Overview

As mobile apps become the primary interface for customer engagement, businesses face escalating risks from insecure data storage, weak encryption, reverse-engineered code, and vulnerable third-party SDKs. Many organizations rely on basic SAST/DAST scans or assume app store approvals guarantee security, leaving authentication bypasses, API key leaks, and malicious tampering undetected. Mobile Application Penetration Testing addresses these gaps by simulating real-world attacks on iOS, Android, and hybrid apps, ensuring your mobile ecosystem withstands both technical exploits and human-centric threats.

What is Mobile Application Penetration Testing?

Mobile Application Penetration Testing is a manual, in-depth security assessment where ethical hackers dissect your mobile app’s binaries, APIs, and backend integrations to uncover vulnerabilities that automated tools miss. Our experts emulate attackers—reverse-engineering code, intercepting insecure traffic, and exploiting weak runtime protections—to identify risks in data handling, authentication, and client-server interactions, delivering actionable fixes to secure your app across devices and OS versions.

Key Focus Areas

We target critical vulnerabilities aligned with the OWASP Mobile Top 10 and platform-specific threats, including:

✅ Insecure Data Storage (Plaintext credentials, sensitive logs, cached PII)
✅ Weak Cryptographic Practices (Hardcoded keys, deprecated algorithms)
✅ Insecure Communication (Unencrypted HTTP, SSL pinning bypasses)
✅ Code Tampering & Reverse Engineering (Jailbreak/root detection flaws, exposed API keys)
✅ Insecure Authentication/Authorization (Biometric bypass, OAuth token theft)
✅ Client-Side Injection (SQLite, XSS, or Intent-based attacks)
✅ Misconfigured OS Controls (Overprivileged apps, insecure file permissions)
✅ Third-Party SDK Risks (Ad libraries, analytics tools with data leaks)
✅ Broken Business Logic (In-app purchase bypasses, loyalty point exploits)
✅ Insecure Backend APIs (Mobile-specific endpoint vulnerabilities)

How We Execute Mobile Application Penetration Testing

Our adversarial approach combines static/dynamic analysis and real-device exploitation:

1. Pre-Engagement Scoping

   • Define testing boundaries (e.g., iOS/Android versions, rooted/jailbroken device permissions).

2. Static Analysis

   • Decompile binaries (Java, Kotlin, Swift) to review hardcoded secrets, insecure code patterns, and SDK risks.

3. Dynamic Analysis

   • Intercept app traffic (Burp Suite, Frida) to test SSL pinning, API key exposure, and session management flaws.

4. Reverse Engineering

   • Bypass certificate pinning, modify APK/IPA files, and test runtime protections (e.g., anti-debugging).

5. Authentication & Session Testing

   • Exploit weak OAuth flows, token reuse, or biometric authentication bypasses.

6. Local Data Forensics

   • Extract unencrypted databases, plist files, and keystores from device storage.

7. Backend API Testing

   • Probe mobile-specific APIs for BOLA, IDOR, and mass assignment vulnerabilities.

8. Third-Party SDK Audits

   • Analyze embedded libraries (e.g., Firebase, Facebook SDK) for data leakage or outdated components.

9. Physical Device Exploitation

   • Test jailbroken iOS/rooted Android scenarios for privilege escalation risks.

10. Reporting & Remediation

    • Provide risk-prioritized fixes, secure coding guidelines, and tamper-proofing recommendations.

Our Methodologies
We align with industry-leading standards, including:
✅ OWASP Mobile Top 10
✅ MITRE ATT&CK for Mobile
✅ PTES (Penetration Testing Execution Standard)
✅ MASVS (Mobile Application Security Verification Standard)
✅ GDPR, CCPA, & PCI DSS Mobile App Requirements

Why Choose Mobile Application Penetration Testing?

🔒 Certified Mobile Security Experts: OSCP, OSWA, and GIAC GMOB-certified testers.
🔒 Platform-Specific Mastery: Deep expertise in iOS Swift/Objective-C, Android Java/Kotlin, and React Native/Flutter frameworks.
🔒 Zero False Positives: Manual validation of every exploit (e.g., PoC videos for bypass scenarios).
🔒 Compliance Alignment: Prepare for GDPR, HIPAA, and app store security mandates (Apple App Store/Google Play).
🔒 Proven Impact: Uncovered 900+ mobile vulnerabilities in 2023, including critical flaws in fintech and healthcare apps.

Secure Your Mobile Experience—From Code to Customer
Schedule a Free Mobile App Risk Assessment