Android

Bound Service security and caller authorization

Intents, storage, permissions, WebView and inter-app communication.

Android components1 min readEditorial methods

Bound services expose functions across applications. Exporting a service creates a need for access checks on its methods too.

Evaluation approach

Connect caller identity to authority for each operation. Do not leave sensitive method protection solely to the interface.

Application example

A corporate signing service should operate only on documents the caller may access. Test calls with an invalid session separately.

Limits and considerations

Permission to bind must not imply permission to invoke every method.

Where should authorization happen?

Preserve caller identity throughout processing. Check that asynchronous work does not inherit the wrong user's authority. Audit outcomes without recording secrets or full business payloads.

Checks and decisions

  • Narrow the service contract
  • Authorize methods
  • Test disconnection

Sources

The primary references above provide the technical basis. Example workflows and evaluation suggestions are this publication’s explanations, not independent test results for a particular product.