How to Detect Self-Modifying Root Detection on iOS apps

Learn to Detect Self-Modifying Root Detection in iOS apps, in mobile CI/CD with a Data-Driven DevSecOps™ build system.

What is self-modifying root detection?

A potential attacker can create a Self Modifying Root application on jailbroken devices, which modifies itself during runtime (by changing its name, for example), in order to hide from other applications or prevent its detection by security products.

How does Appdome Detect Self-modifying Root Detection?

As part of the Jailbreak Prevention protection, Appdome detects Root application on Rooted Devices/Jailbroken devices that are capable of modifying their binary file in an attempt to avoid being detected.

Detecting Self-Modifying Root Detection on iOS apps by Using Appdome

On Appdome, follow these simple steps to create self-defending iOS Apps that Detect Self-Modifying Root Detection 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

2. Build the feature: Detect Self-Modifying Root Detection.

   1. Building Detect Self-Modifying Root Detection by using Appdome’s DEV-API:

      1. Create and name the Fusion Set (security template) that will contain the Detect Self-Modifying Root Detection feature as shown below:
      

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

      2. Follow the steps in Sections 2.2.1-2.2.2 of this article, Building the Detect Self-Modifying Root Detection feature via Appdome Console, to add the Detect Self-Modifying Root Detection feature to this Fusion Set.

      3. 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):

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

      4. 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 Detect Self-Modifying Root Detection feature via Appdome Console

      To build the Detect Self-Modifying Root 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. How: Check whether Jailbreak Prevention is toggled On (enabled), otherwise enable it . You can see that the feature Detect Self-Modifying Root Detection is enabled by default, as shown below.

         Figure 3: Detect Self-Modifying Root Detection option

      3. When you enable Jailbreak Prevention you'll notice that your Fusion Set you created in step 2.1.1 now bears the icon of the protection category that contains Detect Self-Modifying Root Detection

         

         Figure 4: Fusion Set that displays the newly added Detect Self-Modifying Root Detection protection

      4. Click Build My App at the bottom of the Build Workflow (shown in Figure 3).

   Congratulations!  The Detect Self-Modifying Root Detection protection is now added to the mobile app

3. Certify the Detect Self-Modifying Root Detection feature in iOS Apps.

   After building Detect Self-Modifying Root Detection, Appdome generates a Certified Secure™ certificate to guarantee that the Detect Self-Modifying Root Detection protection has been added and is protecting the app. To verify that the Detect Self-Modifying Root Detection protection has been added to the mobile app, locate the protection in the Certified Secure™ certificate as shown below:

   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 Self-Modifying Root Detection has been added to each iOS app. Certified Secure provides instant and in-line DevSecOps compliance certification that Detect Self-Modifying Root Detection and other mobile app security features are in each build of the mobile app