What is Mobile App Penetration Testing?
Mobile App Penetration Testing involves evaluating the security of mobile applications by simulating real-world cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses. It aims to assess the resilience of mobile apps against potential threats and provide actionable insights to mitigate security risks, ensuring the protection of sensitive data and user privacy. At North IT, we are here to offer this comprehensive service. Contact us now for more information.
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Benefits of our Mobile App Penetration Testing
Expert remediation
support
support
Compliance &
Regulatory Requirements
Regulatory Requirements
Free re-testing
(within 6 weeks)
(within 6 weeks)
Improves overall
security posture
security posture
Common Mobile App Penetration Testing Vulnerabilities
Insecure data
One of the most widespread issues is insecure data storage leading to data leakage. This includes storing sensitive information such as tokens, passwords, personal identifiers, or financial data in unprotected local storage, shared preferences, or unencrypted databases. These flaws allow attackers to extract data directly from a compromised device or backup. Even short-term caching of sensitive information without adequate protections can present serious risks.Authentication & Authorisation
A lack of proper authentication and authorisation mechanisms often allows attackers to impersonate users, escalate privileges, or gain unauthorised access to restricted functions. Common issues include weak password enforcement, missing multi-factor authentication, session management flaws, and improperly secured tokens. In multi-role systems, horizontal and vertical privilege escalation is frequently possible due to inadequate backend checks.Secure Transport
Vulnerabilities in insecure data transmission can leave user data exposed during transit. Without strong encryption protocols (such as TLS 1.2+), attackers can intercept and tamper with network traffic, especially over public Wi-Fi. Insecure implementations, like trusting all certificates or failing to validate hostnames, make apps susceptible to man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks. This is a particular risk in mobile apps using legacy networking libraries or poorly configured HTTPS.Client-side
Client-side vulnerabilities include insecure coding practices, insufficient input validation, and logic flaws that attackers can exploit by manipulating app behaviour. Many mobile apps rely on client-side checks for input sanitisation, business logic, or access control - all of which can be bypassed or altered using tools and rooted/jailbroken devices. Apps lacking code obfuscation or tamper detection are especially vulnerable to reverse engineering and modification. These common flaws can affect any mobile application - regardless of platform or industry - and are routinely found in real-world testing engagements. Addressing them requires a combination of secure development practices, thorough QA, and regular penetration testing by experienced professionals who understand both the attack landscape and the mobile development lifecycle.How does Mobile App Pen Testing work?
Mobile App Penetration Testing works by conducting comprehensive assessments of mobile applications to identify security vulnerabilities and weaknesses. It involves analysing various components of the mobile app, including the client-side code, server-side APIs, and data storage mechanisms. Through a combination of manual testing and automated scanning, potential vulnerabilities are uncovered and prioritised for remediation.
How does Mobile App Pen Testing work?
Mobile App Penetration Testing works by conducting comprehensive assessments of mobile applications to identify security vulnerabilities and weaknesses. It involves analysing various components of the mobile app, including the client-side code, server-side APIs, and data storage mechanisms. Through a combination of manual testing and automated scanning, potential vulnerabilities are uncovered and prioritised for remediation.
How does Mobile App Pen Testing work?
Mobile App Penetration Testing works by conducting comprehensive assessments of mobile applications to identify security vulnerabilities and weaknesses. It involves analysing various components of the mobile app, including the client-side code, server-side APIs, and data storage mechanisms. Through a combination of manual testing and automated scanning, potential vulnerabilities are uncovered and prioritised for remediation.
Mobile App Pentesting FAQ
Why is Mobile App Penetration Testing important for businesses?
Mobile App Penetration Testing is crucial for businesses to identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities in their mobile applications, reducing the risk of data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage.
Who conducts Mobile App Penetration Testing?
Qualified cybersecurity professionals with expertise in mobile application security who are usually ex-developers typically conduct Mobile App Penetration Testing.
When should Mobile App Penetration Testing be completed?
Organisations should perform Mobile App Penetration Testing regularly, at least yearly. Especially after significant changes to mobile applications or before deploying them to production environments, to ensure their security and resilience against cyber threats before release.
How much does Mobile App Penetration Testing cost?
Small mobile app pen-tests start from around £1,800, medium sized mobile application pen-tests are around £3,500, and large app pen-tests and be around £5,000 or above. API testing and web app testing is included. With North IT, remediation support by ex-app developers and re-testing are included at no additional cost.
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