Mobile Application Penetration Testing
Your mobile app runs on a device you don't control, stores data you can't protect, and talks to servers over networks you can't see. We test all of it — binary, runtime, storage, and API.
What Is Mobile Application Penetration Testing?
Mobile application penetration testing is the process of identifying and exploiting security vulnerabilities in iOS and Android applications. The assessment covers the application binary, the device-side data storage, network communications between the app and its backend, and the server-side APIs that power the application.
Mobile apps introduce a distinct threat model. Code runs on a device the user controls, data is stored locally, and communication happens over networks that can be intercepted. Our CREST-certified consultants test each of these layers using real devices, instrumentation frameworks, and manual reverse engineering.
Scope of a Mobile App Pentest
Every layer where data lives or flows.
Static Analysis
Decompilation and disassembly of the application binary. Hardcoded secrets, API keys, encryption keys, insecure code paths, and embedded credentials. We read the code that was supposed to stay compiled.
Dynamic Analysis
Runtime manipulation using instrumentation frameworks (Frida, Objection). Method hooking, SSL pinning bypass, root/jailbreak detection bypass, runtime behaviour modification, and traffic interception.
Reverse Engineering
Application binary analysis, code obfuscation evaluation, control flow reconstruction, and identification of proprietary protocol implementations. We break down the app to understand exactly how it works.
Local Data Storage
Keychain and Keystore analysis, SharedPreferences inspection, SQLite database examination, clipboard exposure, log file leakage, and backup data exposure. Sensitive data left on the device is a common finding.
Network Communications
TLS implementation validation, certificate pinning assessment, custom protocol analysis, WebSocket testing, and interception of API traffic between the application and backend services.
Security Mechanisms
Root/jailbreak detection, anti-debugging measures, code obfuscation strength, app tampering protection, and biometric authentication implementations. We test whether the app's defences actually hold up.
We test both iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android (phone and tablet) applications. Testing is conducted on real devices — not emulators — using the latest OS versions, with optional testing on older versions for coverage.
Testing Approaches
Three levels of access. Three threat scenarios.
Black Box
The tester receives only the application package (APK or IPA) with no source code or documentation. Simulates an attacker who downloads the app from a public store and attempts to find vulnerabilities.
Best for: Public-facing apps, measuring what a real attacker could achieve.
Grey Box
Grey box testing combines black box approaches with authentication bypass and API documentation. We evaluate both client-side vulnerabilities and server-side logic using OWASP Top 10 Mobile, OWASP Top 10 API, and MASTG v2.0 frameworks.
Best for: Apps with authentication, multi-role applications, API-focused testing.
White Box
Source code provided alongside the application binary and backend access. Our consultants can trace vulnerabilities from input through the codebase, identify insecure coding patterns, and find logic flaws that are invisible from the binary alone.
Best for: Pre-release applications, regulated industries, maximum coverage.
Methodology
Four phases. Every engagement.
Reconnaissance
Application structure analysis, permission mapping, component discovery (activities, services, receivers, providers), third-party library inventory, and backend endpoint identification.
Identification
Static analysis of decompiled code, dynamic analysis through runtime instrumentation, local storage inspection, traffic interception, and API endpoint discovery. Every finding manually verified.
Exploitation
Controlled exploitation of confirmed vulnerabilities. Data exfiltration from local storage, authentication bypass, session hijacking, API abuse, and demonstration of real-world impact.
Reporting
Detailed findings with reproduction steps, risk ratings, and platform-specific remediation guidance. Executive summary for product owners, technical detail for development teams.
Our Technical Expertise
Tools and platforms we work with daily.
Instrumentation Frameworks
Frida, Objection, and custom runtime instrumentation. We hook into running applications to bypass security controls, inspect data in memory, and modify application behaviour on the fly.
Platform Expertise
iOS and Android internals — from sandbox architecture to IPC mechanisms, from Keychain Services to Android Keystore. We understand how each platform protects data and where those protections break down.
API Security Testing
Mobile apps are thin clients over APIs. We test the backend with the same rigour as the app itself — authentication flaws, authorisation gaps, rate limiting, and business logic vulnerabilities in the server-side logic.
OWASP MASVS
We test against the OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard — a comprehensive framework covering architecture, data storage, cryptography, authentication, network communication, and code quality requirements.
Request a Mobile App Pentest
Tell us about your application. We'll scope the engagement and send a quote within 48 hours.