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Mobile Penetration Testing
What is Mobile Security Testing?
Mobile app penetration testing reveals vulnerabilities in the cybersecurity posture of a mobile application. Most commonly, it is the safety and security of iOS and Android applications that requires assessment.
It is important for both developers and consumers of mobile applications that appropriate levels of security exist. This is especially the case for applications that handle sensitive data and functionality. Mobile application security testing gives assurance that the expected security protections exist and are effective.
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Key Features
Protecting User Data
Mobile apps often collect sensitive information from users. From personal details to financial data, the consequences of a data breach can be severe. Penetration testing helps ensure that all user data is adequately protected against unauthorized access.
Safeguarding Your Reputation
A security breach can shatter the trust of your users and lead to a tarnished reputation for your app and business. By conducting regular penetration testing, you demonstrate your commitment to security and user privacy, enhancing your reputation in the market.
Complying with Regulations
Depending on your app’s nature and target audience, there may be legal and industry-specific regulations that require you to maintain a certain level of security. Penetration testing helps you adhere to these compliance requirements.
Mobile Application Penetration testing Types
Static Analysis
During static analysis, the mobile app’s source code is reviewed to ensure appropriate implementation of security controls. In most cases, a hybrid automatic/manual approach is used. Automatic scans catch the low-hanging fruit, and the human tester can explore the code base with specific usage contexts in mind.
Dynamic Analysis
The focus of DAST is the testing and evaluation of apps via their real-time execution. The main objective of dynamic analysis is finding security vulnerabilities or weak spots in a program while it is running. Dynamic analysis is conducted both at the mobile platform layer and against the backend services and APIs, where the mobile app’s request and response patterns can be analyzed.
Mobile Application Penetration Testing: Methodology and Approach:
Mobile penetration testing, often abbreviated as mobile pentesting, is the process of assessing the security of mobile applications and devices to identify vulnerabilities and potential security risks. A comprehensive mobile pentesting methodology typically involves the following steps:
Pre-engagement
- Define the scope of the penetration test, including the target mobile applications, platforms (iOS, Android, etc.), and specific functionalities to be tested.
- Obtain necessary permissions and legal authorization to conduct the penetration test.
- Gather information about the mobile applications, including their architecture, intended use, and potential security considerations.
Client-side Testing
- Assess the security of the mobile application's user interface and client-side logic.
- Test for vulnerabilities such as input validation flaws, insecure data storage, and insecure configuration settings.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of security controls such as encryption, authentication, and authorization mechanisms.
Data Storage and Transmission Testing
- Evaluate how the mobile application handles sensitive data, including encryption, storage, and transmission.
- Test for vulnerabilities such as insecure data storage on the device, plaintext transmission of sensitive information, and inadequate encryption practices.
Post-engagement
- Work with the development team to address and remediate identified vulnerabilities.
- Provide support and guidance to ensure that security issues are properly resolved and mitigated.
- Conduct follow-up assessments to verify the effectiveness of remediation efforts and ensure that security improvements have been implemented successfully.
Reconnaissance
- Identify the target mobile application's backend infrastructure, APIs, and communication protocols.
- Gather information about the application's architecture, frameworks, libraries, and third-party dependencies.
- Identify potential attack surfaces, such as insecure data storage, weak authentication mechanisms, or vulnerable network communication.
Server-side Testing
- Assess the security of the backend infrastructure, including APIs, web services, and server-side components.
- Test for vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, XML/JSON injection, insecure deserialization, and authentication bypass.
- Verify the effectiveness of security controls such as input validation, access controls, and data sanitization mechanisms.
Reporting
- Document all findings, including identified vulnerabilities, their severity, and potential impact on the application's security.
- Provide detailed recommendations for remediation, including mitigation strategies and best practices for improving the application's security posture.
- Prepare a comprehensive report summarizing the results of the penetration test, including an executive summary, methodology, findings, and recommendations.
