<p dir="ltr">To assess the security of mobile devices, I begin by identifying the key entities involved in their operation: the user, the mobile device, and the service or device being accessed. Users rely on mobile devices to interact with services and perform essential tasks. These devices act as gateways, enabling communication between the user and the back-end services. For example, a user may access their bank account via a banking app on their mobile device, which communicates with the bank’s back-end server. In such scenarios, the server must authenticate the user to ensure only authorized individuals can access sensitive information. However, beyond user authentication, it is crucial for connected services and devices to verify the integrity of the mobile device itself. A compromised mobile device can have severe consequences for both the user and the services involved.</p><p dir="ltr">My research focuses on examining the methods used by various entities to attest and verify the integrity of mobile devices. I conduct a comprehensive analysis of mobile device attestation from multiple perspectives. Specifically, I investigate how attestation is carried out by back-end servers of mobile apps, IoT devices controlled by mobile companion apps, and large language models (LLMs) accessed via mobile apps.</p><p dir="ltr">In the first case, back-end servers of mobile apps must attest to the integrity of the device to protect against tampered apps and devices, which could lead to financial loss, data breaches, or intellectual property theft. For instance, a music streaming service must implement strong security measures to verify the device’s integrity before transmitting sensitive content to prevent data leakage or unauthorized access.</p><p dir="ltr">In the second case, IoT devices must ensure they are communicating with legitimate companion apps running on attested mobile devices. Failure to enforce proper attestation for IoT companion apps can expose these devices to malicious attacks. An attacker could inject malicious code into an IoT device, potentially causing physical damage to the device or its surroundings, or even seizing control of the device, leading to critical safety risks, property damage, or harm to human lives.</p><p dir="ltr">Finally, in the third case, malicious apps can exploit prompt injection attacks against LLMs, leading to data leaks or unauthorized access to APIs and services offered by the LLM. These scenarios underscore the importance of secure and attested communication between mobile devices and the services they interact with.</p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:purdue.edu/oai:figshare.com:article/27138897 |
| Date | 01 October 2024 |
| Creators | Muhammad Ibrahim (19761798) |
| Source Sets | Purdue University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, Thesis |
| Rights | CC BY 4.0 |
| Relation | https://figshare.com/articles/thesis/Analyzing_Secure_and_Attested_Communication_in_Mobile_Devices/27138897 |
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