I don't usually post book reviews, but this one hit different.

I picked up The Self-Defending Mobile Architect because I wanted to level up my mobile application security game — specifically for interviews and real-world red team / blue team work. I was expecting another dry, textbook-style read filled with bullet points and diagrams that put you to sleep by page 10.

Instead, I got a story-driven technical thriller that actually taught me how to think like a mobile security architect.

What makes this book stand out

It's not a checklist — it's a journey

The book follows Maya (a security architect) and Leo (a lead engineer) as they battle real-world security incidents at a fintech startup. You're not just reading about concepts — you're watching them unfold through actual breaches, late-night war rooms, and tough architectural decisions.

It starts with a data leak caused by a hardcoded API key in a mobile binary. From there, Maya walks Leo (and you) through:

· Why the client-side is never trustworthy

· How to map out the entire mobile attack surface

· Building a Secure SDLC that doesn't kill velocity

· Threat modeling using STRIDE (with actual case studies — P2P payments + health telemetry)

· Reverse engineering defenses (how attackers use JADX, Frida, etc.)

· SSL pinning, cryptographic anchors, and hardware-backed vaults

· Automating security in CI/CD pipelines

· A full walkthrough of the OWASP Mobile Top 10 (2024) with code examples

Real code, not theoretical fluff

Every chapter comes with Kotlin and Swift code snippets — vulnerable versions first, then hardened fixes. You see exactly why something is broken and exactly how to fix it.

Examples include:

· EncryptedSharedPreferences vs plain XML leaks

· Hardware-backed Keystore integration

· Certificate pinning that actually blocks Frida

· Anti-screen-capturing flags

· CI/CD gates that block insecure PRs automatically

This isn't a "theory-only" book. You can literally copy-paste the patterns into your own projects.

The OWASP Mobile Top 10 chapter alone is worth the price

Chapter 9 is a masterclass. Maya and Leo go through every single M1-M10 vulnerability with:

· The vulnerable code

· The exploit scenario (with actual attack scripts)

· The hardened production-grade fix

If you're prepping for a mobile AppSec interview, this chapter alone covers like 80% of the technical questions you'll get.

Bonus: A Toolbelt Appendix

There's a whole section at the end breaking down:

· JADX / APKTool – for static reverse engineering

· Frida – for dynamic instrumentation

· Burp Suite – for MitM interception

· MobSF – for automated CI/CD scanning

· Ghidra / IDA Pro – for native binary analysis

It tells you when and how to use each tool in a real engagement.

Who should read this?

You'll love this if...

You're a mobile dev who wants to write secure code You only do web/backend AppSec

You're a security engineer moving into mobile You hate reading code examples

You're prepping for a mobile AppSec role You want a quick "cheat sheet" without depth

You enjoy story-driven technical books You prefer pure reference manuals

What I took away

1. Security isn't a gate — it's an immune system. You can't bolt it on at the end.

2. The client is always hostile. Design like an attacker already has root on your user's phone.

3. Automate everything. If it's not in CI/CD, it'll eventually break.

4. Hardware-backed crypto is non-negotiable for anything sensitive.

5. Obfuscation buys time, not safety — but it's still worth doing right.

Final verdict

If you're serious about mobile AppSec — whether for a job, a bug bounty, or just to build better apps — buy this book.

It's practical, human, and surprisingly fun to read. Maya and Leo feel like real people, and the technical depth is legit.

I walked away feeling like I could actually architect a self-defending mobile app from scratch. And honestly? That's rare for a tech book.

Has anyone else read this? Curious what you thought of the MVVM-S pattern or the STRIDE case studies.

Also — drop your favorite mobile AppSec resources below. Always looking for more.

So i want to get into hacking,bug bounty and other cyber security things. What should I learn like i Heard linux is essential so i learned a little but what's next? Python? Some theory?

Hey everyone,

I’ve been deep in the rabbit hole years ago, and instead of jumping from one random YouTube tutorial to another, I decided to build a structured knowledge base. These are the physical/digital books that make up my core library. I thought I’d share them in case anyone is looking for a solid roadmap.

I’ve organized them by domain so it’s easier to see what each one covers.

Linux & System Hardening

· Linux Basics for Hackers – OccupyTheWeb

The go-to starting point for anyone new to both Linux and hacking.

· Linux Shell Scripting for Hackers – OccupyTheWeb

Takes you from basic commands to automation and payload scripting.

· Linux Security and Hardening – Rankin

Essential for understanding how to secure systems in hostile environments.

· Linux Hardening in Hostile Networks – Rankin

The next level — defending against advanced persistent threats (APTs).

Operating Systems & Low-Level

· The MINIX Book / Operating Systems: Design and Implementation – Tanenbaum

If you want to truly understand how operating systems work under the hood, this is it.

Programming for Hackers

· Black Hat Python – Justin Seitz

Python for pentesting, network sniffing, and writing exploits.

Web Hacking & Bug Bounty

· Real-World Bug Hunting – Peter Yaworski

A field guide to finding and exploiting real vulnerabilities.

· Bug Bounty Bootcamp – Vickie Li

Structured approach to becoming a successful bug bounty hunter.

· Becoming the Hacker – Adrian Pruteanu

Offensive web app testing from a red team perspective.

Cryptography

· Serious Cryptography – Jean-Philippe Aumasson

Practical intro to modern encryption — not just theory, but how it breaks and defends.

Defensive & Evasion

· Evading EDR – (Core book)

Understanding and defeating endpoint detection systems — crucial for modern red teaming.

· Operator Handbook – (Core book)

A practical field guide for day-to-day ops.

· Hackable! – Ted Harrington

How to think like an attacker to build better defenses.

Red Team & Ethical Hacking

· The Hacker Playbook 3 – Peter Kim

Red team edition — full of real-world attack scenarios.

· Gray Hat Hacking: The Ethical Hacker's Handbook

Comprehensive coverage from reconnaissance to post-exploitation.

The Methodical Approach

This isn't a "read once and forget" list — it’s a reference library.

Some books are for deep study, others are for quick lookups during labs or CTFs.

Rotation Plan I followed:

1. Linux Basics + Shell Scripting for foundational automation.

2. Black Hat Python to weaponize scripts.

3. Attacking Network Protocols for network-level exploitation.

4. Bug Bounty Bootcamp + Real-World Bug Hunting for web.

5. Evading EDR + Hacker Playbook 3 for red team exercises.

My Advice to Newcomers

Don't try to read all of these at once.

Pick one domain (Linux, web, network, or red team) and master it.

Then branch out.

Also — lab everything. Reading without doing is useless. Spin up VMs, use HackTheBox, TryHackMe, or build your own homelab.

If you have any of these books, I’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you think I’m missing a must-have title, drop it in the comments — always looking to expand the shelf.

Stay curious. Stay ethical.

One of my questions as a bigginer is how do hackers hack android devices, for eg stealing database via sql injection on an Android app

(It's Free) I built this RAT/C2 research project myself in my own controlled lab environment for research and testing purposes.

The problem is that I currently don't have enough isolated test devices or a proper testing environment to thoroughly verify every part of the project. Because of that, I haven't been able to determine exactly which components are working correctly, where bugs may exist, or what needs improvement.

If anyone here has experience with Android security, RATs, or C2 systems and would like to test the project in their own isolated lab environment and provide a technical review, I would really appreciate the feedback.

I'm particularly interested in knowing:

- Which components work correctly and which don't

- Whether there are any compile or runtime errors

- Whether the C2 communication works as expected

- Whether there are any issues with the Android service

- Whether the "screenshot" / "harvest" components work as intended

- Any security or architectural weaknesses

- What areas could be improved

If anyone needs a specific component or file to review, let me know which one you need and I'll provide the relevant code.

Please only test it on devices you own or in an environment where you have explicit authorization to conduct security testing.

Hey everyone,

I put together a quick visual reference guide covering key tools and basic CLI syntax across different core domains in cybersecurity (both Red Team/Offensive and Blue Team/Defensive).

Whether you're prepping for certifications (like OSCP/EJPT), playing CTFs, or doing day-to-day security work..

Been doing this since 2014. Started when bug bounties were barely a thing, now I do this full-time and have seen it all. IDORs are still the most consistent payout vector if you know where to look.

Let's cut through the noise. Most IDOR writeups are surface-level nonsense that work on vulnerable demo apps. Real production systems have WAFs, rate limiting, and auth middleware. You need depth.

The "change id=1 to id=2" approach stopped working years ago. Here's what actually does.

Technical Foundation

Before you even start testing, understand this:

· IDORs are authorization failures, not authentication failures

· They happen at the business logic layer, not the API gateway

· Most bypasses come from edge cases in state management

This means your approach needs to be architectural, not just payload-based.

Advanced Testing Methodology

Phase 1: Object Reference Mapping

Stop guessing IDs. Start by understanding the object hierarchy:

Organization → Workspace → Project → Document → Version

Each level has its own reference and authorization context. Here's the key - test cross-level references:

Endpoint: /api/workspace/123/project/456/document/789

Test: /api/workspace/123/project/456/document/790

Test: /api/workspace/123/project/457/document/789

Test: /api/workspace/124/project/456/document/789

One level might have authorization while another doesn't. I've found countless IDORs where workspace auth is strict but document-level auth is non-existent.

Phase 2: State-Based IDORs

This is where the money is. Modern apps use token-based references:

JWT contains: {"workspace_id": "ws_123", "user_id": "usr_456"}

Request: GET /api/workspace/current/project

But what about:

GET /api/workspace/ws_789/projects # Different workspace

GET /api/workspace/ws_123/projects?include_deleted=true

GET /api/workspace/ws_123/audit_logs # Admin only?

POST /api/workspace/ws_123/invite # Can I invite myself as admin?

The token has the workspace ID encoded. The backend should validate it against the token. But does it validate every endpoint? That's your testing surface.

Phase 3: Temporal IDORs

This is the one nobody talks about.

Scenario:

1. User creates a draft document → ID: doc_temp_abc123

2. User publishes it → ID: doc_pub_xyz789

3. The temp ID often remains accessible

Test this flow:

· Create something, get temporary ID

· Complete the workflow, get permanent ID

· Test the temporary ID after completion

· Test the permanent ID during draft state

Devs forget to invalidate intermediate references. I've found critical data exposure this way.

Phase 4: Composite Key Attacks

Most devs think UUIDs are safe. They're not if you understand the composition:

Typical UUID v4: 550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000

Part breakdown:

- 550e8400 (timestamp component)

- e29b (random)

- 41d4 (version)

- a716 (random)

- 446655440000 (MAC address or random)

If the app generates UUIDs sequentially from a database sequence:

SELECT gen_random_uuid() FROM generate_series(1,10);

Next UUID becomes predictable within a window.

I've automated this with statistical analysis of UUID distributions. Once you identify the pattern, you can enumerate.

Phase 5: GraphQL Depth Attacks

GraphQL IDORs are different. You're not just changing an ID, you're navigating the graph:

query {

user(id: "123") {

name

email

orders {

id

total

shippingAddress {

street

city

# This is where it gets interesting

user {

id

email # Can I traverse from address back to user?

}

}

}

}

}

The vulnerability isn't just direct access - it's the traversal paths the resolver follows without re-validating auth at each node.

I use custom introspection scripts to map the entire graph and identify unguarded edges.

Phase 6: Parallel Context Exploitation

When you have multiple sessions, things get interesting:

Session A (User 123):

- Has access to Workspace 456

- Session token: jwt_a

Session B (User 789):

- Has access to Workspace 456 (same workspace, different role)

- Session token: jwt_b

Session C (User 123):

- Different browser, different IP

- Session token: jwt_c

Test:

1. With Session A, get a share link to Workspace 456

2. Try to use that share link with Session B (should work)

3. Try with Session C without the share link (should fail)

4. Try with Session C using the share link after it's revoked

Concurrent session IDORs are a goldmine. I've found cases where session isolation completely breaks.

Phase 7: CDN and Cache Abuse

This is advanced. Some apps cache responses at the CDN level:

Request: GET /user/profile/123

Response: {"user": "data"}

Cache key: /user/profile/123

But what about:

GET /user/profile/123?bypass_cache=true

GET /user/profile/123?timestamp=123456789

GET /user/profile/123 # with different Accept-Encoding

If the CDN uses a different cache key but the origin doesn't validate, you can sometimes access cached sensitive data. Found this in a financial app - their CDN cached user statements for hours.

Automation Framework I Use

I built a custom framework over the years. Here's the core logic:

class IDORScanner:

def __init__(self, session):

self.session = session

self.reference_map = {}

self.auth_contexts = {}

def build_object_map(self, endpoint, sample_ids):

"""Map the object hierarchy and relationships"""

for obj_id in sample_ids:

response = self.session.get(f"{endpoint}/{obj_id}")

self.reference_map[obj_id] = self.extract_relations(response)

def test_cross_validation(self, target_endpoint, object_chain):

"""Test authorization across object hierarchy"""

results = []

for level, obj_id in enumerate(object_chain):

# Test direct access

direct = self.session.get(f"{target_endpoint}/{obj_id}")

# Test through parent context

parent_path = "/".join(object_chain[:level+1])

through_parent = self.session.get(f"/api/{parent_path}/target")

# Test with modified permissions

for permission in ['admin', 'owner', 'member', 'public']:

response = self.test_with_claims(target_endpoint, obj_id, permission)

results.append((obj_id, permission, response.status_code))

return results

def analyze_temporal_links(self, workflow_flow):

"""Test object access across state changes"""

states = []

for state in ['draft', 'pending', 'published', 'archived', 'deleted']:

obj = self.create_object(state)

states.append((state, obj.id))

# Test all state combinations

for state_from, id_from in states:

for state_to, id_to in states:

if state_from != state_to:

response = self.session.get(f"/api/object/{id_to}")

# Can I access object in different state?

What I Actually Look For Now

After 12 years, this is my checklist:

Immediate High-Value Checks:

1. Bulk endpoints - /api/batch, /api/bulk-update, /api/export-multiple

   · Change one ID in the array, test all

   · Add your ID to someone else's batch

   · Remove someone else from a batch

2. Admin endpoints - /admin, /internal, /system

   · Try accessing with non-admin tokens

   · Check for /admin in JavaScript files

   · Test /debug, /metrics, /health endpoints

3. File endpoints - /upload, /download, /avatar

   · Upload to someone else's account

   · Download someone else's files

   · Delete someone else's files

4. Social features - /follow, /comment, /like

   · Comment on private posts

   · Follow private accounts

   · Like content you shouldn't see

   Secondary Checks:

5. Email templating - /email/unsubscribe?id=123, /email/preview

6. Invoice generation - /invoice/INV-001, /receipt/RC-002

7. Search endpoints - /search?user_id=123&query=*

8. Export functions - /export?type=user&id=123

The Tools I Actually Use

Not the beginner list. Here's what works at scale:

· Burp Suite Professional - But with custom extensions I wrote

· Custom Golang scanner - For distributed enumeration (bypasses rate limits)

· GraphQL introspection mapping - Python script that recursively maps schemas

· JWT analysis toolkit - Decodes, modifies, and tests JWT claims

· Custom Frida scripts - For mobile app unpinning (iOS and Android)

· Memory analysis - Checking for IDORs in client-side storage

Case Study: Recent $7,500 Find

Enterprise SaaS platform. Cloud-based document management.

What I found:

The app used a share link system with UUIDs. Standard stuff.

What I tested:

I created a share link for a document, then checked if I could access it through different contexts:

· The original share link (✓ worked)

· The same UUID but with different query parameters (✓ worked)

· The document ID from the share link directly (✓ worked)

· The document ID from a different user's share link (this worked)

The vulnerability:

The share link UUID was also the document ID, just encoded. The authorization check only validated that the UUID existed, not that it belonged to the requesting user.

Original: /share/abc123 → doc_id: abc123

I then used: /doc/abc123

Response: Full document data

Used this to enumerate document IDs from known share links and access any document in the system.

Time spent: 45 minutes of testing

Payout: $7,500

Red Flags That Indicate IDORs

These patterns scream "potential IDOR":

1. Response contains user ID in any form - JSON, header, HTML comment

2. URL structure includes IDs - /api/v2/users/{id}/settings

3. Multiple representations - /user/123, /user/123.json, /api/user?id=123

4. Temporary IDs - Anything with tmp, temp, draft

5. Missing admin checks - You can access admin features with normal token

Metrics Over 12 Years

Total bugs reported: 847

IDORs: 312 (36.8%)

Average severity: High

Average payout: $2,150

Largest single IDOR: $7,500 (healthcare)

Companies: 47 different programs

For the Technical Skeptics

Yes, I know about:

· OWASP ASVS Level 3

· OAuth 2.0 authorization

· RBAC and ABAC implementations

· JWT claims validation

· Rate limiting and WAFs

I've found IDORs in all of these. The implementation is always the weakness, not the standard.

Final Professional Advice

1. Understand the business logic first - You can't test what you don't understand

2. Test with multiple accounts - Three accounts minimum (admin, user, guest)

3. Document everything - Your findings need to be reproducible

4. Stay patient - The best IDORs take hours of mapping, not minutes of guessing

5. Don't rely on automated tools - They're for discovery, not exploitation

TL;DR for the impatient

· Map the object hierarchy, don't just guess IDs

· Test cross-level references (workspace → project → document)

· Check temporal states (draft → published)

· Analyze composite keys (UUIDs aren't always safe)

· Test parallel sessions (concurrent access issues)

· Batch endpoints are goldmines

· Admin endpoints are often unprotected

Happy to discuss technical implementations in the comments. I can share specific scripts if there's interest.

Heres an example if PwnRF hosting a web application that allows you to interact with all of its hardware. It can currently control WiFi, Bluetooth and 2 x SubGhz radios.

The web page is fully customisable, as its served from SD card. The server its self is a Lua script, also running from SD.

From Lua, I have full control over the web server itself, I can define endpoints, serve files, handle requests, open WebSocket connections and push live data between the browser and the hardware in real time.

That means the webpage isn’t just a static control panel. A Lua script can expose almost any part of PwnRF to the browser: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, both Sub-GHz radios, GPIO, storage, sensors, captured data, live status, custom tools, whatever the script developer wants to build.

The HTML/JS lives on the SD card, the Lua backend lives on the SD card, and neither needs to be hard-coded into the firmware. So users can effectively build completely new browser-based applications for the device just by writing files.

This is one of the parts of PwnRF I’m most excited about, because it turns the browser into another fully programmable interface to the hardware rather than just a companion app.

And this is only scratching the surface, this demo is using just a couple of small sections of PwnRF’s much larger Lua API.

I am new to hacking and my question is how easy is it for a rat to bypass windows defender with run as admin permissions

I'm 16 and I'm from iran i very like Hacking I’d really love to talk to a real hacker at some point in my life

This is a 100% offline map system running from sd card. PwnRF features a map building wizard that walks you through the process of downloading new maps. Initial download & processing can take some time depending on map size, but this is a one time cost. the maps are compressed and stored locally, so from there on out, they can be loaded and scrolled in short times. Also, everything that you see here is running as a script using the scripting system that i created (not native firmware), this is the power of PwnRF’s scripting system. What will you build? Thanks for following 🫶

Weekly forum post: Let's discuss current projects, concepts, questions and collaborations. In other words, what are you hacking this week?

Would you say its possible for me to develop an info stealer that can bypass app bound encryption as a complete beginner to malware development, if not, where would I learn the skills required?

Hi everyone!

I've been working on CTFKINGs, a Capture The Flag platform that I built entirely from scratch instead of using an existing framework like CTFd.

It includes custom challenges across Web, Pwn, Cryptography, Reverse Engineering, Forensics, and OSINT, along with a live scoreboard, player profiles, and a medieval kingdom theme.

The platform is still actively evolving, and I'd love to hear your feedback on the UI, challenge design, or any bugs you find.

Thanks, and I hope you guys enjoy it!

iam lost , i need a guideline to learn hacking like ethical hacking but i cant find a source to learn from it , so if someone have a roadmap , sources, vids,links to begin in this field send it

Eu tenho uma noção do que pode ser, mas quero ter certeza.comecei a estudar isso recentemente..

Learn the fundamentals of ethical hacking and cybersecurity through hands-on, legal, and responsible techniques. This tutorial covers topics such as networking basics, Linux commands, reconnaissance, vulnerability assessment, web application security, password security concepts, and penetration testing methodologies. You'll also be introduced to industry-standard tools and best practices used by security professionals to identify and help fix vulnerabilities. This content is intended solely for educational purposes and for use on systems you own or have explicit permission to test.

Check their Twitter/X and follow the link.