What is a Mobile Pentest?

A mobile application penetration test focuses on assessing the security of mobile apps, both from a static (code-level) and dynamic (runtime) perspective. The goal is to simulate attacks on the mobile application to discover vulnerabilities that could be exploited by an attacker to compromise the system or steal sensitive data. We focus on both iOS and Android platforms using methodologies that adhere to industry standards like OWASP Mobile Security Testing Guide (MSTG).

1 | Reconnaissance phase

In the initial phase, we gather information about the mobile application, including its architecture, technology stack, and data flow. This phase helps us understand the application structure, permissions, and how data is handled within the app.

• App Discovery
  We gather details about the mobile app from public app stores (Google Play, Apple App Store) or directly from the client (APK, IPA).
  
• Permissions and Features Analysis
  We assess the permissions requested by the app to identify excessive or unnecessary permissions that may expose vulnerabilities.
  
• Identify External Communications
  We monitor and analyze how the app communicates with servers, APIs, and third-party services (e.g., push notifications, ads, analytics) to understand the attack surface.
  

2 | Static Analysis (Code-Level Security Assessment)

In this phase, we analyze the mobile application's code without executing it. Static analysis involves reviewing the app's code, configuration files, and binary to identify security issues.

• Decompiling the App
  For Android, we reverse-engineer the APK to obtain the source code. For iOS, we analyze the IPA file to inspect the app's components.
  
• Source Code Review
  We perform a code review to check for insecure coding practices, such as hardcoded credentials, sensitive information in logs, or improper cryptography.
  
• Manifest & Plist File Analysis
  We inspect critical configuration files (e.g., Android Manifest, iOS Info.plist) to ensure they don’t expose sensitive features like insecure permissions, exported activities, or inappropriate background processes.
  
• Data Storage Security
  We check how the app handles sensitive data storage (e.g., on the device, databases, or external storage). We analyze whether personal information, tokens, or passwords are stored securely (encrypted and isolated).
  
• Encryption and Obfuscation Review
  We evaluate if proper encryption algorithms are used to secure sensitive data. We also check for the presence of code obfuscation techniques to protect the app against reverse engineering.
  

3 | Dynamic Analysis (Runtime Security Testing)

Dynamic analysis involves interacting with the running mobile application to observe how it behaves under different conditions. We test the app while it is executing to identify vulnerabilities that can only be found during runtime.

• Data Transmission Security
  We intercept and analyze network traffic between the mobile app and its backend servers to identify issues like sensitive data exposure in plaintext, weak encryption protocols (e.g., HTTP instead of HTTPS), and improper SSL/TLS implementations.
• Authentication and Session Management
  We test how user authentication, session tokens, and other credentials are managed during runtime. We attempt to hijack sessions, bypass authentication, or perform replay attacks.
• Insecure Storage
  We investigate how the app stores sensitive data (e.g., on local storage, keychain, shared preferences) during operation.
• Data Leakage and Logging
  We check if sensitive data (e.g., PII, session tokens) is exposed through logs, cache, or debugging messages during the app’s execution.
• App Tampering & Reverse Engineering
  We attempt to modify the app by injecting code or using tools to tamper with it. This includes attempts to bypass security features like root/jailbreak detection, re-sign the app, or disable SSL pinning.
• API Vulnerabilities
  We test the communication between the mobile app and its APIs for common vulnerabilities, including broken authentication, insecure endpoints, and improper data validation.
• Business Logic Flaws
  We analyze the mobile app’s interaction with the server to identify logic flaws, such as improper session termination, weak access controls, and unvalidated user inputs that can lead to data leaks or unauthorized actions.
• Authorization Issues
  We test if users with different privilege levels (e.g.,normal users, admin users) can access unauthorized resources by manipulating requests or tampering with tokens.

4 | Reporting phase

This methodology ensures a comprehensive assessment of your web application from a Black Box (Non-Authenticated) and a White Box (Authenticated) approach to identify and address any vulnerabilities before malicious actors can exploit them.

After completing the penetration test, we compile all findings into a detailed report, following Red Sentry’s standardized template. This includes:

• A summary of the identified vulnerabilities
• The methods used to exploit them
• Recommendations for remediation

This methodology ensures a comprehensive assessment of your mobile application environment, helping identify and address any vulnerabilities in the source code or run time environments before malicious actors can exploit them.