How to Detect Checkra1n iOS Jailbreak, Protect iOS Apps

Last updated December 6, 2023 by Appdome

Learn to Block Checkra1n in iOS apps, in mobile CI/CD with a Data-Driven DevSecOps™ build system.

What is Checkra1n?

Checkra1n is a semi-tethered jailbreak tool, which currently supports jailbreak of iOS versions 12.0 – 14.4.1. This tool is based on the checkm8 bootrom exploit released by axi0mX. What makes Checkra1n different than almost any other previous jailbreak method is that Checkra1n exploits a firmware bug, and thus cannot be patched by Apple with a software release.

Why Block Checkra1n in iOS Apps?

Here are the top reasons for protecting against Checkra1n, as part of the protections provided by enabling Jailbreak Detection:

  • Stop hackers from bypassing Apple’s restrictions and installing software Apple doesn’t support or sanction.
  • Stop fraudsters from changing the behavior, skin, or look and feel of iOS in ways that Apple does not support.
  • Stop gamers or hackers from Jailbreaking to access alternative app stores like Cydia or Sileo. These repositories allow for the installation of game mods, tweaks, cheat tools, and more advanced hacking tools.

Prerequisites for Using Jailbreak Detection:

To use Appdome’s mobile app security build system to Block Checkra1n , you’ll need:

Block Checkra1n on iOS apps using Appdome

On Appdome, follow these 3 simple steps to create self-defending iOS Apps that Block Checkra1n without an SDK or gateway:

  1. Upload the Mobile App to Appdome.

    1. Upload an app to Appdome’s Mobile App Security Build System

    2. Upload Method: Appdome Console or DEV-API
    3. iOS Formats: .ipa
    4. Jailbreak Detection Compatible With: Obj-C, C+, Java, Swift, Flutter, React Native, Unity, Xamarin, Cordova and more
  2. Build the feature: Jailbreak Detection.

    1. Building Jailbreak Detection by using Appdome’s DEV-API:

      1. Create and name the Fusion Set (security template) that will contain the Jailbreak Detection feature as shown below:
      2. fusion set that contains Jailbreak Detection

        Figure 1: Fusion Set that will contain the Jailbreak Detection feature
        Note: Naming the Fusion Set to correspond to the protection(s) selected is for illustration purposes only (not required).

      3. Follow the steps in Sections 2.2.1-2.2.2 of this article, Building the Jailbreak Detection feature via Appdome Console, to add the Jailbreak Detection feature to this Fusion Set.

      4. Open the Fusion Set Detail Summary by clicking the “...” symbol on the far-right corner of the Fusion Set, as shown in Figure 1 above, and get the Fusion Set ID from the Fusion Set Detail Summary (as shown below): fusion Set Detail Summary image

        Figure 2: Fusion Set Detail Summary
        Note: Annotating the Fusion Set to identify the protection(s) selected is optional only (not mandatory).

      5. Follow the instructions below to use the Fusion Set ID inside any standard mobile DevOps or CI/CD toolkit like Bitrise, App Center, Jenkins, Travis, Team City, Cirlce CI or other system:
        1. Build an API for the app – for instructions, see the tasks under Appdome API Reference Guide
        2. Look for sample APIs in Appdome’s GitHub Repository
    2. Building the Jailbreak Detection feature via Appdome Console

      To build the Jailbreak Detection protection by using Appdome Console, follow the instructions below.

      1. Where: Inside the Appdome Console, go to Build > Security Tab > OS Integrity section.
      2. When you select the Jailbreak Detection you'll notice that your Fusion Set you created in step 2.1.1 now bears the icon of the protection category that contains Jailbreak Detection

        Fusion Set applied Jailbreak Detection

        Figure 4: Fusion Set that displays the newly added Jailbreak Detection protection

      3. Select the Threat-Event™ in-app mobile Threat Defense and Intelligence policy for Jailbreak Detection:
        1. Threat-Events™ OFF > In-App Defense

          If the Threat-Events™ setting is cleared (not selected). Appdome will detect and defend the user and app by enforcing Block Checkra1n.

        2. Threat-Events™ ON > In-App Detection

          When this setting is used, Appdome detects Checkra1n and passes Appdome’s Threat-Event™ attack intelligence to the app’s business logic for processing, enforcement, and user notification. For more information on consuming and using Appdome Threat-Events™ in the app, see section Using Threat-Events™ for Jailbreak Detection Intelligence and Control in Mobile Apps.

        3. Threat-Events™ ON > In-App Defense

          When this setting is used, Appdome detects and defends against Checkra1n (same as Appdome Enforce) and passes Appdome’s Threat-Event™ attack intelligence the app’s business logic for processing. For more information on consuming and using Appdome Threat-Events™ in the app, see section Using Threat-Events™ for Jailbreak Detection Intelligence and Control in Mobile Apps.

      4. Click Build My App at the bottom of the Build Workflow (shown in Figure 3).
    Congratulations!  The Jailbreak Detection protection is now added to the mobile app

Using Threat-Events™ for Checkra1n Intelligence and Control in iOS Apps

Appdome Threat-Events™ provides consumable in-app mobile app attack intelligence and defense control when Checkra1n is detected. To consume and use Threat-Events™ for Checkra1n in iOS Apps, use AddObserverForName in Notification Center, and the code samples for Threat-Events™ for Checkra1n shown below.

The specifications and options for Threat-Events™ for Checkra1n are:

Threat-Event™ Elements Block Checkra1n Method Detail
Appdome Feature Name Jailbreak Detection
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
Visible in ThreatScope™
Developer Parameters for Blocking Checkra1n Threat-Event™
Threat-Event NAME JailbrokenDevice
Threat-Event DATA reasonData
Threat-Event CODE reasonCode
Threat-Event REF 6801
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
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.
carrierPlmn PLMN of the device
deviceID Current device ID
reasonCode Reason code of the occured event
buildDate Appdome fusion date of the current application
devicePlatform OS name of the current device
carrierName Carrier name of the current device
updatedOSVersion Is the OS version up to date
timeZone Time zone
deviceFaceDown Is the device face down
locationLong Location long
locationLat Location lat
locationState Location state
wifiSsid Wifi SSID
wifiSsidPermissionStatus Wifi SSID permission status
internalError Internal error code as hex
extendedMessageText Internal error code
rInternalErrorCode Internal error code
reason Reason for the root detection

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 Checkra1n is detected.

The following is a code sample for native iOS apps, which uses all values in the specification above for Jailbreak Detection:


Using Appdome, there are no development or coding prerequisites to build secured iOS Apps by using Jailbreak Detection. 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 Jailbreak Detection

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:

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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