- Platform: iOS
- Weakness: MASWE-0036
- Weakness in the numbering of the MASWE beta: MASWE-0053
- Profiles: L2 (advanced security)
- Type: static, code, manual
- Knowledge: MASTG-KNOW-0100
- Best practices: MASTG-BEST-0026
Overview
This test verifies whether the target app prevents sensitive information entered into text fields from being cached by the system keyboard. On iOS, the keyboard may suggest previously entered text when typing in any app on the device.
The test checks whether UI elements such as UITextField, UITextView, and UISearchBar prevent keyboard caching by using one or more of the following attributes:
- Setting
UITextAutocorrectionType - Enabling
isSecureTextEntry - Setting
spellCheckingType
Note: By default, text input is eligible for keyboard caching, and an app does not need to explicitly set UITextAutocorrectionType when creating a text field. Additionally, the UI may be configured in a Storyboard. As a result, this test may miss many true positives. For complete coverage, using MASTG-TEST-0314 is recommended.
Steps
- Use MASTG-TECH-0058 to extract the relevant binaries from app package.
- Use MASTG-TECH-0066 to look for the relevant APIs in the app binaries.
Observation
The output should contain a list of locations where the app:
- creates text input fields such as
UITextField,UITextView, orUISearchBar, and - explicitly configures input attributes that prevent keyboard caching for security sensitive text fields.
Evaluation
The test case fails if any UI inputs that may handle sensitive values, for example usernames, passwords, email addresses, credit card numbers, or recovery codes, are eligible for keyboard caching. This occurs when:
isSecureTextEntryis not enabled, orautocorrectionTypeis set todefaultoryes, orspellCheckingTypeis set todefaultoryes.
Further Validation Required:
Inspect each reported code location using MASTG-TECH-0076 to determine the values assigned to the input attributes and whether the text field handles sensitive data.
Note
Depending on the app's threat model, some text fields may not require disabling spell checking. However, since enabling
isSecureTextEntryimplicitly disables both autocorrection and spell checking, and since explicit guarantees are otherwise limited, it is generally advisable to disable all three attributes for any text field that may handle sensitive information.
Expected False Negatives:
This test may produce false negatives if the app uses custom text input controls that do not rely on standard UIKit classes such as UITextField or UITextView, for example in custom UI frameworks or game engines, or if text entry is handled through nonstandard abstractions that prevent reliable observation of input traits at rest.
- OWASP -
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- OWASP Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS) 5.0.0, May 2025, from OWASP/ASVS: © 2008-2025 The OWASP Foundation, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes: divided into sections and converted into the GRCA format, the wording unchanged. These adaptations are shared under CC BY-SA 4.0 as well.
- OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS) v2.1.0, January 2024, from OWASP/masvs: © The OWASP Foundation, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes: converted into the GRCA format, the wording unchanged. These adaptations are shared under CC BY-SA 4.0 as well.
- OWASP Mobile Application Security Weakness Enumeration (MASWE) v1.0.0, August 2026, from OWASP/maswe: © The OWASP Foundation, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes: converted into the GRCA format, the wording unchanged, linked to the MASVS controls they map to. These adaptations are shared under CC BY-SA 4.0 as well.
- OWASP Mobile Application Security Testing Guide (MASTG) v2.0.0, June 2026, from OWASP/mastg: © The OWASP Foundation, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. The tests and best practices only, without code samples, images, tools or apps. Changes: converted into the GRCA format, the wording unchanged; references to other pages of the MASTG as links to mas.owasp.org; the weakness of each test in the numbering of MASWE v1 and linked to it. These adaptations are shared under CC BY-SA 4.0 as well.
- OWASP Software Assurance Maturity Model (SAMM) v2.2.0, July 2026, from owaspsamm/core: © The OWASP Foundation, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes: converted into the GRCA format, the wording unchanged; short codes (G-SM-1-A) built from the model, the assessment questions as assessment procedures of their activities. These adaptations are shared under CC BY-SA 4.0 as well.
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- OWASP Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS) 5.0.0, Mai 2025, aus OWASP/ASVS: © 2008-2025 The OWASP Foundation, lizenziert unter CC BY-SA 4.0. Änderungen: in Abschnitte aufgeteilt und in das GRCA-Format umgewandelt, der Wortlaut unverändert. Diese Bearbeitungen stehen ebenfalls unter CC BY-SA 4.0.
- OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS) v2.1.0, Januar 2024, aus OWASP/masvs: © The OWASP Foundation, lizenziert unter CC BY-SA 4.0. Änderungen: in das GRCA-Format umgewandelt, der Wortlaut unverändert. Diese Bearbeitungen stehen ebenfalls unter CC BY-SA 4.0.
- OWASP Mobile Application Security Weakness Enumeration (MASWE) v1.0.0, August 2026, aus OWASP/maswe: © The OWASP Foundation, lizenziert unter CC BY-SA 4.0. Änderungen: in das GRCA-Format umgewandelt, der Wortlaut unverändert, mit den MASVS-Controls verknüpft, denen sie zugeordnet sind. Diese Bearbeitungen stehen ebenfalls unter CC BY-SA 4.0.
- OWASP Mobile Application Security Testing Guide (MASTG) v2.0.0, Juni 2026, aus OWASP/mastg: © The OWASP Foundation, lizenziert unter CC BY-SA 4.0. Nur die Tests und Best Practices, ohne Codebeispiele, Bilder, Werkzeuge und Apps. Änderungen: in das GRCA-Format umgewandelt, der Wortlaut unverändert; Verweise auf andere Seiten des MASTG als Links zu mas.owasp.org; die Schwachstelle jedes Tests in der Nummerierung der MASWE v1 und mit ihr verknüpft. Diese Bearbeitungen stehen ebenfalls unter CC BY-SA 4.0.
- OWASP Software Assurance Maturity Model (SAMM) v2.2.0, Juli 2026, aus owaspsamm/core: © The OWASP Foundation, lizenziert unter CC BY-SA 4.0. Änderungen: in das GRCA-Format umgewandelt, der Wortlaut unverändert; Kürzel (G-SM-1-A) aus dem Modell gebildet, die Assessment-Fragen als Prüfverfahren ihrer Aktivitäten. Diese Bearbeitungen stehen ebenfalls unter CC BY-SA 4.0.
- OWASP Top 10:2025, aus OWASP/Top10: © 2003-2025 The OWASP® Foundation, Inc., lizenziert unter CC BY-SA 4.0. Die zehn Kategorien, ohne die Symbole. Änderungen: in das GRCA-Format umgewandelt, der Wortlaut unverändert. Diese Bearbeitungen stehen ebenfalls unter CC BY-SA 4.0. Die Namen der zugeordneten CWEs (Common Weakness Enumeration): © 2006–2026 The MITRE Corporation. MITRE erlaubt die Nutzung für Forschung, Entwicklung und kommerzielle Zwecke, wenn jede Kopie den Urheberrechtsvermerk und die Lizenz enthält; maßgeblich ist der englische Wortlaut der Lizenz oben und die CWE Terms of Use. CWE™ ist eine Marke der MITRE Corporation.