How to Detect Deep Proxy in Android Apps

Learn to Detect Deep Proxy in Android apps, in mobile CI/CD with a Data-Driven DevSecOps™ build system.

What is Deep Proxy?

Whereas the Malicious Proxy Detection protection is based on detecting and blocking connections from untrusted sources, deep Proxy detection detects any attempt to modify the app’s initial proxy settings. If such attempts are not thwarted, they can cause the app proxy to behave in a way that seems safe, but might be vulnerable to attacks; for example, intercept a call to a safe address to enforce redirection to a malicious website. Such attacks enable accessing the app and changing its behavior in malicious ways.

By enabling (toggling On) Deep Proxy Detection, Appdome detects attempts of Deep Proxy attacks.

Why Prevent Deep Proxy Attacks?

Two prominent examples of behavior that is scrutinized by Deep Proxy are header manipulation and redirects.

Nowadays, multiple websites and applications are accessible at the same IP address. The way to differentiate between the various websites and applications is to use a header, which contains further information with regard to the address with which one wants to communicate. Modifying the header can override the information and request from the address, thereby potentially stealing the information or causing unwanted behavior of the application.

A redirect modifies the addresses of outward URLs which the application calls. The modification is done for malicious purposes, either to redirect the application call to a dubious destination such as a phishing website or to enable illegal access to otherwise inaccessible parts of the application. In so doing, redirects can be used for malicious purposes such as malware injection, code injection, stealing credentials or tracking user traffic.

Detect Deep Proxy on Android apps using Appdome

On Appdome, follow these 3 simple steps to create self-defending Android Apps that Detect Deep Proxy 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. Android Formats: .apk or .aab
   4. Deep Proxy Detection Compatible With: Java, JS, C++, C#, Kotlin, Flutter, React Native, Unity, Xamarin, Cordova and more

2. Build the feature: Deep Proxy Detection.

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

      1. Create and name the Fusion Set (security template) that will contain the Deep Proxy Detection feature as shown below:
      

      Figure 1: Fusion Set that will contain the Deep Proxy 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 Deep Proxy Detection feature via Appdome Console, to add the Deep Proxy 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 Deep Proxy Detection feature via Appdome Console

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

      1. Where: Inside the Appdome Console, go to Build > Security Tab > Secure Communication section
      2. How: Toggle (turn ON) Deep Proxy Detection, as shown below.

         Figure 3: Detect Deep Proxy option

      3. When you select the Deep Proxy 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 Deep Proxy Detection

         

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

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

   Congratulations!  The Deep Proxy Detection protection is now added to the mobile app

3. Certify the Deep Proxy Detection feature in Android Apps.

   After building Deep Proxy Detection, Appdome generates a Certified Secure™ certificate to guarantee that the Deep Proxy Detection protection has been added and is protecting the app. To verify that the Deep Proxy 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 Deep Proxy Detection has been added to each Android app. Certified Secure provides instant and in-line DevSecOps compliance certification that Deep Proxy Detection and other mobile app security features are in each build of the mobile app