Authorization / Continuous Collection of Gps Location

Description

Continuous collection of GPS location is a vulnerability affecting mobile app security. It occurs when an app collects user location data over a period of time without user consent or knowledge. This type of data collection can lead to privacy and security risks as it can give an attacker access to sensitive information. According to the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) directory, this type of vulnerability is classified as CWE-732, which is an authorization issue related to improper access control. Furthermore, the OWASP Testing Guide recommends testing for this vulnerability as it can easily be exploited by attackers.

Risk

The risk associated with the continuous collection of GPS location is that it can lead to a potential data breach. An attacker can easily gain access to user information if GPS location data is collected over an extended period of time without user knowledge. This can result in the loss of private data and can even lead to identity theft. In general, the risk associated with this vulnerability is high since it can be easily exploited.

Solution

In order to mitigate this vulnerability, it is important to ensure that user consent is obtained before collecting GPS location data. Furthermore, it is important to ensure that user data is only collected when necessary and is not stored for longer than necessary. Additionally, it is important to make sure that user data is securely stored and access is restricted to only authorized users.

Example

Below is an example of code that can be used to collect GPS location data without user consent:

//Collect GPS location data
 func getGPSLocationData() {
    let locationManager = CLLocationManager()
    locationManager.requestWhenInUseAuthorization()
    locationManager.startUpdatingLocation()
    for location in locationManager.location {
        print(location)
    }
}