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OWASP
July 30, 20254 min readby DexGh0st

OWASP MASVS: Mobile Security Verification Standard

Understanding the OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard and its role in PCI compliance.

What is OWASP MASVS?

The Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS) is a comprehensive security framework for mobile applications developed by OWASP.

MASVS Levels

MASVS-L1: Standard Security

Basic security requirements for all mobile apps:

  • Secure data storage
  • Proper authentication
  • Network security
  • Code quality

MASVS-L2: Defense in Depth

Enhanced security for apps handling sensitive data:

  • All L1 requirements plus
  • Advanced authentication
  • Additional data protection
  • Enhanced network security

MASVS-R: Resilience

Anti-tampering and reverse engineering protection:

  • Obfuscation
  • Root/jailbreak detection
  • Anti-debugging
  • Integrity verification

Key Security Categories

MASVS-STORAGE

Secure data storage requirements including:

  • No sensitive data in logs
  • No sensitive data in backups
  • Encrypted storage
  • Secure key management

MASVS-CRYPTO

Cryptographic requirements:

  • Strong algorithms only
  • Proper key generation
  • Secure random number generation
  • No hardcoded keys

MASVS-AUTH

Authentication and session management:

  • Biometric authentication
  • Session handling
  • Password policies
  • Multi-factor authentication

MASVS-NETWORK

Network communication security:

  • TLS configuration
  • Certificate validation
  • Certificate pinning
  • API security

MASVS-PLATFORM

Platform interaction security:

  • Permission handling
  • WebView security
  • IPC security
  • Intent handling

MASVS-CODE

Code quality and security:

  • Input validation
  • Memory safety
  • Third-party libraries
  • Error handling

MASVS and PCI DSS

MASVS complements PCI DSS by providing:

  • Mobile-specific guidance
  • Technical implementation details
  • Testing methodologies
  • Resilience requirements

Verify your app against OWASP MASVS. Scan now.

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