Pentest Mobile App

Ethical hacking and penetration testing of mobile applications—specifically for Android and iOS—consist of targeted assessments designed to uncover and remedy vulnerabilities unique to the mobile ecosystem.
Pentest Mobile App

Foundations of Mobile App Pentesting

Mobile app pentesting is conducted to simulate realistic attacks against installed applications, involving static and dynamic analysis, reverse engineering, network interception, and behavioral observation. The methodology follows standards like OWASP Mobile Security Testing Guide (MSTG), emphasizing the need for thorough checks of storage, communication, permissions, and code integrity.

Environment and Tooling

Testing must be performed within a controlled environment using a combination of emulators or simulators (Android Studio, Xcode) and physical devices—preferably rooted or jailbroken for advanced manipulations. Essential tools include:
  • For Android: ADB, JADX, MobSF, Frida, Burp Suite.
  • For iOS: Objection, Frida, Cycript, Burp Suite, Class-dump.
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Methodologies

A pentest of mobile applications typically comprises several technical stages:

Information Gathering

APKs and IPAs are extracted, architecture identified, and initial static analysis conducted to review manifest files, hardcoded secrets, and permissions.

Static Analysis

Source code is decompiled to uncover sensitive data, misconfigurations, or usage of insecure third-party libraries.

Dynamic Analysis

App behavior during runtime is observed on emulated or real devices, monitoring network traffic, filesystem changes, and runtime vulnerabilities using tools such as Frida and Burp Suite.

Network Traffic Interception

Encrypted communication paths are assessed by proxying traffic and installing SSL certificates on devices, enabling the detection of potential data leaks, improper certificate validation, and exposure of tokens or credentials.

Reverse Engineering

Application binaries are decompiled or disassembled (JADX for Android, Class-dump for iOS), enabling deep inspection of control flow and potential tampering or root/jailbreak bypass.

Android-Specific Assessments

Android pentesting must include APK analysis to review application structures and permissions; examination of insecure data storage in SharedPreferences and SQLite databases; assessment of improperly exported activities and components; and verification of resilience against root detection. Common vulnerabilities found in Android include unencrypted communications, insecure external storage, and WebView-based code injection.
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iOS-Specific Assessments

For iOS, pentesting involves analysis of IPA files, review of Info.plist configurations, certificate pinning implementations, and detection of improper sandboxing. iOS apps are tested for weaknesses in keychain storage, broken authentication, and exposure of sensitive data through logs or crash reports. Jailbreak detection routines and method hooking are used to bypass security checks for deeper testing.
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Exploitation and Reporting

When exploitable flaws are identified—such as authentication bypasses, insecure storage, or API exposure—proof-of-concept attacks are documented to validate impact. All findings must be reported with risk ratings and suggested remediations, supporting secure coding practices and compliance requirements (OWASP MASVS, GDPR, PCI-DSS).

Continuous and Legal Considerations

By adopting a thorough, ethical approach to Mobile App security testing, organizations can significantly improve their ability to withstand advanced threats and safeguard sensitive data. Pentesting is an evolving discipline, requiring ongoing learning and adaptation as new API technologies and vulnerabilities emerge.

Here are some typical example of what attackers can do if vulnerabilities are exploited in the context of Mobile Apps:

  1. Credential Theft – Hackers can intercept or extract stored credentials, enabling unauthorized access to user accounts and sensitive data.
  2. API Abuse – Exploiting insecure APIs allows attackers to manipulate backend systems, retrieve confidential information, or perform unauthorized transactions.
  3. Privilege Escalation – Weak role-based controls can let attackers gain admin-level access and override security restrictions.
  4. Data Exfiltration – Poor encryption or insecure storage can lead to theft of personal data, payment details, or intellectual property.
  5. Malware Injection – Vulnerabilities in app code or update mechanisms can be abused to inject malicious payloads, compromising devices and networks.
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