How to Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation Using AI

Last updated April 22, 2025 by Appdome

This Knowledge Base article describes how to use Appdome’s AI/ML in your CI/CD pipeline to continuously deliver plugins that Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation in iOS apps.

What is iOS Metal Framework Manipulation?

The iOS Metal Framework Manipulation threat targets Apple’s Metal graphics API, which is used for rendering high-performance graphics and biometric authentication in FaceID workflows. Attackers manipulate the Metal framework to alter GPU-rendered frames before they reach FaceID, injecting synthetic images or modifying rendered biometric data to bypass authentication. This technique enables facial recognition spoofing, unauthorized access, and session hijacking, posing a significant risk to apps that rely on FaceID for security. Since Metal operates at the GPU level, detecting these manipulations is difficult, making real-time monitoring essential for preventing biometric authentication fraud.

How Appdome Protects Against iOS Metal Framework Manipulation

Appdome’s Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation plugin monitors biometric authentication workflows for anomalies in GPU-rendered frames. It detects unauthorized modifications before they reach FaceID, preventing attackers from using manipulated visuals to bypass authentication.

Prerequisites for Using Appdome's Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation Plugins:

To use Appdome’s mobile app security build system to Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation , you’ll need:

How to Implement Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation in iOS Apps Using Appdome

On Appdome, follow these simple steps to create self-defending iOS Apps that Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation without an SDK or gateway:

  1. Designate the Mobile App to be protected.

    1. Upload an app via the Appdome Mobile Defense platform GUI or via Appdome’s DEV-API or CI/CD Plugins.

    2. iOS Formats: .ipa
    3. Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation is compatible with: Obj-C, Java, Swift, Flutter, React Native, Unity, Xamarin, Cordova and other iOS apps.
  2. Select the defense: Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation.

      1. Create and name the Fusion Set (security template) that will contain the Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation feature as shown below:
        fusion set that contains Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation

        Figure 1: Fusion Set that will contain the Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation feature

      2. Follow the steps in Sections 2.2-2.2.2 of this article to add the Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation feature to your Fusion Set via the Appdome Console.

      3. When you enable Detect Face ID Bypass you'll notice that the Fusion Set you created in step 2.1 now bears the icon of the protection category that contains Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation.

        Fusion Set applied Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation

        Figure 2: Fusion Set that displays the newly added Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation protection
        Note: Annotating the Fusion Set to identify the protection(s) selected is optional only (not mandatory).

      4. Open the Fusion Set Detail Summary by clicking the “...” symbol on the far-right corner of the Fusion Set. Copy the Fusion Set ID from the Fusion Set Detail Summary (as shown below): fusion Set Detail Summary image

        Figure 3: Fusion Set Detail Summary

      5. Follow the instructions below to use the Fusion Set ID inside any standard mobile DevOps or CI/CD toolkit like Bitrise, Jenkins, Travis, Team City, Circle CI or other system:
        1. Refer to the Appdome API Reference Guide for API building instructions.
        2. Look for sample APIs in Appdome’s GitHub Repository.
    1. Add the Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation feature to your security template.

      1. Navigate to Build > Anti ATO tab > Deep Fake Detection section in the Appdome Console.
      2. Toggle On Detect Face ID Bypass > Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation.
        Note: The checkmark feature Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation is enabled by default, as shown below. Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation option

        Figure 4: Selecting Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation

    2. Initiate the build command either by clicking Build My App at the bottom of the Build Workflow (shown in Figure 4) or via your CI/CD as described in Section 2.1.4.
    Congratulations!  The Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation protection is now added to the mobile app
  3. Certify the Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation feature in iOS Apps

    After building Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation, Appdome generates a Certified Secure™ certificate to guarantee that the Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation protection has been added and is protecting the app. To verify that the Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation protection has been added to the mobile app, locate the protection in the Certified Secure™ certificate as shown below: Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation shown in Certificate secure

    Figure 5: Certified Secure™ certificate

    Each Certified Secure™ certificate provides DevOps and DevSecOps organizations the entire workflow summary, audit trail of each build, and proof of protection that Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation has been added to each iOS app. Certified Secure provides instant and in-line DevSecOps compliance certification that Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation and other mobile app security features are in each build of the mobile app.

Using Threat-Events™ for iOS Metal Framework Manipulation Intelligence and Control in iOS Apps

Appdome Threat-Events™ provides consumable in-app mobile app attack intelligence and defense control when iOS Metal Framework Manipulation is detected. To consume and use Threat-Events™ for iOS Metal Framework Manipulation in iOS Apps, use AddObserverForName in Notification Center, and the code samples for Threat-Events™ for iOS Metal Framework Manipulation shown below.

The specifications and options for Threat-Events™ for iOS Metal Framework Manipulation are:

Threat-Event™ Elements Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation Method Detail
Appdome Feature Name Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation
Threat-Event Mode
OFF, IN-APP DEFENSE Appdome detects, defends and notifies user (standard OS dialog) using customizable messaging.
ON, IN-APP DETECTION Appdome detects the attack or threat and passes the event in a standard format to the app for processing (app chooses how and when to enforce).
ON, IN-APP DEFENSE Uses Appdome Enforce mode for any attack or threat and passes the event in a standard format to the app for processing (gather intel on attacks and threats without losing any protection).
Certified Secure™ Threat Event Check x
Visible in ThreatScope™ x
Developer Parameters for Detecting iOS Metal Framework Manipulation Threat-Event™
Threat-Event NAME
Threat-Event DATA reasonData
Threat-Event CODE reasonCode
Threat-Event REF
Threat-Event SCORE
currentThreatEventScore Current Threat-Event score
threatEventsScore Total Threat-events score
Threat-Event Context Keys
message Message displayed for the user on event
failSafeEnforce Timed enforcement against the identified threat
externalID The external ID of the event which can be listened via Threat Events
osVersion OS version of the current device
deviceModel Current device model
deviceManufacturer The manufacturer of the current device
fusedAppToken The task ID of the Appdome fusion of the currently running app
kernelInfo Info about the kernel: system name, node name, release, version and machine.
deviceID Current device ID
reasonCode Reason code of the occurred event
buildDate Appdome fusion date of the current application
devicePlatform OS name of the current device
updatedOSVersion Is the OS version up to date
timeZone Time zone
deviceFaceDown Is the device face down
locationLong Location longitude conditioned by location permission
locationLat Location latitude conditioned by location permission
locationState Location state conditioned by location permission
wifiSsid Wifi SSID
wifiSsidPermissionStatus Wifi SSID permission status
threatCode The last six characters of the threat code specify the OS, allowing the Threat Resolution Center to address the attack on the affected device.

With Threat-Events™ enabled (turned ON), iOS developers can get detailed attack intelligence and granular defense control in iOS applications and create amazing user experiences for all mobile end users when iOS Metal Framework Manipulation is detected.


The following is a code sample for native iOS apps, which uses all values in the specification above for Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation:


Important! Replace all placeholder instances of <Context Key> with the specific name of your threat event context key across all language examples. This is crucial to ensure your code functions correctly with the intended event data. For example, The <Context Key> could be the message, externalID, OS Version, reason code, etc.



Using Appdome, there are no development or coding prerequisites to build secured iOS Apps by using Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation. There is no SDK and no library to code or implement in the app and no gateway to deploy in your network. All protections are built into each app and the resulting app is self-defending and self-protecting.

Releasing and Publishing Mobile Apps with Detect iOS Metal Framework Manipulation

After successfully securing your app by using Appdome, there are several available options to complete your project, depending on your app lifecycle or workflow. These include:

Related Articles:

How Do I Learn More?

If you have any questions, please send them our way at support.appdome.com or via the chat window on the Appdome platform.

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