MASTG-BEST-0051 Minimize iOS Permissions and Entitlements (iOS)

• Platform: iOS
• Knowledge: MASTG-KNOW-0077

Request only the iOS permissions and app capabilities that the app actually needs, and prefer the narrowest Apple-supported access model for each feature. This reduces unnecessary exposure of personal data and limits the blast radius if the app, an extension, or a shared container is later abused.

Review Info.plist purpose strings, the signed entitlements, and any provisioning-profile entitlements together before release. A permission prompt or capability should map to a concrete feature that users can understand and justify. Remove unused or speculative entries instead of keeping them "just in case".

Prefer Narrower Access Paths

When Apple provides a user-selected or limited-access API, prefer it over broad library or background access. For example, use PHPickerViewController or PhotosPicker when users only need to choose specific photos, and request full photo library access only when the app genuinely needs it.

For location, request when in use access before considering broader background access. For Bluetooth, HealthKit, HomeKit, Siri, or other protected services, enable only the capabilities and usage-description keys that are strictly required for the implemented feature set.

Minimize Data-Sharing Capabilities

Treat entitlements such as App Groups, iCloud containers, and Associated Domains as sensitive design decisions, not default conveniences. They can create new paths for sharing, syncing, or exposing personal data across apps, extensions, websites, or devices.

Before enabling one of these capabilities, document the exact data flow it unlocks, the minimum set of targets that need it, and the security controls that protect the data afterward. If the same feature can be implemented without broad shared containers or external associations, prefer the narrower design.

Note

Newer Apple privacy mechanisms such as privacy manifests and required-reason APIs complement these checks but do not replace purpose strings or entitlements. You still need to minimize and review both.

1. Yleiskatsaus

1.1 Viittaukset

1.2 Tunnistetut vaatimukset

1.3 Liittyvät säädökset

2. Tunnistetut vaatimukset

3. Liittyvät säädökset

Linkitetyt tehtävät

• OWASP -

  EN: Publications of the OWASP Foundation, https://owasp.org/. OWASP® is a registered trademark of the OWASP Foundation, Inc.; GRCA is not affiliated with, nor endorsed by, the OWASP Foundation. Only the versions published by OWASP are authoritative.

  • 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.
  • OWASP Top 10:2025, from OWASP/Top10: © 2003-2025 The OWASP® Foundation, Inc., licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. The ten categories, without the icons. Changes: converted into the GRCA format, the wording unchanged. These adaptations are shared under CC BY-SA 4.0 as well. The names of the mapped CWEs (Common Weakness Enumeration): © 2006–2026 The MITRE Corporation. License: The MITRE Corporation hereby grants you a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use CWE for research, development, and commercial purposes. Any copy you make for such purposes is authorized on the condition that you reproduce MITRE’s copyright designation and this license in any such copy. See the CWE Terms of Use. CWE™ is a trademark of The MITRE Corporation.

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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.