How to Enforce SSL TLS Cipher Suites in Android & iOS Apps

Last updated March 16, 2023 by Appdome

Learn to Enforce TLS Cipher Suites in Mobile apps, in mobile CI/CD with a Data-Driven DevSecOps™ build system.

What are Outdated TLS Cipher-Suites?

The TLS/SSL protocol has been around for a very long time, and it supports a wide range of cryptographic algorithms for establishing a secure communication channel and communicating over it.
The protocol still supports some cryptographic algorithms that are now considered outdated, and it is not uncommon for some servers to have outdated configurations.

Why Enforce SSL TLS Cipher Suites in Mobile Apps?

Note:

The procedure described in this Knowledge Base article should only be implemented in domains located on your networks, which are under your control. Any use outside such domains is strongly inadvisable, due to the very high likelihood of MiTM violation in such cases.

The TLS/SSL protocol still supports some cryptographic algorithms that are now considered outdated, and it is not uncommon for some servers to have outdated configurations.

The reason these algorithms were deemed inadequate is twofold:
• Some algorithms were proven to have weaknesses.
• With the increase in available computing power, some algorithms have become susceptible to brute-force attacks.
In addition, it is not uncommon for attackers to intentionally impersonate servers or weaken their parameters in order to make secure channels not-so-secure anymore.
For these reasons, many organizations seek to enforce a limitation on allowed cipher suites used in their software.

Note:

While the images in this article display the feature in Android apps, the instructions are identical for Android and iOS-based devices.

Enforcing TLS Cipher Suites on Mobile apps by Using Appdome

On Appdome, follow these 3 simple steps to create self-defending Mobile Apps that Enforce TLS Cipher Suites without an SDK or gateway:

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. Mobile App Formats: .ipa For iOS device or .apk or .aab
Build the feature: Enforce Cipher Suites.
1. Building Enforce Cipher Suites by using Appdome’s DEV-API:
  1. Create and name the Fusion Set (security template) that will contain the Enforce Cipher Suites feature as shown below:
  2. Follow the steps in Sections 2.2.1-2.2.2 of this article, Building the Enforce Cipher Suites feature via Appdome Console, to add the Enforce Cipher Suites 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:
    
    Build an API for the app – for instructions, see the tasks under Appdome API Reference Guide
    
    Look for sample APIs in Appdome’s GitHub Repository
2. Building the Enforce Cipher Suites feature via Appdome Console
  
  To build the Enforce Cipher Suites 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) Enforce Cipher Suites, as shown below.
    If needed, Customize the Threat Notification to be displayed to the mobile end-user in a standard OS dialog notification when Appdome Enforces TLS Cipher Suites.
    
    Figure 3: Enforce TLS Cipher Suites option
    Note: The App Compromise Notification contains an easy to follow default remediation path for the mobile app end user. You can customize this message as required to achieve brand specific support, workflow or other messaging.
  3. When you select the Enforce Cipher Suites you'll notice that your Fusion Set you created in step 2.1.1 now bears the icon of the protection category that contains Enforce Cipher Suites
    
    Figure 4: Fusion Set that displays the newly added Enforce Cipher Suites protection
  4. Select the Threat-Event™ in-app mobile Threat Defense and Intelligence policy for Enforce Cipher Suites:
    
    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 Enforce TLS Cipher Suites.
    
    Threat-Events™ ON > In-App Detection
    When this setting is used, Appdome detects the use of non-approved cipher suites 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 Enforce Cipher Suites Intelligence and Control in Mobile Apps.
    
    Threat-Events™ ON > In-App Defense
    When this setting is used, Appdome detects and defends against TLS Cipher Suites (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 Enforce Cipher Suites Intelligence and Control in Mobile Apps.
  5. Optional Configuration with Enforce Cipher Suites:
    Cipher Suites File
    Allows providing a text file Provide a text file with the enforced cipher suites.
  6. Click Build My App at the bottom of the Build Workflow (shown in Figure 3).
Congratulations! The Enforce Cipher Suites protection is now added to the mobile app
Certify the Enforce Cipher Suites feature in Mobile Apps.

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

Using Threat-Events™ for TLS Cipher Suites Intelligence and Control in Mobile Apps

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

The specifications and options for Threat-Events™ for TLS Cipher Suites are:

Threat-Event™ Elements	Enforce TLS Cipher Suites Method Detail
Appdome Feature Name	Enforce Cipher Suites
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 Enforcing TLS Cipher Suites Threat-Event™
Threat-Event NAME	SslIncompatibleCipher
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
deviceBrand	Brand of the device
deviceBoard	Board of the device
buildUser	Build user
buildHost	Build host
sdkVersion	Sdk version
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
host	Failed host
IncompatibleCipherId	Failed cipher ID
DeveventDetailedErrorMessage	Error message
extendedMessageText	Extended message

With Threat-Events™ enabled (turned ON), Mobile developers can get detailed attack intelligence and granular defense control in Mobile applications and create amazing user experiences for all mobile end users when TLS Cipher Suites are detected.

The following is a code sample for native Mobile apps, which uses all values in the specification above for Enforce Cipher Suites:

IntentFilter intentFilter = new IntentFilter();
                    intentFilter.addAction("SslIncompatibleCipher");
                    registerReceiver(new BroadcastReceiver() {
                            @Override
                            public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
                                String message = intent.getStringExtra("message"); // Message shown to the user
                                String reasonData = intent.getStringExtra("reasonData"); // Threat detection cause
                                String reasonCode = intent.getStringExtra("reasonCode"); // Event reason code
                                String currentThreatEventScore = intent.getStringExtra("currentThreatEventScore"); // Current threat event score
                                String threatEventsScore = intent.getStringExtra("threatEventsScore"); // Total threat events score
                                String variable = intent.getStringExtra("<Context Key>"); // Any other event specific context key

                                // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
                            }
                        }, intentFilter);

                        
                        Java
                    
​x
 
IntentFilter intentFilter = new IntentFilter();
intentFilter.addAction("SslIncompatibleCipher");
registerReceiver(new BroadcastReceiver() {
        @Override
        public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
            String message = intent.getStringExtra("message"); // Message shown to the user
            String reasonData = intent.getStringExtra("reasonData"); // Threat detection cause
            String reasonCode = intent.getStringExtra("reasonCode"); // Event reason code
            String currentThreatEventScore = intent.getStringExtra("currentThreatEventScore"); // Current threat event score
            String threatEventsScore = intent.getStringExtra("threatEventsScore"); // Total threat events score
            String variable = intent.getStringExtra("<Context Key>"); // Any other event specific context key
​
            // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
        }
    }, intentFilter);

val intentFilter = IntentFilter()
                intentFilter.addAction("SslIncompatibleCipher")
                registerReceiver(object : BroadcastReceiver() {
                    override fun onReceive(context: Context?, intent: Intent?) {
                        var message = intent.getStringExtra("message") // Message shown to the user
                        var reasonData = intent.getStringExtra("reasonData") // Threat detection cause
                        var reasonCode = intent.getStringExtra("reasonCode") // Event reason code
                        var currentThreatEventScore = intent.getStringExtra("currentThreatEventScore") // Current threat event score
                        var threatEventsScore = intent.getStringExtra("threatEventsScore") // Total threat events score
                        var variable = intent.getStringExtra("<Context Key>") // Any other event specific context key

                        // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
                    }
                }, intentFilter)

                         
                        Kotlin
                    
​x
 
val intentFilter = IntentFilter()
intentFilter.addAction("SslIncompatibleCipher")
registerReceiver(object : BroadcastReceiver() {
    override fun onReceive(context: Context?, intent: Intent?) {
        var message = intent.getStringExtra("message") // Message shown to the user
        var reasonData = intent.getStringExtra("reasonData") // Threat detection cause
        var reasonCode = intent.getStringExtra("reasonCode") // Event reason code
        var currentThreatEventScore = intent.getStringExtra("currentThreatEventScore") // Current threat event score
        var threatEventsScore = intent.getStringExtra("threatEventsScore") // Total threat events score
        var variable = intent.getStringExtra("<Context Key>") // Any other event specific context key
​
        // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
    }
}, intentFilter)

let center = NotificationCenter.default
                center.addObserver(forName: Notification.Name("SslIncompatibleCipher"), object: nil, queue: nil) { (note) in
                    guard let usrInf = note.userInfo else {
                        return
                    }

                    let message = usrInf["message"]; // Message shown to the user
                    let reasonData = usrInf["reasonData"]; // Threat detection cause
                    let reasonCode = usrInf["reasonCode"]; // Event reason code
                    let currentThreatEventScore = usrInf["currentThreatEventScore"]; // Current threat event score
                    let threatEventsScore = usrInf["threatEventsScore"]; // Total threat events score
                    let variable = usrInf["<Context Key>"]; // Any other event specific context key

                    // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
                }

                         
                        Swift
                    
​x
 
let center = NotificationCenter.default
center.addObserver(forName: Notification.Name("SslIncompatibleCipher"), object: nil, queue: nil) { (note) in
    guard let usrInf = note.userInfo else {
        return
    }
​
    let message = usrInf["message"]; // Message shown to the user
    let reasonData = usrInf["reasonData"]; // Threat detection cause
    let reasonCode = usrInf["reasonCode"]; // Event reason code
    let currentThreatEventScore = usrInf["currentThreatEventScore"]; // Current threat event score
    let threatEventsScore = usrInf["threatEventsScore"]; // Total threat events score
    let variable = usrInf["<Context Key>"]; // Any other event specific context key
​
    // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
}

[[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserverForName:  @"SslIncompatibleCipher" object:nil queue:nil usingBlock:^(NSNotification *org_note) {
                    __block NSNotification *note = org_note;
                    dispatch_async(dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^(void) {
                        var threatEventsScore = intent.getStringExtra("threatEventsScore") 
                        NSString *message = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"message"]; // Message shown to the user
                        NSString *reasonData = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"reasonData"]; // Threat detection cause
                        NSString *reasonCode = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"reasonCode"]; // Event reason code
                        NSString *currentThreatEventScore = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"currentThreatEventScore"]; // Current threat event score
                        NSString *threatEventsScore = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"threatEventsScore"]; // Total threat events score
                        NSString *variable = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"<Context Key>"]; // Any other event specific context key

                        // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
                    });
                }];

                         
                        Native iOS
                    
​x
 
[[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserverForName:  @"SslIncompatibleCipher" object:nil queue:nil usingBlock:^(NSNotification *org_note) {
    __block NSNotification *note = org_note;
    dispatch_async(dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^(void) {
        var threatEventsScore = intent.getStringExtra("threatEventsScore") 
        NSString *message = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"message"]; // Message shown to the user
        NSString *reasonData = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"reasonData"]; // Threat detection cause
        NSString *reasonCode = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"reasonCode"]; // Event reason code
        NSString *currentThreatEventScore = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"currentThreatEventScore"]; // Current threat event score
        NSString *threatEventsScore = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"threatEventsScore"]; // Total threat events score
        NSString *variable = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"<Context Key>"]; // Any other event specific context key
​
        // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
    });
}];

const { ADDevEvents } = NativeModules;
                const aDDevEvents = new NativeEventEmitter(ADDevEvents);

                function registerToDevEvent(action, callback) {
                    NativeModules.ADDevEvents.registerForDevEvent(action);
                    aDDevEvents.addListener(action, callback);
                }

                export function registerToAllEvents() {
                    registerToDevEvent(
                        "SslIncompatibleCipher",
                        (userinfo) => Alert.alert(JSON.stringify(userinfo))

                        var message = userinfo["message"] // Message shown to the user
                        var reasonData = userinfo["reasonData"] // Threat detection cause
                        var reasonCode = userinfo["reasonCode"] // Event reason code
                        var currentThreatEventScore = userinfo["currentThreatEventScore"] // Current threat event score
                        var threatEventsScore = userinfo["threatEventsScore"] // Total threat events score
                        var variable = userinfo["<Context Key>"] // Any other event specific context key

                        // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
                    );
                }

                     
                    React Native
                
​x
 
const { ADDevEvents } = NativeModules;
const aDDevEvents = new NativeEventEmitter(ADDevEvents);
​
function registerToDevEvent(action, callback) {
    NativeModules.ADDevEvents.registerForDevEvent(action);
    aDDevEvents.addListener(action, callback);
}
​
export function registerToAllEvents() {
    registerToDevEvent(
        "SslIncompatibleCipher",
        (userinfo) => Alert.alert(JSON.stringify(userinfo))
​
        var message = userinfo["message"] // Message shown to the user
        var reasonData = userinfo["reasonData"] // Threat detection cause
        var reasonCode = userinfo["reasonCode"] // Event reason code
        var currentThreatEventScore = userinfo["currentThreatEventScore"] // Current threat event score
        var threatEventsScore = userinfo["threatEventsScore"] // Total threat events score
        var variable = userinfo["<Context Key>"] // Any other event specific context key
​
        // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
    );
}
​

RegisterReceiver(new ThreatEventReceiver(), new IntentFilter("SslIncompatibleCipher"));
                class ThreatEventReceiver : BroadcastReceiver
                {
                public override void OnReceive(Context context, Intent intent)
                {
                    String message = intent.getStringExtra("message"); // Message shown to the user
                    String reasonData = intent.getStringExtra("reasonData"); // Threat detection cause
                    String reasonCode = intent.getStringExtra("reasonCode"); // Event reason code
                    String currentThreatEventScore = intent.getStringExtra("currentThreatEventScore"); // Current threat event score
                    String threatEventsScore = intent.getStringExtra("threatEventsScore"); // Total threat events score
                    String variable = intent.getStringExtra("<Context Key>"); // Any other event specific context key

                    // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
                }
                }

                    
                    Xamarin
                
​x
 
RegisterReceiver(new ThreatEventReceiver(), new IntentFilter("SslIncompatibleCipher"));
​
class ThreatEventReceiver : BroadcastReceiver
{
  public override void OnReceive(Context context, Intent intent)
  {
    String message = intent.getStringExtra("message"); // Message shown to the user
    String reasonData = intent.getStringExtra("reasonData"); // Threat detection cause
    String reasonCode = intent.getStringExtra("reasonCode"); // Event reason code
    String currentThreatEventScore = intent.getStringExtra("currentThreatEventScore"); // Current threat event score
    String threatEventsScore = intent.getStringExtra("threatEventsScore"); // Total threat events score
    String variable = intent.getStringExtra("<Context Key>"); // Any other event specific context key
​
    // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
  }
}

window.broadcaster.addEventListener("SslIncompatibleCipher", function(userInfo) {
        var message = userInfo.message // Message shown to the user
        var reasonData = userInfo.reasonData // Threat detection cause
        var reasonCode = userInfo.reasonCode // Event reason code
        var currentThreatEventScore = userInfo.currentThreatEventScore // Current threat event score
        var threatEventsScore = userInfo.threatEventsScore // Total threat events score
        var variable = userInfo.<Context Key> // Any other event specific context key

        // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
            });

                    
                    Cordova
                
​x
 
window.broadcaster.addEventListener("SslIncompatibleCipher", function(userInfo) {
        var message = userInfo.message // Message shown to the user
        var reasonData = userInfo.reasonData // Threat detection cause
        var reasonCode = userInfo.reasonCode // Event reason code
        var currentThreatEventScore = userInfo.currentThreatEventScore // Current threat event score
        var threatEventsScore = userInfo.threatEventsScore // Total threat events score
        var variable = userInfo.<Context Key> // Any other event specific context key
​
        // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
});

Prerequisites to Using Enforce Cipher Suites:

To use Appdome’s mobile app security build system to Enforce TLS Cipher Suites , you’ll need:

Appdome account (create a free Appdome account here)
A license for Enforce Cipher Suites
Mobile App (.ipa For iOS device or .apk or .aab For Mobile)
Signing Credentials (see Signing Secure Android apps and Signing Secure iOS apps)

Using Appdome, there are no development or coding prerequisites to build secured Mobile Apps by using Enforce Cipher Suites. 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 Enforce Cipher Suites

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:

Customizing, Configuring & Branding Secure Mobile Apps
Deploying/Publishing Secure mobile apps to Public or Private app stores
Releasing Secured Android & iOS Apps built on Appdome.

All apps protected by Appdome are fully compatible with any public app store, including Apple App Store, Google Play, Huawei App Gallery and more.

Features Similar to Enforce Cipher Suites

Here are a few related resources:

Check this document about cipher-suites from OpenSSL.org.

If you are interested in limiting other aspects of TLS, you should check out how you can Enforce Certificate Roles or Enforce TLS Version.

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

Thank you!

Thanks for visiting Appdome! Our mission is to secure every app on the planet by making mobile app security easy. We hope we’re living up to the mission with your project.

How to Enforce SSL TLS Cipher Suites in Android & iOS Apps

What are Outdated TLS Cipher-Suites?

Why Enforce SSL TLS Cipher Suites in Mobile Apps?

Enforcing TLS Cipher Suites on Mobile apps by Using Appdome

Upload the Mobile App to Appdome.

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

Build the feature: Enforce Cipher Suites.

Building Enforce Cipher Suites by using Appdome’s DEV-API:

Building the Enforce Cipher Suites feature via Appdome Console

Certify the Enforce Cipher Suites feature in Mobile Apps.

Using Threat-Events™ for TLS Cipher Suites Intelligence and Control in Mobile Apps

Prerequisites to Using Enforce Cipher Suites:

Thank you!