Mobile Application Penetration Testing2026-08-17T07:18:00+00:00

Mobile Application Penetration Testing

CodeShield delivers CREST-accredited mobile application penetration testing for iOS and Android across the UK.

Get a FREE penetration test quote today

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CREST accredited mobile application penetration testing

Mobile application penetration testing service

CodeShield delivers CREST-accredited mobile application penetration testing for iOS and Android across the UK. A mobile app puts your code, and often your data, directly in the hands of your users, and anyone else who wants to take it apart.

Attackers decompile apps, intercept traffic, and probe the APIs behind them, so we test your app the same way, going far beyond automated scans to find the vulnerabilities that actually put your users and data at risk. No false positives, no fluff. Just clear, prioritised findings and practical remediation advice from a dedicated expert who works with you from scoping through to fixing every issue we find.

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What our mobile application penetration testing covers

A mobile app’s attack surface spans the device, the network, and the backend it talks to. We test all of it, combining the OWASP Mobile Top Ten with deep manual analysis to find the flaws that automated tools miss.

  • Insecure data storage: We check how your app stores data on the device, looking for sensitive information, tokens, or credentials left exposed in local storage, caches, or logs.

  • Authentication and session management: We test login flows, session handling, and token management for the weaknesses that lead to account takeover or unauthorised access.

  • Cryptography and secure communication: We assess how your app protects data in transit and at rest, testing for weak encryption, certificate pinning failures, and insecure network communication.

  • API and backend security: The app is only half the story. We test every connected API and backend service for authentication gaps, excessive data exposure, and broken access control.

  • Reverse engineering and binary protection: We decompile and analyse your app the way an attacker would, testing for hard-coded keys, weak binary protections, and susceptibility to tampering.

  • Platform configuration: We test iOS and Android specific settings, excessive permissions, and platform misconfigurations that quietly widen your attack surface.

WHY TRUST CODESHIELD

Trusted & Independently verified.

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“We used CodeShield for a security and penetration testing audit for one of our clients. As well as being technically competent and very efficient in carrying out the audit, they were extremely communicative and collaborative throughout the whole process. The result is that we are now very well equipped for the big launch and rolling out the platform to Schools securely.”

Justin Coulston

“We had a great experience working with CodeShield. Their team was professional and responsive, and the process was clear, fair, and well-communicated throughout. They also took the time to adjust their solution to better suit our needs. We’re pleased with our decision to work with them and would recommend their services.”

Hanan Amar

“We recently engaged CodeShield to carry out penetration testing for one of our clients, and the service was nothing short of excellent. Both Tom and Dan were extremely knowledgeable and professional throughout the process. Their clear communication and technical expertise made the entire experience smooth and efficient. We look forward to working with them again when the need arises and would highly recommend their services.”

Darren Walsh

Client’s we’ve worked with.

CREST-accredited mobile application penetration testing you can trust

When it comes to security testing, credentials matter. CodeShield is a CREST accredited penetration testing company, holding one of the most respected accreditations in the industry.

CREST accreditation isn’t a badge you buy. It’s independent proof that our methodologies, technical expertise, data handling, and quality processes have been rigorously assessed against internationally recognised standards. For you, it means the testing of your mobile app is carried out to a benchmark your clients, auditors, and stakeholders already know and trust.

Why CREST accreditation matters for your business:

  • Independent assurance: your testing is validated against standards set and monitored by the industry’s leading not-for-profit accreditation body.
  • Procurement-ready: many enterprise customers and public sector frameworks require, or strongly prefer, a CREST accredited provider before they’ll engage.
  • Compliance confidence: CREST accredited testing supports frameworks like ISO 27001, SOC 2, and PCI DSS, giving auditors the credible evidence they’re looking for.
  • Certified people, not just a certified company: our testers hold individual industry certifications from bodies including CREST and Offensive Security, so your project is always in expert hands.

When you choose CodeShield, you’re partnering with a trusted UK security consultancy that combines independent accreditation, technical excellence, and clear guidance to protect your business against real-world threats.

Mobile application penetration testing for app-driven businesses

Mobile application penetration testing matters most to organisations that ship customer-facing apps, especially those handling sensitive data or operating in regulated markets.

If your app handles personal data, processes payments, or connects to systems that matter, mobile application penetration testing should be part of your security programme.

Securing the mobile apps that extend your platform into your customers’ hands.
Protecting banking and payment apps that hold financial data under FCA and PCI DSS expectations.
Securing apps that handle patient data and support NHS DSP Toolkit and compliance requirements.
Protecting shopping apps that process customer data and payments.

Testing apps that hold high-value personal and claims data.

Securing apps that handle sensitive tenant, employee, and payroll information.
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Meet your compliance requirements with confidence

Many organisations first come to us because a customer, auditor, or framework requires independent testing of their mobile app. We make that requirement straightforward to meet, and turn it into genuine security improvement.

Our mobile application penetration testing supports:

  • OWASP Mobile Top Ten: testing against the industry-standard benchmark for mobile app security.

  • ISO 27001: independent testing to evidence your information security controls.

  • SOC 2: assurance for the security criteria your customers and auditors expect.

  • PCI DSS: testing to meet cardholder data security obligations for apps that handle payments.

  • GDPR: demonstrating that you take the protection of personal data seriously.

You’ll receive a clear, audit-ready report that maps findings to the standard you’re testing against, plus practical remediation advice to close the gaps, not just document them.

WHY CODESHIELD – 20+ YEARS EXPERIENCE

You work with the person doing the testing.

At CodeShield, our UK penetration testing team brings 20+ years of combined expertise delivering practical, results-driven security solutions tailored to your business.

You work directly with a fully-qualified pen tester. You meet them before you pay, so you know who you’re working with.

  • Find & Fix Vulnerabilities: Uncover hidden threats with expert-led testing and gain true confidence in your security.
  • Simplify Compliance: Navigate ISO, PCI DSS, SOC 2 & DSPT with clear, actionable guidance, not just box-ticking.
  • Strengthen Your Defences:  Prioritise real risks and improve your security posture with insights from seasoned professionals.
  • Save Time & Reduce Complexity: We handle the technical details, letting you stay focused on your business.
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TRUSTED UK PENETRATION TESTERS

Contact CodeShield today to get a quote or work with us

At CodeShield, our UK penetration testing team brings 20+ years of combined expertise delivering practical, results-driven security solutions tailored to your business.

Get a FREE penetration test quote today

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What makes our mobile application penetration testing different

  • CREST accredited, independently assured: Choosing a CREST accredited penetration testing company means your testing is carried out to internationally recognised standards, the assurance your clients, auditors, and stakeholders are looking for.

  • Manual, OWASP-led testing, not just a scan: Automated tools flag the obvious and miss the rest. Our specialists combine static and dynamic analysis with deep manual testing to find the insecure storage, weak cryptography, and API flaws a scanner can’t see.

  • True iOS and Android coverage: Each platform has its own risks. We test both with platform-specific expertise, so nothing unique to iOS or Android slips through.

  • One dedicated expert, start to finish: No handoffs, no account-manager buffer. The specialist who scopes your test runs it and debriefs you personally.

  • Reports people actually act on: Prioritised by risk, written to be understood by technical teams and non-technical stakeholders alike, with clear remediation steps for every finding.

Our Values

Open Mindedness

We believe there’s no single solution to a security challenge. By staying open to new ideas and approaches, our teams find the best outcomes for every unique obstacle we face.

Honesty & Integrity

We believe there’s no single solution to a security challenge. By staying open to new ideas and approaches, our teams find the best outcomes for every unique obstacle we face.

Professionalism

We believe there’s no single solution to a security challenge. By staying open to new ideas and approaches, our teams find the best outcomes for every unique obstacle we face.

Collaboration

We believe there’s no single solution to a security challenge. By staying open to new ideas and approaches, our teams find the best outcomes for every unique obstacle we face.

What’s in your mobile application penetration testing report

The report is where a penetration test earns its value. A test is only as useful as the document that comes out of it, and ours are built to be read and acted on, not filed away. Every engagement ends with a clear, structured report that works for your development team and your senior stakeholders alike.

  • Executive summary: A plain-English overview of what we tested, what we found, and what it means for your business, written so a non-technical reader can understand your risk position in a couple of minutes.

  • Risk-prioritised findings: Every vulnerability we identify, rated by severity and real-world impact, so you know exactly what to fix first. No noise, no padding, just the issues that matter, in the order they matter.

  • Technical detail and proof of concept: For each finding, a clear explanation of the vulnerability, proof-of-concept evidence showing how it could be exploited, and everything your developers need to reproduce and verify the issue.

  • Practical remediation advice: Actionable, specific guidance on how to fix each finding, aligned with secure coding practices and platform-specific guidelines for iOS and Android. This is the part clients tell us they value most.

  • Compliance mapping: Where relevant, findings are mapped to the standard you’re testing against, including the OWASP Mobile Top Ten, ISO 27001 and PCI DSS, so the report slots straight into your audit or certification process.

  • Debrief and support: The report isn’t the end of the conversation. We walk your team through the findings in a debrief session, answer their questions, and stay on hand as you work through remediation.

See a sample report

Want to see the quality of our reporting before you commit? Download an anonymised sample mobile application penetration testing report and see exactly what you’ll receive: the structure, the depth of detail, and the clarity of our remediation advice.

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Not sure which test you need?

Most people searching “pen test” aren’t sure yet, that’s normal. Pick the closest match, or talk it through directly with a tester. We can incorporate multiple testing types for a single project. We often do web app + network testing if a business wants to cover both.

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Web Application Pen Testing

Customer-facing apps, portals and API layers.

Great for SAAS businesses.

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Network Penetration Testing

Internal and external infrastructure, patch…

Great for network heavy businesses.

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Cloud Penetration Testing

AWS, Azure, GCP and more environments.

Great for businesses operating in the cloud.

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AI / LLM Penetration Testing

Prompt injection, ISO 42001 readiness.

Great for applications incorporating AI

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Social Engineering

Phishing, Vishing, SMShing and more.

Great for businesses with staff on the front line.

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Mobile Application Pen Testing

Customer-facing apps, portals and API layers.

Great for apps on IOS & Android

Still not certain? Tell us what you’re building and we’ll scope it with you on a 15-minute call.

When do you need a mobile application penetration test?

Mobile application penetration testing isn’t a one-off box to tick. It’s something to build into the key moments in your app’s life. You should consider a test when:

  • You’re launching a new app or major update: test before it hits the app stores and real users, not after.
  • You’re preparing for a compliance audit: ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS and similar frameworks expect independent testing as part of certification.
  • A customer or partner is asking for it: enterprise procurement and due diligence increasingly require evidence of mobile app testing before they’ll sign.
  • You’ve made significant code changes: new features, refactors, or third-party SDKs can introduce vulnerabilities that weren’t there before.
  • You’ve added or changed APIs: every new endpoint your app talks to is a new part of your attack surface.
  • You’ve had a security incident: verify that the gap is closed and check for anything else an attacker may have reached.
  • It’s simply been a while: best practice is at least once a year, and before any major release. If you can’t remember your last test, you’re overdue.

Not sure which of these applies to you? A quick scoping conversation will tell you what you need, and just as importantly, what you don’t.

LIVE REPORTING

Stay informed throughout your penetration test with real-time access to findings through our secure client portal.

As vulnerabilities are identified, they’re immediately available for your team to review, giving you complete visibility into the assessment as it progresses. Any High or Critical findings are communicated straight away via your agreed contact channels, ensuring urgent risks are never left waiting until the final report.

Our collaborative approach also allows for interactive re-testing during the engagement. As fixes are implemented, our consultants can validate them in real time, helping to reduce outstanding vulnerabilities before testing is complete.

At the end of the engagement, your portal is updated with the final quality-assured report, providing a comprehensive record of the assessment, findings, remediation guidance, and supporting evidence.

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TRUSTED UK PENETRATION TESTERS

Contact CodeShield today to get a quote or work with us

At CodeShield, our UK penetration testing team brings 20+ years of combined expertise delivering practical, results-driven security solutions tailored to your business.

Get a FREE penetration test quote today

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Mobile application penetration test FAQs

Will testing disrupt our live app or users?2026-07-20T08:39:38+00:00

No. Wherever possible we test against a non-production environment such as UAT or QA, so there’s no risk to your live service. If that isn’t possible, we take a more cautious approach to post-exploitation testing to protect your users.

Do you offer retesting after we fix the issues?2026-07-20T08:39:27+00:00

Yes. Our support doesn’t end at the report. Once you’ve addressed the findings, we can retest to confirm the fixes are effective, giving you and your stakeholders verified assurance that the risks have been closed.

What’s the difference between mobile app and web app penetration testing?2026-07-20T08:39:16+00:00

Web app testing focuses on browser-based applications, while mobile app testing adds device-specific concerns such as insecure local data storage, binary protections, reverse engineering, and platform configuration, alongside testing the APIs and backend the app relies on.

Do you need our source code to test the app?2026-07-20T08:39:05+00:00

Not necessarily. We can test with no access (black box), partial access (grey box), or full access to source code (white box). Grey and white box testing often uncover more, and we’ll help you choose the right approach during scoping.

Do you test both iOS and Android?2026-07-20T08:38:55+00:00

Yes. Each platform has its own risks and security model, so we test both with platform-specific expertise. If your app is on one platform or both, we tailor the engagement to match.

How much does mobile application penetration testing cost?2026-07-20T08:38:18+00:00

The cost depends on scope: the platforms involved, the size and complexity of the app, the number of user roles and APIs, and the depth of testing required. Rather than quote a misleading flat rate, we scope every engagement individually so you only pay for testing that delivers real value. Get in touch for a tailored quote.

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