Comprehensive Static Analysis of Mobile Applications using MobSF

Ravindra Dagale
3 min readJul 10, 2023

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Mobile applications have become an integral part of our daily lives, and ensuring their security is of paramount importance. One crucial aspect of mobile app security is performing static analysis, which involves examining the application’s code and resources without executing it. In this blog post, we will explore how to conduct a comprehensive static analysis of mobile applications using MobSF (Mobile Security Framework).

What is MobSF?

MobSF is an open-source framework designed specifically for mobile application security testing and analysis. It provides a wide range of features, including static and dynamic analysis, web API testing, and malware analysis. Today, we will focus on leveraging MobSF’s static analysis capabilities to identify potential security vulnerabilities in mobile apps.

Step 1: Installing and Setting Up MobSF

To get started, install MobSF by following the installation instructions provided on

Step 2: Uploading the Mobile Application

In the MobSF web interface, navigate to the “Upload” section and select the option to upload the mobile application file (e.g., APK or IPA (requires Linux installation)). MobSF supports both Android and iOS applications, making it a versatile tool for analyzing a wide range of mobile apps.

Step 3: Initiate Static Analysis

Once the mobile application is uploaded, MobSF will initiate the static analysis process. It will perform a deep examination of the application’s code, manifest files, and resources to identify potential security issues.

Step 4: Reviewing the Analysis Results

After the static analysis is complete, MobSF will generate a detailed report with the identified security vulnerabilities and issues. Take some time to review the report carefully, as it provides valuable insights into potential weaknesses that attackers may exploit.

Step 5: Addressing the Identified Issues

Based on the report generated by MobSF, it’s time to address the identified security issues. Prioritize the vulnerabilities based on their severity and potential impact. Work closely with your development team to implement the necessary fixes and improvements to enhance the security of the mobile application.

Conclusion:

Static analysis is a crucial step in mobile application security testing, as it helps identify potential security vulnerabilities before the application is deployed. MobSF simplifies this process by providing a comprehensive framework specifically designed for mobile app security analysis. By leveraging MobSF’s static analysis capabilities, you can gain valuable insights into the security posture of your mobile applications and take proactive measures to mitigate potential risks.

We hope this blog post has provided you with valuable insights into conducting static analysis using MobSF. Stay tuned for more articles on mobile app security and best practices!

Thank You For Reading, Hope You Liked It…!!! 😊

Ravindra Dagale 🙆‍♂️
Security Researcher | Information Security

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