Android and iOS

Preventing information leaks in mobile API errors

TLS, authorization, request integrity, caching and network failures.

Network and API protection1 min readEditorial methods

Errors should guide users without exposing internal server details. Keep stack traces and secret configuration out of responses.

Evaluation approach

Separate external codes from internal diagnostics and provide a safe correlation identifier.

Application example

Explain whether retrying is appropriate without disclosing every internal security-rule detail.

Limits and considerations

Returning success for every failure harms client behavior and monitoring.

What should support retain?

A limited event identifier, version and error class provide a starting point. Let authorized staff retrieve the internal record rather than sending it all to the user.

Checks and decisions

  • Define error classes
  • Mask internal details
  • Provide support identifiers

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.