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Mobile Application Penetration Testing

Protect the mobile apps that carry your brand and data on users’ devices.

Scope a mobile app test Back to penetration testing overview

Mobile apps extend your attack surface into users’ pockets

Mobile applications often handle sensitive data, tokens, and credentials, and communicate with APIs that expose core business functions. Weaknesses in client-side code or server-side APIs can lead to data leakage, account compromise, or brand damage.

Cyber Defence tests mobile apps on iOS and Android, combining static analysis, dynamic testing, and API assessment.

Focus areas

Key areas we assess for mobile apps

We look at both the app on the device and the services it communicates with.

Local data storage

Analysing how credentials, tokens, and sensitive data are stored on the device, including keychain/keystore usage.

Transport security

Ensuring secure use of TLS, certificate validation, and protection against man-in-the-middle attacks.

Authentication and sessions

Reviewing login flows, token handling, session management, and logout behaviour.

Reverse engineering resistance

Assessing the ease with which an attacker can reverse engineer, tamper with, or repurpose your app.

API communication

Testing the backend APIs used by the app for authorisation, rate limiting, and data validation weaknesses.

Platform and configuration issues

Reviewing permissions, exported components, and platform-specific security controls.

Mobile application testing approach

  1. 1. Application setup and reconnaissance

    Installing apps in a controlled test environment, gathering information on libraries, permissions, and network endpoints.

  2. 2. Static analysis

    Reviewing the application package for sensitive strings, hard-coded secrets, and insecure configuration.

  3. 3. Dynamic testing

    Interacting with the app, intercepting and modifying traffic, and exercising functionality under realistic conditions.

  4. 4. API and backend assessment

    Testing the services used by the app for authentication, authorisation, and input handling weaknesses.

  5. 5. Reporting and remediation guidance

    Producing clear reports for both mobile developers and backend teams, with practical fixes and secure design recommendations.

Keep your mobile users and data secure

Provide app builds, test accounts, and API details, and we will design a mobile testing engagement that reflects your real-world risk.

Arrange a mobile app test