MASTG-TEST-0330 References to APIs for Keys used in Biometric Authentication with Extended Validity Duration (Android)

Platform: Android
Weakness: MASWE-0020
Weakness in the numbering of the MASWE beta: MASWE-0044
Profiles: L2 (advanced security)
Type: static, code
APIs: KeyGenParameterSpec.Builder, setUserAuthenticationParameters, setUserAuthenticationValidityDurationSeconds
Knowledge: MASTG-KNOW-0001, MASTG-KNOW-0043, MASTG-KNOW-0047, MASTG-KNOW-0012
Best practices: MASTG-BEST-0036

Overview

This test checks if the app configures cryptographic keys with an extended validity duration that allows keys to remain unlocked beyond the immediate operation. When using biometric authentication with CryptoObject, the authentication validity duration determines how long a key remains usable after successful authentication.

On Android, developers can configure this behavior using setUserAuthenticationParameters(int timeout, int type)) or the deprecated setUserAuthenticationValidityDurationSeconds(int)) when generating keys with KeyGenParameterSpec.Builder:

Duration = 0: The key requires authentication for every cryptographic operation. This is the most secure configuration as each use of the key requires biometric verification.
Duration > 0: The key remains unlocked for the specified duration (in seconds) after successful authentication. When the duration is set to a high value in the range of minutes or hours an attacker with physical access to the phone could trigger sensitive operations without biometric verification.

Steps

Use MASTG-TECH-0013 to reverse engineer the app.
Use MASTG-TECH-0014 to look for the relevant APIs.

Observation

The output should include a list of locations where the relevant APIs are used.

Evaluation

The test case fails if the app configures keys used for sensitive operations with:

setUserAuthenticationParameters(duration, type) where duration > 0
setUserAuthenticationValidityDurationSeconds(duration) where duration > 0

Note
A non-zero authentication validity duration is not inherently a vulnerability. Short durations in the range of seconds may be acceptable for certain use cases where multiple related operations need to be performed in quick succession. However, for high-security applications and sensitive operations, requiring authentication per use (duration = 0) provides the strongest protection against unauthorized key usage and runtime attacks.

Lingitud teemad

Lingid
Lingi tüüp	Teema
is related to	MASTG-BEST-0036 Use Cryptographic Binding for Biometric Authentication (Android)

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