Securing OTA Updates for Cordova Apps

Hot updates move fast, which means security needs automation, visibility, and signed artifacts at every hop.

Because Cordova bundles are effectively application code, tampering can expose sensitive data or compromise devices. Harden your OTA system with these layered controls.

Sign Everything

Create a dedicated code-signing key stored inside an HSM or managed KMS. Every bundle should be hashed, signed, and verified on device before extraction. Rotate keys annually and revoke old keys inside the client. Pair signatures with strict version manifests to prevent downgrade attacks.

Protect Secrets and Infrastructure

Publish

Restrict who can upload bundles. Require MFA and issue auditable service accounts for CI.

Transport

Serve updates from TLS-only origins with modern ciphers. Pin certificates inside your client if possible.

Storage

Encrypt rest buckets, limit lifecycle to the releases required for your rollback strategy.

Enforce Policy through Automation

Codify governance rules inside CI: run SAST, dependency audits, and vulnerability scans before packaging. Gate deployments via the rollout framework so risky builds never reach production. Document and rehearse your incident response steps alongside the communication plan.

When stakeholders trust that OTA updates are tamper-proof and observable, they’re far more likely to champion the faster delivery cadence.