flutter-security-hardening

Flutter Security Hardening Skill

Version: 1.1.0

Before starting any audit, run the update check (non-blocking, 3s timeout):

bash "${SKILL_PATH}/scripts/check-update.sh" "1.1.0"

If an update is available, show the user the update message. Then continue with the audit regardless.

This is the DEFENSE counterpart to the flutter-reverse-engineering skill. That skill shows how to break into Flutter apps. This skill PROTECTS them.

Input Modes

Mode A: Source Code (Default)

The user has the Flutter project source code. Scans code for vulnerabilities, offers fixes.

How to detect: User is in a Flutter project directory (has pubspec.yaml + lib/), or says "secure my app", "security audit", "harden my app".

Action: Proceed to Phase 0 (source audit).

Mode B: APK/XAPK File (Post-Build Verification)

The user provides a built APK — from build/app/outputs/, Downloads, or any path. This is a post-build security verification: did your security measures actually survive compilation?

How to detect: User provides a .apk or .xapk path, or says "check my APK", "audit my build", "is my release APK secure", "verify build/app/outputs/flutter-apk/app-release.apk".

Example prompts:

• "Check if my release APK is secure: build/app/outputs/flutter-apk/app-release.apk"
• "Audit this APK: C:/Users/me/Downloads/myapp.apk"
• "I built my app, verify the APK is hardened"
• "Scan my APK for leaked secrets"

Action: Proceed to APK Security Audit instead of source audit.

Mode C: Both (Source + APK)

If the user has both source code AND the built APK, run BOTH audits and compare:

• What the source code intends vs what the binary actually contains
• Did --obfuscate actually work? Compare class names in source vs strings in libapp.so
• Are there secrets in source that DON'T appear in the binary? (good — means they're server-side)
• Are there secrets in the binary that AREN'T in source? (bad — means a dependency leaks them)

How to detect: User is in a Flutter project AND provides an APK path, or says "audit my project and verify the build too".

---

APK Security Audit

For Mode B and Mode C

This is the "attacker's eye view" of your app. Extract and analyze the compiled APK to find what's actually exposed.

APK Step 1: Extract and Validate

WORK_DIR="./security-audit-output"
mkdir -p "$WORK_DIR"
unzip -o <apk_path> -d "$WORK_DIR/extracted"

Verify it's a Flutter app (check for libflutter.so, libapp.so, flutter_assets/).

APK Step 2: Manifest Security Checks

Extract and check AndroidManifest.xml for:

# Use aapt2 to dump manifest (handles binary XML)
aapt2 dump xmltree <apk_path> --file AndroidManifest.xml 2>/dev/null

Check	Secure Value	What to flag
android:debuggable	false or absent	true = anyone can attach debugger
android:allowBackup	false	true = adb backup extracts all app data
android:usesCleartextTraffic	false	true = allows HTTP (not HTTPS)
android:networkSecurityConfig	Present	Missing = no certificate pinning config
android:exported on activities	Only intended ones	Unnecessary exports = attack surface

Check permissions — flag dangerous ones without clear justification:

• READ_PHONE_STATE, READ_CONTACTS, ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION — needed?
• WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE — still used or legacy?
• SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW — very suspicious unless overlay feature exists

APK Step 3: Obfuscation Verification (THE KEY CHECK)

This proves whether --obfuscate actually worked:

# Extract strings from compiled Dart code
strings -n 6 "$WORK_DIR/extracted/lib/arm64-v8a/libapp.so" > "$WORK_DIR/dart_strings.txt"

# Check for readable class names — if obfuscated, these should be random
grep -E "^[A-Z][a-z]+[A-Z][a-zA-Z]+" "$WORK_DIR/dart_strings.txt" | head -50 > "$WORK_DIR/class_names_found.txt"

# Check for readable method names
grep -E "^(get|set|on|handle|fetch|load|save|update|delete|create)[A-Z]" "$WORK_DIR/dart_strings.txt" | head -50 > "$WORK_DIR/method_names_found.txt"

Scoring:

• If class/method names are readable (UserProvider, CallService, etc.) → OBFUSCATION FAILED (Critical)
• If names are random (aB3, xQ7, etc.) → Obfuscation working (Pass)
• If some readable, some not → Partial obfuscation (Warning — check which aren't obfuscated)

APK Step 4: Secret Extraction Test

The most critical check — can an attacker extract your secrets?

# API keys and tokens
grep -iE "(api[_-]?key|api[_-]?secret|secret[_-]?key|access[_-]?token|private[_-]?key|bearer)" "$WORK_DIR/dart_strings.txt" | sort -u > "$WORK_DIR/leaked_secrets.txt"

# Hardcoded URLs with credentials
grep -E "https?://[^:]+:[^@]+@" "$WORK_DIR/dart_strings.txt" > "$WORK_DIR/urls_with_creds.txt"

# API endpoints (not secrets but shows attack surface)
grep -E "https?://" "$WORK_DIR/dart_strings.txt" | sort -u > "$WORK_DIR/api_endpoints.txt"

# Firebase config
grep -iE "(firebase|google-services|api_key|project_id|messaging_sender)" "$WORK_DIR/dart_strings.txt" | sort -u > "$WORK_DIR/firebase_config.txt"

# Razorpay/payment keys
grep -iE "(rzp_|razorpay|stripe|sk_live|pk_live|sk_test|pk_test)" "$WORK_DIR/dart_strings.txt" | sort -u > "$WORK_DIR/payment_keys.txt"

# Agora keys
grep -iE "(agora|app_?id|app_?certificate)" "$WORK_DIR/dart_strings.txt" | sort -u > "$WORK_DIR/agora_keys.txt"

For each secret found:

• Classify severity (Critical: payment keys, auth tokens. High: API keys. Medium: config IDs)
• Show exactly what string was extracted
• Show how to fix it (move to server-side, NDK, etc.)
• If source code is available (Mode C), show which file it came from

APK Step 5: Network Security Config Check

# Check if network_security_config.xml exists in APK
ls "$WORK_DIR/extracted/res/xml/network_security_config.xml" 2>/dev/null

# Check for certificate pins
grep -i "pin-set\|pin digest" "$WORK_DIR/extracted/res/xml/network_security_config.xml" 2>/dev/null

# Check if cleartext is blocked
grep -i "cleartextTrafficPermitted" "$WORK_DIR/extracted/res/xml/network_security_config.xml" 2>/dev/null

Finding	Severity
No network_security_config.xml at all	High
Config exists but no certificate pins	Medium
Config exists with pins	Pass
cleartextTrafficPermitted="true" on base-config	High
Cleartext only for localhost/10.0.2.2	Pass (debug only)

APK Step 6: Native Library Security

# List all native libraries
find "$WORK_DIR/extracted/lib/" -name "*.so" | while read lib; do
  echo "$(basename $lib): $(du -h "$lib" | cut -f1)"
done

# Check if debug symbols are stripped
file "$WORK_DIR/extracted/lib/arm64-v8a/libapp.so" | grep -i "stripped\|not stripped"

Check for:

• libapp.so should be stripped (no debug symbols)
• No libflutter_debug.so (should be libflutter.so release variant)
• Third-party .so files should match known packages

APK Step 7: Flutter Assets Audit

# Check for sensitive files in flutter_assets
find "$WORK_DIR/extracted/assets/flutter_assets/" -type f | sort

# Check for .env files accidentally bundled
find "$WORK_DIR/extracted/assets/" -name "*.env" -o -name ".env*" -o -name "config.json" -o -name "secrets*"

# Check for debug kernel (should NOT be in release)
ls "$WORK_DIR/extracted/assets/flutter_assets/kernel_blob.bin" 2>/dev/null

Finding	Severity
.env file in assets	Critical
kernel_blob.bin present	Critical (debug build released!)
config.json with secrets	Critical
Only expected assets (images, fonts)	Pass

APK Step 8: Generate APK Security Score

Score the APK separately from source:

Category	Max Points	What's checked
Obfuscation	20	Class/method names unreadable in libapp.so
Secret Protection	25	No API keys, tokens, passwords in strings
Manifest Security	15	debuggable=false, allowBackup=false, no cleartext
Network Config	15	network_security_config exists with pins
Native Libraries	10	Stripped, release variant, no debug symbols
Asset Security	10	No .env, no kernel_blob.bin, no config secrets
Permissions	5	Only necessary permissions declared
Total	100

APK Audit Report

Output as:

# APK Security Audit: [app-name.apk]

## APK Security Score: [X/100]

## Binary vs Source Comparison (if both available)
| Check | Source Intent | Binary Reality | Match? |
|-------|-------------|----------------|--------|
| Obfuscation | --obfuscate in build script | Class names [readable/obfuscated] | [YES/NO] |
| API Keys | 3 keys in source | 2 keys visible in binary | NO — 1 leaked |
| allowBackup | Set to false in source | false in manifest | YES |
| ... | ... | ... | ... |

## Critical Findings
## High Findings
## Medium Findings
## Passed Checks
## Remediation Steps

After the APK audit, if the user also has source code, offer:

"I found [N] issues in your APK. Want me to fix the source code so your next build is clean?"

Then proceed to the source-mode auto-fix phases.

---

Overview

Run all phases sequentially. Phase 0 (audit) always runs first to establish baseline. Then walk through each phase, reporting findings and offering fixes. Phase 10 (auto-fix) runs when the user explicitly asks to fix/harden.

---

Phase 0: Security Audit

Run this FIRST on every invocation. Scan the Flutter project and produce a security score.

Steps

1. Locate the Flutter project. Look for pubspec.yaml in the working directory or prompt the user for the path.

2. Check pubspec.yaml for security packages (present or missing):

   # Check for these packages in pubspec.yaml:
   grep -E "flutter_secure_storage|freerasp|safe_device|flutter_jailbreak_detection|http_certificate_pinning|encrypt|firebase_app_check|local_auth" pubspec.yaml
   

   • Present: note version
   • Missing: flag as recommendation

3. Scan for hardcoded secrets in all .dart files:

   # Search for potential secrets
   grep -rn --include="*.dart" -E "(api[_-]?key|apiKey|secret|password|token|bearer|authorization|razorpay|agora.*app.*id|AGORA|RAZORPAY|firebase|private[_-]?key)" lib/
   grep -rn --include="*.dart" -E "(https?://[^ ]*@|https?://[^ ]*:[^ ]*@)" lib/
   grep -rn --include="*.dart" -E "(['\"][A-Za-z0-9_-]{20,}['\"])" lib/  # Long string literals that might be keys
   

   • Flag any hardcoded API keys, tokens, passwords, or base URLs containing credentials
   • Check for secrets in const declarations (these are embedded in the binary)
   • Check --dart-define usage in build scripts

4. Check Android security settings:

   # AndroidManifest.xml checks
   grep -r "debuggable" android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
   grep -r "allowBackup" android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
   grep -r "usesCleartextTraffic" android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
   
   # Network security config
   ls android/app/src/main/res/xml/network_security_config.xml 2>/dev/null
   
   # ProGuard
   ls android/app/proguard-rules.pro 2>/dev/null
   grep -r "minifyEnabled\|shrinkResources" android/app/build.gradle
   

5. Check iOS security settings:

   # ATS (App Transport Security)
   grep -A5 "NSAppTransportSecurity" ios/Runner/Info.plist
   grep "NSAllowsArbitraryLoads" ios/Runner/Info.plist
   

6. Check sensitive data storage:

   # SharedPreferences used for sensitive data?
   grep -rn --include="*.dart" "SharedPreferences" lib/ | grep -iE "(token|password|secret|key|auth|session|jwt|bearer)"
   
   # flutter_secure_storage usage?
   grep -rn --include="*.dart" "FlutterSecureStorage\|SecureStorage" lib/
   

7. Check for SSL pinning:

   grep -rn --include="*.dart" -iE "(certificate.*pin|ssl.*pin|pin.*certificate|SecurityContext|badCertificateCallback)" lib/
   

8. Check obfuscation in build configs:

   # Check build scripts, CI configs, Makefile, etc.
   grep -rn "obfuscate\|split-debug-info" . --include="*.yaml" --include="*.yml" --include="*.sh" --include="Makefile" --include="*.gradle"
   

9. Check Firebase security (if Firebase is used):

   • Look for firebase.json, firestore.rules, database.rules.json, storage.rules
   • Flag if rules contain allow read, write: if true or ".read": true, ".write": true

10. Check for debug code in release paths:

    grep -rn --include="*.dart" -E "^[^/]*print\(|^[^/]*debugPrint\(" lib/ | head -20
    grep -rn --include="*.dart" "kDebugMode\|kReleaseMode\|kProfileMode" lib/
    

Scoring

Calculate a score out of 100. Deduct points for each issue:

Check	Points deducted if failing
Hardcoded API keys/secrets in Dart code	-20 (CRITICAL)
No obfuscation configured	-15
allowBackup="true" or not set	-10
debuggable="true" in release	-10
usesCleartextTraffic="true"	-10
No network_security_config.xml	-5
Tokens in SharedPreferences (not secure storage)	-10
No SSL pinning	-8
No root/jailbreak detection	-5
No runtime protection (freerasp etc.)	-5
NSAllowsArbitraryLoads=YES in iOS	-8
Firebase rules too permissive	-10
print() statements without kReleaseMode guard	-3
No ProGuard/R8 configured	-5

Score interpretation:

• 90-100: Excellent. Production-hardened.
• 70-89: Good. A few improvements needed.
• 50-69: Moderate. Several security gaps.
• 30-49: Poor. Significant vulnerabilities.
• 0-29: Critical. App is wide open.

---

Phase 1: Secret Protection

THE number one problem. Never store secrets in Dart code.

What Is Extractable (the attacker's view)

Reference the flutter-reverse-engineering skill — everything it can extract is a vulnerability:

• Any string literal in Dart code is visible in libapp.so via strings command
• const values are embedded directly in the binary snapshot
• --dart-define values are still compiled into the binary, just slightly harder to find
• .env files bundled as assets are trivially extractable from the APK
• SharedPreferences are stored as plaintext XML at /data/data/<package>/shared_prefs/
• Asset files (JSON configs, certificates) are directly readable from the APK

Solutions (ranked by security level)

1. Server-Side Secrets (BEST)

Never put secrets in the app at all. The app authenticates with YOUR backend via JWT, and your backend holds the third-party API keys.

Example — Razorpay:

BEFORE (insecure):
  App has Razorpay key → App calls Razorpay directly
  
AFTER (secure):
  App calls YOUR backend → Backend has Razorpay key → Backend calls Razorpay
  App never sees the Razorpay key

Example — Agora tokens:

BEFORE (insecure):
  App has Agora App Certificate → App generates tokens locally

AFTER (secure):
  App calls YOUR backend → Backend has Agora App Certificate → Backend generates token → Returns token to app
  App only has the Agora App ID (which is public by design)

Migration pattern:

1. Identify every secret in the app
2. For each: can the operation be done server-side? If yes, move it.
3. Create a backend endpoint that performs the operation
4. App calls your endpoint instead

2. Native Code Storage (GOOD)

For secrets that MUST be on-device (e.g., encryption keys for local data):

Android — NDK/C++ via dart:ffi:

// Secrets stored in native C code, compiled into .so file
// Much harder to extract than Dart strings
// See references/secure-code-examples.md for full implementation

Cross-platform — flutter_secure_storage:

// Uses Keychain on iOS, EncryptedSharedPreferences on Android
final storage = FlutterSecureStorage();
await storage.write(key: 'auth_token', value: token);
final token = await storage.read(key: 'auth_token');

3. Encrypted Config (MODERATE)

Encrypt secrets at build time, decrypt at runtime using a key derived from device-specific info.

// Build time: encrypt with known key
// Runtime: decrypt using device fingerprint + app signature
// Not unbreakable but raises the bar significantly

4. Environment Separation (MINIMUM)

At least separate debug/release keys:

# Debug
flutter run --dart-define=API_BASE=https://dev-api.example.com

# Release  
flutter build apk --dart-define=API_BASE=https://api.example.com

• Never commit production keys to git
• Use CI/CD secrets injection

Action Items

For each secret found in Phase 0 audit, provide specific migration steps:

1. What the secret is
2. Where it was found (file + line)
3. Which solution level is appropriate
4. Exact code changes needed

---

Phase 2: Code Obfuscation

Make reverse engineering significantly harder.

Dart Obfuscation (MUST DO)

# Release build with obfuscation
flutter build apk --obfuscate --split-debug-info=build/debug-info/
flutter build appbundle --obfuscate --split-debug-info=build/debug-info/
flutter build ipa --obfuscate --split-debug-info=build/debug-info/

What this does:

• Renames ALL Dart symbols to random names (a, b, c, aa, ab, etc.)
• Class names, method names, variable names all become meaningless
• strings libapp.so becomes useless for finding class/method names
• Stack traces in crash reports use obfuscated names

CRITICAL: Save the debug-info directory securely!

• Needed for crash report symbolication (flutter symbolize)
• Store in CI/CD artifacts, NOT in the repository
• Without it, crash reports are unreadable

# Symbolicate a crash report
flutter symbolize -i crash_report.txt -d build/debug-info/

ProGuard/R8 for Android Native Code

Add to android/app/build.gradle:

android {
    buildTypes {
        release {
            minifyEnabled true
            shrinkResources true
            proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android-optimize.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
        }
    }
}

Create android/app/proguard-rules.pro — see references/secure-code-examples.md for the template.

Tree Shaking

Flutter does this by default in release mode:

• Dead code elimination removes unused code paths
• Unused packages are stripped from release builds
• Verify with: flutter build apk --analyze-size

---

Phase 3: Network Security

SSL/TLS Certificate Pinning

With dio (most common Flutter HTTP client):

// See references/secure-code-examples.md for full implementation
// Key concept: pin the certificate's public key hash
// When the server certificate changes, only the hash needs updating

Fallback strategy for certificate rotation:

• Pin multiple certificates (current + next)
• Include a backup unpinned endpoint for emergency config updates
• Implement remote certificate hash update mechanism

Network Security Config (Android)

Create android/app/src/main/res/xml/network_security_config.xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<network-security-config>
    <base-config cleartextTrafficPermitted="false">
        <trust-anchors>
            <certificates src="system" />
        </trust-anchors>
    </base-config>
    <domain-config cleartextTrafficPermitted="false">
        <domain includeSubdomains="true">your-api-domain.com</domain>
        <pin-set expiration="2026-01-01">
            <pin digest="SHA-256">YOUR_BASE64_HASH_HERE=</pin>
            <pin digest="SHA-256">BACKUP_BASE64_HASH_HERE=</pin>
        </pin-set>
    </domain-config>
</network-security-config>

Reference it in AndroidManifest.xml:

<application
    android:networkSecurityConfig="@xml/network_security_config"
    ...>

iOS App Transport Security

Ensure ATS is NOT disabled in ios/Runner/Info.plist. Remove or never add:

<!-- DO NOT HAVE THIS IN PRODUCTION -->
<key>NSAppTransportSecurity</key>
<dict>
    <key>NSAllowsArbitraryLoads</key>
    <true/>  <!-- THIS IS BAD -->
</dict>

If you need exceptions for specific domains only:

<key>NSAppTransportSecurity</key>
<dict>
    <key>NSExceptionDomains</key>
    <dict>
        <key>your-api-domain.com</key>
        <dict>
            <key>NSExceptionMinimumTLSVersion</key>
            <string>TLSv1.2</string>
            <key>NSExceptionRequiresForwardSecrecy</key>
            <true/>
        </dict>
    </dict>
</dict>

API Security

1. Request signing (HMAC): Sign every request with a shared secret so the server can verify the request came from your app. See references/secure-code-examples.md.

2. API versioning: Always version your API (/api/v1/, /api/v2/) so you can deprecate insecure old versions.

3. Rate limiting awareness: Implement exponential backoff on 429 responses. Do not retry indefinitely.

4. Token refresh flow security:

   • Store refresh tokens in flutter_secure_storage, never SharedPreferences
   • Implement token rotation (new refresh token on each use)
   • Short-lived access tokens (15-30 min)
   • Revoke refresh tokens server-side on logout
   • See references/secure-code-examples.md for implementation

---

Phase 4: Local Data Protection

Secure Storage

Replace SharedPreferences with flutter_secure_storage for ALL sensitive data:

• Auth tokens, JWT tokens, session IDs
• User credentials (if stored locally)
• Encryption keys
• Any PII

// BEFORE (insecure)
final prefs = await SharedPreferences.getInstance();
await prefs.setString('auth_token', token);

// AFTER (secure)
final secureStorage = FlutterSecureStorage();
await secureStorage.write(key: 'auth_token', value: token);

SharedPreferences is FINE for:

• User preferences (theme, language, notification settings)
• Non-sensitive app state
• Feature flags
• Onboarding completion status

Encrypted Local Databases

Hive with encryption:

final encryptionKey = await getOrCreateEncryptionKey();
final encryptedBox = await Hive.openBox('sensitive_data',
  encryptionCipher: HiveAesCipher(encryptionKey),
);

SQLite with SQLCipher:

// Use sqlcipher_flutter_libs package
// Encrypts the entire SQLite database file

Data Lifecycle

• Clear sensitive data on logout (tokens, cached user data)
• Clear cached images/files that contain sensitive content
• Implement optional app data auto-wipe after N failed auth attempts

Clipboard Protection

// Prevent sensitive text from lingering in clipboard
import 'package:flutter/services.dart';

// After pasting sensitive data, clear clipboard
Future.delayed(Duration(seconds: 30), () {
  Clipboard.setData(ClipboardData(text: ''));
});

---

Phase 5: Tamper Detection & Runtime Protection

APK Integrity Checks

Verify the APK has not been modified or repackaged:

// Check APK signing certificate hash at runtime
// If hash doesn't match your known certificate, the app has been tampered with
// See references/secure-code-examples.md for implementation

Root/Jailbreak Detection

// Using flutter_jailbreak_detection
import 'package:flutter_jailbreak_detection/flutter_jailbreak_detection.dart';

bool isCompromised = await FlutterJailbreakDetection.jailbroken;
bool isDeveloperMode = await FlutterJailbreakDetection.developerMode;

Comprehensive Runtime Protection with freeRASP

freeRASP by Talsec is the most comprehensive free option:

// Detects:
// - Root/jailbreak
// - Debugger attached
// - Emulator
// - Tampering (app repackaged)
// - Hooks (Frida, Xposed)
// - Unofficial installation source
// See references/security-packages.md for setup

Anti-Debugging

• Detect if a debugger is attached at runtime
• Detect if the app is running with debug flags enabled
• Detect reFlutter/Frida/Xposed frameworks

What to Do When Tampering Is Detected

Options (choose based on your threat model):

1. Log and report — silently report to your backend (for analytics)
2. Degrade functionality — disable sensitive features
3. Block entirely — show error and refuse to run
4. Combination — warn user, report to backend, disable payments

---

Phase 6: Firebase Security

Only applicable if Firebase is used. Check for google-services.json or firebase in pubspec.yaml.

Firebase API Keys

Important nuance: Firebase API keys in the app are PUBLIC BY DESIGN. They are not secrets. Security comes from Firebase Security Rules, not key secrecy. However:

• Restrict the API key in Google Cloud Console (limit to your app's package name and SHA-1)
• Enable Firebase App Check to prevent unauthorized API usage

Firestore Security Rules

Audit firestore.rules. Flag these patterns as CRITICAL:

// DANGEROUS - anyone can read/write everything
rules_version = '2';
service cloud.firestore {
  match /databases/{database}/documents {
    match /{document=**} {
      allow read, write: if true;
    }
  }
}

Secure pattern:

rules_version = '2';
service cloud.firestore {
  match /databases/{database}/documents {
    match /users/{userId} {
      allow read: if request.auth != null;
      allow write: if request.auth.uid == userId;
    }
  }
}

Realtime Database Rules

Audit database.rules.json. Same principle — never ".read": true, ".write": true at root.

Firebase Storage Rules

Audit storage.rules. Ensure uploaded files are scoped to authenticated users.

Firebase App Check

Recommend enabling Firebase App Check:

• Android: Play Integrity / SafetyNet
• iOS: App Attest / DeviceCheck
• Prevents unauthorized clients from accessing Firebase resources

---

Phase 7: Dependency Security

Scan pubspec.yaml

For each dependency:

1. Check last publish date on pub.dev — flag if >1 year old
2. Check pub.dev score — flag if <100 points
3. Check for known vulnerabilities (search GitHub advisories)
4. Verify publisher is official/verified on pub.dev
5. Flag packages with very low download counts (potential typosquatting)

Dependency Confusion Risks

• Check if any packages use hosted or git dependencies pointing to non-pub.dev sources
• Check for path dependencies that might not exist in CI/CD

Action Items

For each flagged dependency:

• Is there a more maintained alternative?
• Can it be removed entirely?
• Is the vulnerability relevant to how the app uses it?

---

Phase 8: Build & Release Security

Debug Mode Checks

Ensure debug code is guarded:

// GOOD - guarded
if (kDebugMode) {
  print('Debug info: $sensitiveData');
}

// BAD - prints in release
print('User token: $token');

Remove Print Statements

# Find unguarded print statements
grep -rn --include="*.dart" -E "^\s*(print|debugPrint)\(" lib/ | grep -v "kDebugMode\|kReleaseMode"

Android Release Configuration

In android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml:

<application
    android:debuggable="false"
    android:allowBackup="false"
    android:usesCleartextTraffic="false"
    android:networkSecurityConfig="@xml/network_security_config"
    ...>

Signing Key Security

• NEVER commit the keystore file (.jks, .keystore) to git
• NEVER commit key.properties to git
• Add to .gitignore:

  *.jks
  *.keystore
  key.properties
  

• Store signing keys in CI/CD secrets (GitHub Actions secrets, etc.)

Shorebird OTA Security (if used)

• Shorebird patches are code-signed — only patches from the original developer can be applied
• Ensure Shorebird channel configuration separates staging from production
• Monitor Shorebird dashboard for unauthorized patch attempts

---

Phase 9: Generate Security Report

After running all phases, output a structured report:

# [App Name] — Security Hardening Report

**Date:** [current date]
**Flutter Version:** [detected version]
**Security Score:** [X/100] — [Excellent/Good/Moderate/Poor/Critical]

---

## Critical Issues (fix immediately)
[List each with file, line, description, and fix]

## High Issues (fix before next release)
[List each with file, line, description, and fix]

## Medium Issues (fix soon)
[List each with file, line, description, and fix]

## Low Issues (improve when possible)
[List each with description and recommendation]

## Passed Checks
[List what's already secure — give credit where due]

---

## Implementation Checklist

### Secrets
- [ ] Move [specific key] to backend — found in [file:line]
- [ ] Replace SharedPreferences token storage with flutter_secure_storage — [file:line]

### Obfuscation
- [ ] Add --obfuscate --split-debug-info to release builds
- [ ] Configure ProGuard/R8 for Android

### Network
- [ ] Add SSL certificate pinning
- [ ] Create network_security_config.xml
- [ ] Verify iOS ATS settings

### Storage
- [ ] Migrate [specific items] from SharedPreferences to flutter_secure_storage

### Runtime Protection
- [ ] Add root/jailbreak detection
- [ ] Add freerasp for comprehensive runtime protection
- [ ] Add APK integrity verification

### Build
- [ ] Set android:allowBackup="false"
- [ ] Set android:debuggable="false"
- [ ] Remove unguarded print() statements ([count] found)
- [ ] Verify keystore is not in git

### Firebase (if applicable)
- [ ] Audit and tighten Firestore rules
- [ ] Audit and tighten RTDB rules
- [ ] Enable Firebase App Check
- [ ] Restrict API key in Google Cloud Console

### Dependencies
- [ ] Update [outdated packages]
- [ ] Replace [insecure packages]

---

Phase 10: Auto-Fix Mode

Trigger when user says "fix it", "harden my app", "apply fixes", or similar.

CRITICAL: ASK PERMISSION before each change. List what will be changed and get user confirmation.

Auto-fix actions (in order):

1. Add flutter_secure_storage to pubspec.yaml

   • Add dependency
   • Run flutter pub get

2. Create network_security_config.xml

   • Create android/app/src/main/res/xml/network_security_config.xml
   • Reference it in AndroidManifest.xml

3. Update AndroidManifest.xml

   • Set android:debuggable="false" (or remove — defaults to false in release)
   • Set android:allowBackup="false"
   • Set android:usesCleartextTraffic="false"
   • Add android:networkSecurityConfig="@xml/network_security_config"

4. Add obfuscation to build configuration

   • Update build scripts / CI config to include --obfuscate --split-debug-info=build/debug-info/
   • If no build script exists, create a build_release.sh

5. Create security_config.dart

   • Central security configuration file
   • Runtime security checks initialization
   • Secure storage helper methods

6. Migrate SharedPreferences tokens to secure storage

   • Find all instances where tokens/secrets use SharedPreferences
   • Create migration code that reads old values, writes to secure storage, deletes old values

7. Add ProGuard rules

   • Create android/app/proguard-rules.pro with Flutter-optimized rules
   • Enable minifyEnabled and shrinkResources in build.gradle

After each change, briefly explain what was done and why.

---

Phase 11: Security Documentation Export

After completing the security audit, offer to generate documentation. Ask the user: "Want me to generate a security report package? I'll create a markdown report and an interactive HTML dashboard with your security score and findings."

11.1: Markdown Security Report (SECURITY_REPORT.md)

Generate SECURITY_REPORT.md in the project root with the following structure, populated with real data from the audit:

# [App Name] — Security Hardening Report

> Generated by flutter-security-hardening skill
> Date: [date]
> Flutter SDK: [version] | Dart SDK: [version]

---

## Security Score: [X/100] [GRADE: A/B/C/D/F]

### Score Breakdown
```mermaid
pie title Security Score Breakdown
    "Secrets Protection" : [score]
    "Code Obfuscation" : [score]
    "Network Security" : [score]
    "Local Data Protection" : [score]
    "Tamper Detection" : [score]
    "Firebase Security" : [score]
    "Dependencies" : [score]
    "Build Security" : [score]

Score by Category

Category	Score	Max	Status
Secret Protection	X	15	[PASS/FAIL/WARN]
Code Obfuscation	X	10	...
Network Security	X	15	...
Local Data	X	15	...
Tamper Detection	X	10	...
Firebase Security	X	10	...
Dependencies	X	10	...
Build Security	X	15	...

---

Critical Issues (Fix Immediately)

[Red severity items with specific file paths and line numbers]

Vulnerability Flow

graph LR
    A[Attacker] -->|strings libapp.so| B[Extract API Keys]
    A -->|adb backup| C[Extract App Data]
    A -->|mitmproxy| D[Intercept API Calls]
    B --> E[Access Backend]
    C --> F[Steal User Tokens]
    D --> G[Modify Requests]
    
    style A fill:#ef4444
    style B fill:#ef4444
    style C fill:#ef4444
    style D fill:#ef4444

High Issues (Fix Before Release)

[Orange severity items]

Medium Issues (Fix Soon)

[Yellow severity items]

Low Issues (Improve When Possible)

[Blue severity items]

Passed Checks

[Green items — what's already secure]

---

Attack Surface Map

graph TD
    subgraph "Attack Vectors"
        APK[APK Reverse Engineering]
        NET[Network Interception]
        DEV[Device Access]
        STORE[App Store]
    end
    
    subgraph "Your Defenses"
        OBF[Obfuscation: ON/OFF]
        SSL[SSL Pinning: ON/OFF]
        SEC[Secure Storage: ON/OFF]
        ROOT[Root Detection: ON/OFF]
    end
    
    APK -.->|blocked by| OBF
    NET -.->|blocked by| SSL
    DEV -.->|blocked by| SEC
    DEV -.->|blocked by| ROOT

Implementation Checklist

• Move all API keys to backend server
• Enable --obfuscate --split-debug-info in build
• Add SSL certificate pinning
• Replace SharedPreferences with flutter_secure_storage for tokens
• Add network_security_config.xml
• Set allowBackup=false in AndroidManifest
• Add root/jailbreak detection (freeRASP)
• Audit Firebase security rules
• Remove all print() statements in release
• Configure ProGuard/R8
• Add APK signature verification
• ...

Detailed Findings

[For each finding: description, affected files, risk, exploit scenario, fix with code example]

Appendix: Recommended Packages

[Security packages to add with priority]

### 11.2: Interactive HTML Security Dashboard (`security_dashboard.html`)

Generate a single self-contained HTML file (`security_dashboard.html` in the project root) with ALL findings populated from the audit — not a template, but a complete report with real data.

**Required features:**

- **Security Score Gauge** — big circular gauge at the top showing 0-100 score with color (red < 30, orange < 50, yellow < 70, green >= 70)
- **Category Breakdown** — horizontal bar chart showing score per category
- **Issue Cards** — color-coded cards (red=critical, orange=high, yellow=medium, blue=low, green=passed) with expandable details
- **Attack Surface Visualization** — Mermaid diagram showing what's protected and what's not
- **Implementation Checklist** — interactive checkboxes (state saved to localStorage so they persist across browser sessions)
- **Dark/light mode toggle**
- **Print-friendly CSS** via `@media print`
- **Sidebar navigation** for jumping between sections
- **Mermaid.js via CDN** for diagrams (`https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/mermaid/dist/mermaid.min.js`)
- **All CSS/JS inline** — zero external dependencies except the mermaid CDN
- **Export checklist as JSON button** so the team can track progress

**HTML template structure:**

```html
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en" data-theme="light">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>[App Name] — Security Dashboard</title>
    <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/mermaid/dist/mermaid.min.js"></script>
    <style>
        /* Modern dashboard CSS — dark/light mode support */
        :root { --bg: #fff; --text: #1a1a2e; --accent: #6366f1; --card: #f8fafc; --border: #e2e8f0; --red: #ef4444; --orange: #f97316; --yellow: #eab308; --green: #22c55e; --blue: #3b82f6; }
        [data-theme="dark"] { --bg: #0f172a; --text: #e2e8f0; --accent: #818cf8; --card: #1e293b; --border: #334155; }
        
        /* Score gauge (CSS-only circular gauge) */
        .score-gauge { width: 200px; height: 200px; border-radius: 50%; background: conic-gradient(var(--score-color) calc(var(--score) * 1%), var(--border) 0); display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; margin: 2rem auto; }
        .score-gauge .inner { width: 160px; height: 160px; border-radius: 50%; background: var(--bg); display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; flex-direction: column; }
        .score-number { font-size: 3rem; font-weight: 800; color: var(--score-color); }
        .score-grade { font-size: 1.2rem; color: var(--text); opacity: 0.7; }
        
        /* Issue cards */
        .issue-card { border-left: 4px solid; border-radius: 8px; padding: 1rem; margin: 0.5rem 0; background: var(--card); }
        .issue-critical { border-color: var(--red); }
        .issue-high { border-color: var(--orange); }
        .issue-medium { border-color: var(--yellow); }
        .issue-low { border-color: var(--blue); }
        .issue-pass { border-color: var(--green); }
        
        /* Category bars */
        .category-bar { height: 24px; border-radius: 12px; background: var(--border); margin: 0.5rem 0; position: relative; overflow: hidden; }
        .category-fill { height: 100%; border-radius: 12px; transition: width 0.5s; }
        
        /* Checklist */
        .checklist-item { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 0.75rem; padding: 0.5rem; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border); }
        .checklist-item input[type="checkbox"] { width: 20px; height: 20px; accent-color: var(--green); }
        .checklist-item.checked label { text-decoration: line-through; opacity: 0.6; }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <!-- Sidebar + Main content with all sections populated with real data from the audit -->
    <script>
        mermaid.initialize({ startOnLoad: true, theme: 'default' });
        // Theme toggle logic
        // Checklist localStorage persistence
        // JSON export functionality
    </script>
</body>
</html>

IMPORTANT: The skill should generate the FULL HTML with ALL findings populated — not a template. Every issue card, every score, every diagram should contain actual data from the audit. Replace all placeholder values with real findings.

11.3: Output and User Communication

Save the two files to:

• SECURITY_REPORT.md in the project root
• security_dashboard.html in the project root

After generating both files, tell the user:

"Generated two security documentation files:

• SECURITY_REPORT.md — Full markdown report with Mermaid diagrams (renders on GitHub)
• security_dashboard.html — Interactive dashboard with score gauge, issue cards, and checklist (open in any browser)

The HTML dashboard saves your checklist progress in the browser, so you can track fixes over time."