Checking apps is as natural as sipping coffee, isn’t it? Recent reports reveal that an average person uses 18 apps and spends 4.8 hours daily on mobile apps.
Apps have become more than tools; they are now extensions of everyday life.
It is not a surprise that businesses now invest so much in mobile apps. But here is the part that should make your business pause: those apps are collecting and exchanging sensitive data, constantly.
And as some expert once said, “Where there’s data, there’s risk.”
So, if you build, manage or secure mobile applications, it is important to ask the question: Are we ethically testing apps for real-world attacks? If not, mobile application penetration testing is the wake-up call your business needs.
What Is Mobile Application Penetration Testing?
Like every other pentesting, mobile application penetration testing simulates cyberattacks with the goal of finding and fixing vulnerabilities before threat actors can get their hands on them. Only the difference is that the test is done on mobile apps. This proactive, ethical way assesses how secure your mobile app truly is for you as well as your users.
Mobile App Pentesting by Platform
As soon as you hear mobile or smartphones, you know there are two popular operating systems on which they rub: Android and iOS. So, we have discussed briefly about penetration testing on both systems.
Android Penetration Testing
You must have seen files with .apk suffix if you are an Android user. They are required for the Android application to run. Android penetration testing involves static and dynamic analysis of APK files.
Issues like insecure data storage, exposed activities or services, weak cryptographic implementations and misuse of inter-process communication (IPC) via intents are detected. It also evaluates the app’s behaviour on rooted devices and checks for code obfuscation.
iOS Penetration Testing
iOS penetration testing targets IPA files to uncover vulnerabilities such as keychain data leakage, improper usage of URL schemes, insecure entitlements and unencrypted data in local storage.
It includes sandbox bypass attempts, runtime analysis using tools like Frida and reverse engineering of Objective-C or Swift binaries to identify logical and architectural flaws.
Moving on…
Types of Mobile Applications
There are mainly 3 types of mobile applications and their testing is discussed here:
- Native Apps: Built specifically for Android (Java/Kotlin) or iOS (Swift/Obj-C), native apps need in-depth testing at both the binary and API levels.
- Hybrid Apps: Created using web technologies like React Native or Ionic, but they run inside a native shell. They combine both mobile and web threats.
- Mobile Web Apps: Accessed through browsers but optimized for mobile, mobile web apps security is largely like traditional web apps but with mobile UX layers.
As each app type has a unique attack surface, the testing approach is adapted accordingly.
Importance and Benefits of Mobile Application Penetration Testing
Modern cyber threats have gone beyond imagination. Cyber attackers now use sophisticated toolkits, social engineering and zero-day exploits to go after mobile environments.
What’s scarier is that every app update, new feature or integration in a mobile app introduces new risks.
As businesses increasingly rely on mobile-first strategies, regular mobile application penetration testing is the path to choose because of its obvious benefits. Find them in the section below.
Key Benefits
- Uncover hidden vulnerabilities before attackers do
- Validate data protection mechanisms like encryption and authentication
- Ensure compliance with regulations (GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS)
- Test backend APIs that interface with the mobile front-end
- Safeguard user trust and maintain brand integrity
- Enhance app store credibility by following security best practices
- Reduce incident response costs through prevention
Difference Between Web and Mobile Application Penetration Testing
Now that’s a question a lot of people ask. For once and for all, we wanted to address it. Mobile application penetration testing is not just web pentesting with smaller screens. Not, not all.
Unlike web applications that operate in browsers, mobile apps sit on user devices. This striking difference opens an entirely different attack surface.
Moreover, mobile apps can store data locally, rely on device permissions, use hardware features (like GPS or camera) and often integrate with native OS functions. This introduces new risks like insecure local storage, improper platform usage or exposure of hardcoded secrets.
Additionally, mobile apps interact with APIs differently, may use offline modes and often lack real-time monitoring.
So, while web app penetration testing focuses heavily on input validation and
browser-based vulnerabilities, mobile application penetration testing must dive into binaries, decompilation, runtime behaviours and platform-specific quirks.
If you are somehow only testing the backend and ignoring the app itself, know that you are only securing half the system.
Methodology and Security Frameworks
Mobile Pentesting Methodology
The methodology involves 6 steps. Take a look:
- Reconnaissance: Identifies the app version, architecture, third-party libraries and API endpoints.
- Static Analysis: Decompiles the app to examine source code, find hardcoded keys, insecure logic and flaws.
- Dynamic Analysis: Runs the app in a controlled environment to study behaviour, test permissions plus monitor data flows and intercept traffic.
- API Testing: Probes backend APIs for authorization flaws, sensitive endpoints, token leaks and injection attacks.
- Exploit Attempt: Tries real-world attack scenarios like privilege escalation, bypassing authentication or code injection.
- Reporting: Provides a comprehensive report with risk ratings, reproduction steps and actionable remediation guidance.
Security Frameworks
- OWASP MASVS (Mobile App Security Verification Standard): This is an industry benchmark for mobile application security. It covers everything from architecture and storage to communication and code quality.
- OWASP Mobile Top 10: A popular list of the ten most critical security risks for mobile apps every pentesting service provider should address.
- NIAP and CIS Benchmarks: Useful for government and regulated industries, these benchmarks act as platform-hardening guidelines.
Choosing these frameworks ensures that testing is structured, repeatable and aligned with global best practices.
Common Security Threats in a Mobile Application
- Insecure Data Storage
- Weak Authentication Mechanisms
- Improper Session Handling
- Insecure API Calls
- Code Tampering
- Reverse Engineering
- Excessive Permissions
- SSL Pinning Bypass
Common Tools for Mobile Application Penetration Testing
Our experts reveal the top tools used for mobile application penetration testing.
- MobSF : Works for both static and dynamic analysis of Android and iOS apps.
- Frida: Dynamic instrumentation toolkit that helps in inspecting and modifying app behaviour in real-time.
- Burp Suite: Intercepts and manipulates API traffic and it is essential for finding flaws in server-side logic.
- JADX & APKTool: For decompiling and analysing Android app binaries.
Mobile Application Penetration Testing Checklist
A checklist makes sure that no critical area is overlooked during mobile penetration testing. Find below what pentesters usually tick off while doing testing:
- Architecture Review: First analyse app type (native, hybrid, web), third-party SDKs and backend integrations.
- Static Analysis: Then decompiles APK/IPA files to examine hardcoded credentials, weak encryption, exposed APIs and insecure coding practices.
- Dynamic Analysis: This step involves observing runtime behaviour on emulators or real devices and looking for runtime anomalies.
- Authentication & Session Management: Tests for weak logins, session fixation, token leakage, insecure biometric implementation and timeout issues.
- Data Storage & Leakage: Checks for sensitive data in shared preferences, SQLite, keychain or external storage in plaintext.
- API & Backend Security: Performs fuzzing and injection attacks on mobile-to-API communication. Validates authentication, rate limiting and error handling.
- Transport Security: Verify HTTPS enforcement, TLS version, SSL pinning and certificate validation.
- Reverse Engineering & Tampering: Attempt to reverse-engineer or modify app logic using tools like Frida, Objection or Ghidra.
- Permission & Component Misuse: Identify excessive or misused permissions, exposed activities/services and insecure intent handling.
A robust checklist like this boost testing coverage and protects brands from the risks you did not see coming.
Duration of Mobile Penetration Testing
A comprehensive mobile application penetration testing typically takes 5 to 15 business days, depending on app complexity, number of platforms (iOS/Android), API surface and whether it’s a native, hybrid or web app.
A standalone Android app may take 5–7 days, while a complex multi-platform app with deep API integrations may require 2–3 weeks. You must consult experts to know latest information about duration.
Final Thoughts
Apps are not digital products anymore. They are the engines driving the business forward.
If your app handles customer data, payments, health records or even user preferences, it deserves the same level of security scrutiny as your network or backend systems. This is because every tap, every API call, every stored token is a potential vulnerability if left unchecked.
So, do not wait for a breach to happen, choose CyberNX mobile application penetration testing to secure your mobile apps today. Contact us to know more.
FAQs
What’s the key difference between Android and iOS penetration testing?
Android focuses on APK analysis, intent misuse, and rooted device behaviour. iOS targets IPA files, keychain security, entitlements, and sandbox escape attempts.
Can hybrid or cross-platform apps be tested with the same approach
Not exactly. They require a mix of web and mobile testing techniques to assess both the web layer (JavaScript, WebViews) and native wrappers.
How often should I schedule mobile application penetration testing?
At least once a year or after major updates. High-risk apps may need quarterly testing.
What factors influence the cost of mobile application penetration testing?
Cost depends on scope: platforms tested, app complexity, API coverage and depth of analysis.
