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wtf is mastg-hacking-playground?

owasp/mastg-hacking-playground — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-08-07 · repo last pushed 2022-10-31

686JavaAudience · developerComplexity · 3/5DormantSetup · moderate

TL;DR

A collection of deliberately insecure iOS and Android mobile apps that let you practice finding and understanding mobile security vulnerabilities from the OWASP Mobile Security Testing Guide.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it does
      Deliberately insecure mobile apps
      Practice targets for security flaws
      Maps to OWASP testing guide
    Apps included
      Android Java app
      Android Kotlin app
      iOS Swift app
    Requires backend
      Kotlin app needs server
      iOS app needs server
      Server included in repo
    Who it is for
      Developers learning security
      Security researchers
      Training workshops
    Part of OWASP
      Mobile Application Security ecosystem
      Includes crackme challenges
      Open to contributions

Code map

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Why would anyone build with this?

REASON 1

Practice identifying mobile security vulnerabilities in a safe sandbox environment.

REASON 2

Learn how common coding mistakes lead to real security flaws in iOS and Android apps.

REASON 3

Train teams in mobile app penetration testing during workshops or courses.

REASON 4

Study vulnerable source code to understand what dangerous patterns to avoid in your own apps.

What's in the stack?

JavaKotlinSwift

How it stacks up

owasp/mastg-hacking-playgroundgetactivity/gsonfactorypeng-zhihui/bluetoothtouch
Stars686775533
LanguageJavaJavaJava
Last pushed2022-10-312026-07-112021-07-09
MaintenanceDormantActiveDormant
Setup difficultymoderatemoderatemoderate
Complexity3/52/52/5
Audiencedeveloperdevelopergeneral

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you spin it up?

Difficulty · moderate Time to first run · 30min

The Kotlin and iOS apps require running a small backend server included in the repo, and iOS testing requires Xcode and a Mac.

The license is not specified in the available information about this project.

Wtf does this do

The MASTG Hacking Playground is a collection of intentionally insecure iOS and Android mobile apps designed to help people learn about mobile security vulnerabilities. These are practice targets, deliberately flawed apps you can poke at to understand what makes real applications vulnerable. The apps contain known security weaknesses drawn from the OWASP Mobile Application Security Testing Guide, a broader set of standards for evaluating mobile app security. Each app maps specific vulnerabilities to corresponding test cases in that guide, so after you find a flaw in the playground app, you can read the guide to understand why it's dangerous and how to fix it. The project serves three main audiences. Developers can look at the vulnerable code and see the real consequences of common mistakes, then learn best practices to avoid them. Security researchers and penetration testers can use the apps to practice identifying dangerous code patterns they'd need to hunt for when auditing real apps. The apps are also used in training workshops and educational settings for hands-on learning. The repository includes an Android Java app, an Android Kotlin app, and an iOS Swift app. The Kotlin and iOS apps require a small backend server to run, which is included in the repo. The Java app runs on its own. Each app lists its available test cases in a wiki so you know what vulnerabilities are waiting to be found. The project is part of the broader OWASP Mobile Application Security ecosystem, which also includes separate "crackme" challenges focused on reverse engineering practice. The project is currently maintained by a single developer and welcomes contributions, whether that means adding more vulnerability scenarios, improving the apps, or fixing bugs.

Yoink these prompts

Prompt 1
Help me set up and run the MASTG Hacking Playground Android Kotlin app and its backend server locally so I can start practicing mobile security testing.
Prompt 2
Walk me through how to use the OWASP MASTG test cases to find and document vulnerabilities in the MASTG Hacking Playground iOS Swift app.
Prompt 3
I found a vulnerability in one of the MASTG Hacking Playground apps, help me look up the corresponding OWASP MASTG test case and explain why this flaw is dangerous and how to fix it.
Prompt 4
Show me how to identify insecure data storage vulnerabilities in the Android Java app from the MASTG Hacking Playground and explain the best practices to prevent them.
Prompt 5
Help me add a new vulnerability scenario to the MASTG Hacking Playground so I can contribute back to the OWASP project.

Frequently asked questions

wtf is mastg-hacking-playground?

A collection of deliberately insecure iOS and Android mobile apps that let you practice finding and understanding mobile security vulnerabilities from the OWASP Mobile Security Testing Guide.

What language is mastg-hacking-playground written in?

Mainly Java. The stack also includes Java, Kotlin, Swift.

Is mastg-hacking-playground actively maintained?

Dormant — no commits in 2+ years (last push 2022-10-31).

What license does mastg-hacking-playground use?

The license is not specified in the available information about this project.

How hard is mastg-hacking-playground to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated moderate, with roughly 30min to a first successful run.

Who is mastg-hacking-playground for?

Mainly developer.

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