Mobile Application Penetration Testing
Manual penetration testing of iOS and Android applications that validates real attacker behavior across the client and backend — and confirms closure with retest evidence.
What you get on day one
Concise scope, test plan, and outcomes your team can execute.
iOS & Android
Platforms
Native and hybrid apps.
Auth & data handling
Primary risk focus
Where mobile apps usually fail.
Replayable
Evidence format
Requests, traces, and screenshots.
72 hours
Retest turnaround
Per confirmed fix.
Why mobile pentesting
Mobile apps run in untrusted environments
Security controls enforced only on the device are not security boundaries. We test what happens when an attacker has full control of the client.
The client is hostile
Mobile apps run on devices you don't control. Attackers can inspect, decompile, and instrument the app freely — bypassing any protections that only exist on the client side.
Local controls are bypassable
Root detection, certificate pinning, and integrity checks enforced only on the device are trivial to skip once the app binary is modified or hooked at runtime.
APIs trust the mobile client
Many backend vulnerabilities are only exposed when requests originate from a modified mobile app — authorization checks that assume the official client enforces business rules.
SDKs expand the surface
Analytics, auth, payment, and messaging SDKs introduce their own data handling, token storage, and network behavior — often without the same scrutiny as first-party code.
What we test
Client-side behavior and backend trust
Focused on how mobile apps are actually abused in real attacks — from binary analysis through runtime manipulation to backend exploitation.
Authentication & sessions
Token storage in keychain/keystore, refresh flow abuse, biometric bypass, session fixation, and client-side assumptions about identity that don't hold under instrumentation.
Authorization & object access
Whether the mobile client can access data or actions beyond its intended role — IDOR, tenant boundary violations, and role escalation via modified requests.
Local data storage
Sensitive data in app sandboxes, shared preferences, SQLite databases, caches, backup manifests, and clipboard exposure across both iOS and Android.
Client-side protections
Root/jailbreak detection, certificate pinning implementation, app integrity checks, anti-tampering, and debug protection — tested for real bypass resilience.
API interaction
How the mobile client communicates with backend services and what happens when requests are intercepted, altered, replayed, or sent outside the app's intended flow.
Third-party SDKs
Security impact of embedded analytics, crash reporting, auth, payment, and messaging SDKs — including their data collection, token handling, and network behavior.
iOS and Android tested with platform-native tooling
Frida, objection, and platform-specific instrumentation for runtime analysis. Both native and hybrid frameworks (React Native, Flutter) are fully supported.
Ready when you are
Start a mobile application penetration test
We'll validate real attacker paths in your mobile app and confirm fixes with retest evidence.
How we work
From device to verified closure
A clear process with evidence at every step — covering static analysis, runtime manipulation, and backend validation.
Scope & access
Confirm platforms, builds, test accounts, and environments. Align on device types and backend access before testing begins.
Static analysis
Review the app binary for hardcoded secrets, insecure storage patterns, exposed components, and unsafe SDK configurations.
Runtime manipulation
Instrument the running app to observe and bypass client-side protections — hooking, dynamic analysis, and traffic interception.
Backend validation
Test how backend services respond to modified, replayed, or out-of-sequence mobile requests. Prove where server trust in the client fails.
Retest & closure
Confirm fixes with updated evidence and pass/fail results. Closure means verified on both client and server side.
Deliverables
Evidence engineers can act on
Clear proof across client and server, practical fix guidance, and confirmed closure for both platforms.
Confirmed findings with evidence
Each issue includes clear proof — screenshots, instrumentation logs, and request/response traces showing exact reproduction steps.
- Client-side and server-side context
- Frida/objection output where applicable
- Impact mapped to data and user risk
Remediation guidance
Practical fixes aligned with mobile engineering patterns for both iOS and Android, covering secure storage, transport, and control implementation.
- Platform-specific fix recommendations
- SDK configuration guidance
- Secure coding patterns for common issues
Closure evidence
Executive summary plus retest results with updated evidence showing whether each fix successfully closed the issue on both platforms.
- Before/after proof per remediation
- Pass/fail with timestamps
- Export-ready for auditors and compliance
Engagement options
Choose the cadence that fits your release cycle
Both options include retests and evidence tied to each finding.
One-time mobile pentest
A focused assessment for a release, major feature change, or audit requirement. Covers both platforms with manual testing of real attacker paths and verified closure.
- Defined scope across iOS and Android
- Manual testing of client and backend paths
- Included retest cycle to verify every fix
Mobile PTaaS
Ongoing coverage as app versions, APIs, and features evolve. Testing windows align to your release cadence with cumulative evidence and rolling retests.
- Scheduled windows per release cycle
- Cumulative findings across app versions
- Rolling retests tracked to closure with exec packs
FAQ
What teams ask before we start
Do you test both iOS and Android?+
Yes. We test native iOS and Android applications, as well as hybrid frameworks like React Native and Flutter. Both platforms are tested with platform-specific tooling and techniques.
Do you need source code?+
No. Testing is performed from the attacker's perspective using compiled app binaries. Source code access can accelerate certain checks but is not required for a thorough assessment.
Is backend API testing included?+
Yes. We validate how backend services behave when requests originate from a modified mobile client. This catches authorization failures that only surface when the official client is bypassed.
Will this affect production users?+
Testing is performed with dedicated test accounts and guardrails to avoid disruption. We align on environments, device types, and testing windows during scoping.
What about certificate pinning?+
We test whether your pinning implementation actually prevents interception under real attack conditions — including common bypass techniques using Frida, objection, and custom hooks.
How quickly can we start?+
Most mobile pentests start within 3–5 business days once app builds, test accounts, and backend access are confirmed. We align on platforms and scope during a fast scoping call.