, MASVS offers clear, actionable security guidelines to help development and security teams build secure mobile applications.

MASVS is especially valuable because it aligns development with security best practices from the ground up, ensuring that security is integrated at every mobile app development phase. This helps teams identify and fix vulnerabilities early, minimizing the risks of future data breaches and strengthening overall app integrity.

At its core, MASVS recognizes that not all apps need the same level of security. It offers three distinct verification levels to match your application's risk profile:

• MASVS-L1 (standard security): The baseline for all mobile apps, covering essential security controls that protect against common vulnerabilities
• MASVS-L2 (defense-in-depth): For apps handling sensitive data, adding advanced security controls and more robust defenses against reverse engineering
• MASVS-L3 (resiliency): The highest tier, designed for apps requiring military-grade security, with robust protection against sophisticated threats

Why your team needs a MASVS checklist

MASVS offers a robust set of security requirements addressing diverse vulnerabilities, from data encryption and authentication to secure storage and code practices. However, the sheer volume and technical intricacy of these standards can present significant challenges for users navigating the vast information on the OWASP website.

Implementing MASVS through a structured checklist approach breaks down an overwhelming security framework into manageable, actionable steps. While ad-hoc security implementations often leave gaps, a systematic checklist ensures comprehensive coverage and consistent security practices across mobile applications.

A well-designed MASVS checklist serves as both a roadmap and a quality gate. It enables development teams to integrate security naturally into their workflow rather than treating it as a last-minute compliance exercise. This proactive approach typically reduces vulnerability remediation costs and security-related rework by 60-70%.

For security leaders, the checklist approach provides clear metrics for security maturity and compliance tracking. It creates an auditable trail of security decisions and implementations, proving invaluable during security assessments and stakeholder discussions. 

MASVS compliance checklist for security teams

The following actionable OWASP MASVS checklist prioritizes the standards based on risk, impact, and ease of implementation. It will help you focus your efforts on the most critical areas first, maximizing their impact.

Each standard in the checklist can be broken down into actionable activities, providing a roadmap for implementation. This clarity empowers you to take concrete steps toward compliance and bridge the gap between theory and practice.

For those wanting to jump to the list of standards that the vulnerabilities in your applications violate, feel free to check it out here. For the rest, here’s the mobile application security testing checklist.

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Steps for implementing the MASVS checklist

Integrating the MASVS checklist into the development process can streamline security efforts and improve mobile app resilience. Here’s a step-by-step approach to implement it effectively:

1. Assess current security posture

   Start by evaluating the app’s existing security measures to identify gaps. This includes reviewing current controls, user data handling, and security practices. By understanding the app’s current standing, teams can better prioritize areas that need improvement.

2. Identify the appropriate verification level

   MASVS offers three verification levels: V1 (standard security), V2 (defense-in-depth), and V3 (resilience against reverse engineering). Select the level that aligns with the app’s purpose and risk profile. For example, apps handling sensitive data may require advanced controls in V2, while high-risk apps like financial or healthcare applications may need V3 to withstand tampering and reverse engineering.

3. Implement security controls

   Implement the necessary security controls based on the chosen verification level. These may include secure authentication, data encryption, and secure code practices. Addressing each checklist item ensures that the app meets the MASVS standards, covering everything from data storage to network security.

4. Regularly monitor and test the app

   
   Security isn’t a one-time effort; regular monitoring and testing are essential. Integrate continuous security testing tools to detect vulnerabilities throughout the app’s lifecycle. Conduct routine audits to ensure compliance with MASVS requirements, updating controls to address evolving threats.

How can Appknox help?

This may seem a bit overwhelming, and honestly, it is. 

That's why we started building Appknox. Think of it as the technical reason why Appknox exists.

At Appknox, we’re committed to simplifying mobile application security in tangible ways. One way is to help security custodians within organizations automate compliance regulation and focus more on core competencies like developing applications faster and more efficiently.

To do so, Appknox has a dashboard built into the product that gives you a comprehensive report of which vulnerability compromises which compliance, including MASVS and MASTG, thus saving you the effort of mapping vulnerabilities back to compliance standards. This is an extension to the automated vulnerability assessment, including SAST, DAST, and API testing.

Appknox also has downloadable reports in various formats, including Excel sheets, where you can filter out vulnerabilities that violate one or more compliances. 

Appknox’s binary-based security tool revolutionizes application safeguarding and ensures meticulous analysis. It pinpoints vulnerabilities with unparalleled precision, enabling comprehensive remediation strategies and improving applications' security posture. 

If you’re ready to get your vulnerability assessment automated, speak to us and see how we can help you spend your time on meaningful tasks like building applications efficiently. 

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