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Mobile Application Penetration Testing

Manual iOS and Android penetration testing from Reykjavík team in Iceland operating globally, focused on real attack paths across the mobile app, embedded web views, and the backend APIs it uses.

How we test iOS and Android Applications

Why this matters

Mobile apps run on devices you do not control and are often used on hostile networks. Weak authorization, insecure storage, or transport issues expose tokens, allow request tampering, and enable access to data outside the user’s role.

Our approach

We test iOS and Android using a gray box model with a real device workflow focus. You provide a test build or store access, test accounts for each role, and any available API documentation and environment URLs.

How we help

  • We review sensitive data handling on the device, including tokens, credentials, caches, logs, backups, and Keychain or Keystore usage.
  • We validate transport security end to end, including TLS configuration, certificate validation behavior, and certificate pinning strength.
  • We test authentication, session handling, and authorization across roles and tenants, including token refresh and object level access patterns.
  • We assess reverse engineering risk and client side bypasses, including integrity checks, root and jailbreak controls, WebView risks, and backend API abuse through mobile traffic.

Deliverables

You receive an executive summary and a technical report with severity rated findings, reproduction steps, and evidence such as screenshots and traffic samples. We remain available after delivery to clarify findings and validate remediation.

OWASP MASVS Alignment

We structure our testing against the industry-standard OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS), ensuring a globally recognized benchmark for security.

Insecure Data Storage Checks

We forensic-audit the device file system (SQLite databases, XML files, Plists, Logs) to ensure that if a phone is stolen, your app hasn't left sensitive user data exposed.

Runtime Manipulation (Hooking)

We test how the app behaves under realistic attacker conditions. This includes instrumented devices, hooking, and runtime tampering to validate controls such as root and jailbreak detection, certificate pinning, integrity checks, and client side trust assumptions.

Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks

We attempt to intercept and modify the encrypted traffic between the mobile app and your backend servers, testing if your SSL/TLS implementation and Certificate Pinning are robust.

Hardcoded Secret Discovery

Developers often hide API keys or encryption passwords inside the app code. We decompile the binary to find these secrets before hackers do.

What we need to start

To keep testing efficient and avoid time lost on access issues, we ask for a few practical items up front. If anything below is not available, tell us. We can adjust scope and approach.

Required

  • A test build or installation access: For Android, share an APK or an internal distribution link. For iOS, share a TestFlight invite or an internal build from your distribution pipeline. App Store access alone is usually not enough for deep testing because we need a testable build we can instrument and inspect.

  • Test accounts for each role: At least one account per role, plus any special flows such as admin actions, approvals, or payments.

  • Target environment details: Staging or test URLs, tenant names, and any allowlisting requirements. If the backend is shared with production, call that out.

Helpful, if available

  • API documentation: Postman collections, OpenAPI docs, or internal notes. This helps confirm coverage and reduces guessing.
  • Base URLs and service list: Backend domains, third party services, and any separate auth endpoints. This also helps us validate certificate pinning and routing.
  • Third party SDKs and integrations: Analytics, payments, push notifications, chat, maps, login providers, and similar. We focus on how they are configured and used in your app.

Quick note on safety

We do not need production user data. If production testing is required, we agree on timing, monitoring, and constraints during scoping.

Key Benefits

Prevent App Cloning & Fraud Stop attackers from reverse-engineering your code to create "modded" or pirate versions of your app that bypass paywalls or subscription checks.

Secure the Backend API The mobile app is just the front door. By securing the API calls the app makes, we protect the massive databases and servers that sit behind the application.

Protect User Privacy Mobile phones are deeply personal. Ensuring your app doesn’t leak location data or contacts is vital for maintaining user trust and avoiding GDPR/CCPA fines.

Pass App Store Scrutiny While Apple and Google do basic checks, they miss deep logic flaws. Our testing ensures your app is robust enough to survive rigorous third-party reviews and enterprise security requirements.

FAQ

Do you test both iOS and Android apps?

Yes. We test iOS and Android builds, including native and hybrid apps. We review platform specific controls such as iOS entitlements and Keychain usage, and Android exported components, permissions, and Network Security Config.

What do you need from us to start?

A test build or store access, test accounts for each user role, and the environment details for staging or test. If available, we also use API documentation, base URLs, and a list of third party SDKs and integrations.

What is your testing approach?

We use a gray box model. The goal is realistic attack simulation with limited knowledge, supported by the details you provide for safe and efficient coverage.

Do you only run automated scanners?

No. The work is predominantly manual. Automated tooling supports discovery and reconnaissance, but the findings come from hands on testing, static review of the package, and dynamic testing on devices.

What do you check during static analysis?

We review the application package without executing it. This includes build and configuration settings, hardcoded secrets, endpoints, storage behavior, privacy leaks, and tamper resistance controls.

What do you check during dynamic analysis?

We test the app while it runs. We validate authentication and session handling, authorization controls, local storage and memory exposure, transport security, business logic behavior, and WebView security.

Do you test certificate pinning and TLS?

Yes. With client approval, we install a trusted proxy certificate on a test device to inspect HTTPS traffic. This allows validation of TLS configuration, certificate validation behavior, and the strength of certificate pinning.

Do you test the backend API too?

Yes, from a mobile perspective. We build an endpoint inventory from real app traffic and available documentation, then test authentication, authorization, input validation, rate limits, replay handling, and data exposure patterns.

What deliverables do we get?

A report with an executive summary, detailed findings with severity, affected components, reproduction steps, evidence such as screenshots and traffic samples, and remediation guidance tailored to iOS and Android.

Can you validate fixes after we remediate?

Yes. We stay available after delivery to clarify findings, review fixes, and validate remediations.

Do you test third party SDKs and integrations?

Yes. We review how third party SDKs are configured and how they handle data, authentication, and network communications within the app context.

Can you test production environments?

Yes, but we prefer staging where possible. If production testing is required, we agree on timing, monitoring, and safety constraints during scoping.