Full Report
If you do the same thing three times, automate it. Introducing Mobile Data Extractor, a Python tool that handles the repetitive work of mobile app data extraction so testers can focus on what matters.
Analysis Summary
# Tool/Technique: Mobile Data Extractor
## Overview
Mobile Data Extractor is an open-source Python-based automation tool developed by TrustedSec. It is designed to streamline the extraction and analysis of application-specific data from mobile devices during security assessments. By automating the retrieval of files from iOS and Android platforms, it allows testers to quickly identify insecurely stored sensitive information, such as logs, credentials, and API keys.
## Technical Details
- **Type:** Security Assessment / Extraction Tool
- **Platform:** iOS (requires Jailbreak), Android (requires Root)
- **Capabilities:** Automated file extraction, format conversion, recursive searching, and string analysis.
- **First Seen:** April 2, 2024 (Article Publication Date)
## MITRE ATT&CK Mapping
- **[TA0009 - Collection]**
- [T1646 - Data from Local System]
- [T1533 - Data from Local System (Mobile)]
- **[TA0007 - Discovery]**
- [T1083 - File and Directory Discovery]
- **[TA0006 - Credential Access]**
- [T1555 - Credentials from Password Stores]
## Functionality
### Core Capabilities
- **Cross-Platform Extraction:** Connects to iOS devices via SSH and Android devices via Android Debug Bridge (ADB).
- **Directory Mirroring:** Copies application data directories from the mobile device to a local workstation for offline analysis.
- **Automated Discovery:** Automatically identifies common file formats where sensitive data is often stored (e.g., Plists, SQLite databases, XML).
### Advanced Features
- **File Extension Search:** Provides a "quick win" default search for common sensitive file types or allows for custom proprietary extension searches.
- **Case-Insensitive String Search:** Recursively searches through all extracted files for specific keywords like "password," "access_token," or "API_key."
- **Logging and Persistence:** Records search results in `extension_search.txt` and `string_search.txt` to help testers track progress across sessions.
- **Data Conversion:** Simplifies the process of making mobile-specific file formats human-readable.
## Indicators of Compromise
*Note: As this is a legitimate security tool, indicators reflect its presence on a tester's machine or its activity on a target device.*
- **File Names:**
- `Mobile-Data-Extractor` (Project folder)
- `extension_search.txt`
- `string_search.txt`
- `requirements.txt`
- **Behavioral Indicators:**
- Unexplained SSH connections to iOS devices.
- ADB daemon activity and high-volume file transfers over port 5037 (Android).
- Use of the `libmagic` wrapper (`python-magic`) for file type identification.
## Associated Threat Actors
- **TrustedSec** (Developers/Security Researchers)
- **Penetration Testers and Mobile App Security Researchers**
## Detection Methods
- **Signature-based detection:** Monitoring for the tool's specific script names or GitHub repository artifacts.
- **Behavioral detection:**
- Monitoring for unauthorized or unusual ADB/SSH traffic originating from internal workstations to mobile assets.
- Detecting the use of `pip` to install security-related dependencies like `python-magic`.
## Mitigation Strategies
- **Prevention measures:**
- Disable ADB (Android Debug Bridge) on production or corporate-issued devices unless required for development.
- Prevent the "Jailbreaking" or "Rooting" of mobile devices via Mobile Device Management (MDM) policies.
- **Hardening recommendations:**
- Implement strong app-level encryption for sensitive data stored in the local sandbox, ensuring that even if files are extracted, they remain encrypted.
- Avoid storing sensitive data in plaintext within Plists, SharedPreferences, or SQLite databases.
## Related Tools/Techniques
- **ADB (Android Debug Bridge):** Used for Android communication.
- **OpenSSH:** Used for iOS communication.
- **Frida:** Often used in conjunction for dynamic instrumentation during mobile assessments.
- **Objection:** A runtime mobile exploration toolkit.