+MASTG-BEST-0050 Store Data Encrypted in App Sandbox Directory (Android)

MASTG-BEST-0050 Store Data Encrypted in App Sandbox Directory (Android)

Platform: Android
Knowledge: MASTG-KNOW-0036

Store sensitive data in SharedPreferences only after encrypting it. Standard SharedPreferences stores values in XML files inside the app's private data directory, so values such as credentials, authentication tokens, private keys, or personally identifiable information (PII) should not be stored in cleartext.

For apps that use SharedPreferences, use EncryptedSharedPreferences or an equivalent mechanism that encrypts preference keys and values before they are written to disk. An equivalent mechanism should use authenticated encryption, protect encryption keys with the Android Keystore or another appropriate key management system, and avoid custom cryptography.

Note
EncryptedSharedPreferences is part of the Jetpack Security Crypto library. All APIs in that library were deprecated in version 1.1.0, and Android states that there will be no subsequent releases. It may still be a practical mitigation for existing apps that must keep using SharedPreferences, but it should not be treated as a long term storage strategy. Monitor Android's cryptography and DataStore guidance, and plan a migration to a supported encryption approach when available.

Android recommends DataStore as a modern replacement for SharedPreferences, but DataStore does not encrypt data by default. If you migrate sensitive data to DataStore, use an appropriate encryption layer before writing the data. AndroidX introduced the androidx.datastore:datastore-tink artifact for DataStore encryption support in version 1.3.0-alpha07. This provides encryption using the Tink library and AeadSerializer, which wraps an existing DataStore serializer and performs authenticated encryption and decryption. See the DataStore release notes for more information and an example of use.

1. Ülevaade

Pealkiri	Standard

1.1 Viited

1.2 Tuvastatud nõuded

1.3 Seotud regulatsioonid

2. Tuvastatud nõuded

Nõuded
Allikas	Nõue

3. Seotud regulatsioonid

Regulatsioonid
Allikas	Regulatsioon

Lingitud teemad

Lingid
Lingi tüüp	Teema
is related to	MASTG-TEST-0207 Runtime Storage of Unencrypted Data in the App Sandbox (Android)
is related to	MASTG-TEST-0287 Runtime Storage of Unencrypted Data via the SharedPreferences API (Android)

OWASP -
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- 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.
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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.