Mobile Application Penetration Testing
Secure your app on every device. Get comprehensive mobile application penetration testing from CREST-certified experts, so you can find vulnerabilities before attackers do and protect your users everywhere.
Get a mobile app pen test quote today
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20+ Years of Experience
What is mobile application penetration testing?
Mobile application penetration testing is a focused security assessment that uncovers vulnerabilities in your mobile apps before attackers can exploit them. CodeShield’s UK-based experts go beyond automated scans, using hands-on techniques to test your apps the way real attackers would.
During testing, our professionals examine your app’s code, architecture, configurations, and interfaces to identify and safely exploit potential weaknesses. The goal is to show you what’s truly at risk and how to fix it, giving you peace of mind and protecting your users.
What you get with CodeShield’s mobile application pen testing:
- Testing on iOS, Android, and other platforms to ensure all your apps are secure
- Assessing vulnerabilities against the OWASP Mobile Top Ten, the industry standard for mobile security risks
- Reviewing app store configurations and identifying risky app functionalities
- Testing all connected APIs for hidden weaknesses
- Providing a comprehensive, easy-to-understand report with actionable, best-practice remediation guidance
- Direct support from our experts to help you address findings and strengthen your app’s security
Take the First Step Toward Better Security
CREST Accredited Penetration Testing Experts
CodeShield is proud to be a CREST Accredited Company, an internationally recognised accreditation that demonstrates our commitment to delivering high-quality cyber security services to recognised industry standards. This achievement reflects the strength of our technical expertise, testing methodologies, quality processes, and client-focused approach.
Our team brings over 20 years of combined penetration testing experience, helping organisations across the UK identify vulnerabilities, strengthen security controls, and meet compliance requirements including ISO 27001, PCI DSS, SOC 2 and DSPT. From web applications and cloud environments to internal networks and red team engagements, every assessment is carried out by experienced security professionals focused on delivering practical, actionable results.
When you choose CodeShield for CREST accredited penetration testing, you're partnering with a trusted UK security consultancy that combines independent assurance, technical excellence, and clear guidance to help protect your business against real-world threats.
Multiplatform Coverage
Protect your app on both iOS and Android with thorough, platform-specific testing that uncovers risks unique to each system.
OWASP Testing
Our assessments follow the OWASP Mobile Top 10, helping you identify and fix the most critical mobile app vulnerabilities.
Professional Reporting
Receive detailed, plain-English reports that highlight weaknesses and offer step-by-step recommendations to strengthen your security.
Continuous Support
Stay secure with ongoing expert advice, helping you address new threats and keep your mobile users protected over time.
App & API Coverage
We deliver comprehensive web app security assessments across traditional platforms and modern APIs, ensuring no critical risks or vulnerabilities are overlooked.
OWASP Testing
Using the industry-standard OWASP penetration testing methodology, we evaluate your applications against recognised security threats and real-world attack scenarios.
Professional Reporting
Receive detailed, plain-English reports that highlight weaknesses and offer step-by-step recommendations to strengthen your security.
Continuous Support
Stay secure with ongoing expert advice, helping you address new threats and keep your mobile users protected over time.
A closer look at our Mobile app penetration testing process
Scoping
Our team works with you to define the objectives, scope, and approach for testing your mobile application. This includes identifying the platforms (iOS, Android), key application functionalities, APIs, and third-party integrations to be tested. The scope also covers areas such as authentication mechanisms, data storage, and communication channels. By understanding your app’s purpose and user base, we ensure the engagement aligns with your security goals and compliance requirements.
Intel Gathering
We begin by gathering information about the mobile application and its environment. This includes identifying the app version, platform, and associated APIs. We analyse the app’s permissions, third-party libraries, and publicly accessible endpoints. Reconnaissance may also involve reviewing the app’s metadata, back-end infrastructure, and user roles to map its attack surface. This phase helps identify initial points of interest for the subsequent testing stages.
Vulnerability Analysis
Our experts assess the mobile application for vulnerabilities by examining key areas such as insecure data storage, improper authentication, weak encryption, and flaws in API implementation. We evaluate both client-side (e.g., decompiling the app, analysing its code and logic) and server-side vulnerabilities. This includes testing for OWASP Mobile Top 10 risks, such as insecure communication, broken access controls, and reverse engineering risks, ensuring a comprehensive analysis of the app’s security posture.
Exploitation
In this phase, we exploit identified vulnerabilities to demonstrate their potential impact. For example, we may bypass authentication mechanisms, intercept sensitive data during transmission, or exploit backend APIs to manipulate application behavior. Exploitation is performed in a controlled environment to ensure the app’s integrity and the confidentiality of any sensitive data. This phase highlights the real-world impact of security flaws on both the app and its users.
Reporting
We compile a detailed report tailored to mobile application security. This includes descriptions of vulnerabilities, proof-of-concept (PoC) evidence, and their impact on the application and its users. The report provides actionable recommendations to remediate the issues, with a focus on secure coding practices and platform-specific guidelines. The findings are categorised by severity, helping your team prioritise remediation efforts effectively.
Debriefing
The engagement concludes with a debriefing session where we review the findings and discuss their implications with your team. We provide a walkthrough of the vulnerabilities, demonstrate potential exploitation scenarios, and recommend best practices for securing your mobile application. This interactive session ensures clarity and provides actionable guidance to strengthen the app’s security posture and protect user data.
Common mobile application vulnerabilities
Mobile app penetration testing can be applied to any type of app, from basic utilities to complex data-driven platforms. CodeShield’s assessments follow the OWASP Mobile Top Ten and go beyond, ensuring you’re protected against both common and advanced threats.
Some of the most common risks we test for include:
- Application Permissions
- Application Debugging
- Certificate pinning
- Hard-coded keys or credentials
- Input validation
- Mobile Certificate Pinning
- SSL Misconfiguration
- App Transport Security Disabled
- Extraneous Mobile Application Permissions
- Installation on Rooted Devices
- Reflected Cross-Site Scripting
Benefits of mobile application penetration testing
Thinking about a mobile application pen test? Here’s what you gain with CodeShield
- See your app’s real-world vulnerabilities, not just theoretical risks.
- Identify and fix security weaknesses before attackers can exploit them.
- Earn user trust by proving your app is safe and secure.
- Assure stakeholders and customers that your application meets the highest security standards.
- Meet and maintain compliance standards such as ISO 27001, GDPR, PCI DSS.
Is mobile application penetration testing right for you?
If you’re responsible for mobile app security, ask yourself
- Could someone exploit your app to access your network or sensitive data?
- Are your APIs properly secured against real-world threats?
- Does your app store personally identifiable information (PII) in its backend?
- Would your clients or users value independent verification of your app’s security?
If you’re unsure about any of these, a mobile app pen test from CodeShield provides clarity, confidence, and a clear path to better security.
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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What is the focus of mobile app pen testing?
The focus is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the security features of the application and its back-end components. Mobile app tests have the aim of revealing vulnerabilities in the cyber security posture of the application with the goal to identify key areas where security can be improved.
What vulnerabilities do we find in mobile apps?
We typically find a combination of the OWASP Mobile Top 10 vulnerabilities, which includes:
Improper Credential Usage
Inadequate Supply Chain Security
Insecure Authentication
Insufficient Input/Output Validation
Insecure Communication
Inadequate Privacy Controls
Insufficient Binary Protections
Security Misconfiguration
Insecure Data Storage
Insufficient Cryptography
How long does a test normally take?
All our tests are tailored to your specific requirements however as a guide most mobile applications including both iOS and Android take approximately 5 days to complete.
How does mobile app testing work?
Testers will assess some key parameters of the app to ensure it meets quality and security standards, for the data it both processes and stores.
Some of these parameters include:
Architecture and design.
Network communication.
Data storage and privacy.
Authentication and session management.
Misconfiguration errors in code or build settings.
By following these steps and using a combination of manual and automated testing techniques, mobile application pen testing ensures the apps meet minimum security requirements helping deliver a seamless user experience.
Will my business be disrupted during testing?
We can test against a non-production environment, such as a UAT/QA environment to make sure there is no risk to your live services. In the event this is not possible, the tester will take a more cautious approach to any post-exploitation testing.
How often should I test mobile apps?
Implementing frequent mobile application testing into your software development life cycle is the best way to upkeep security. However, it is typically industry best practice to test your applications at least once a year and or before any major changes to the UI or software updates.
Resources
Knowledge and insights to help strengthen your digital security.