Mobile Application Pentesting (iOS / Android): Protect Your App from Cyber Threats
- Douglas Leal
- May 13
- 4 min read
With the increasing use of mobile devices, mobile apps have become one of the main targets for cybercriminals. Vulnerabilities in iOS and Android apps can lead to the exposure of sensitive user data, compromising information security and damaging a company’s reputation. In this context, conducting pentests (penetration tests) on mobile applications has become an essential practice.
In this article, we’ll explore the importance of pentesting mobile apps and how these tests help identify vulnerabilities, protect user data, and ensure the security of mobile platforms.
Why Conduct Pentests on Mobile Applications (iOS / Android)?
Mobile apps are dynamic platforms, but they can also be complex and vulnerable to various types of cyberattacks. Given the diversity of devices, operating system versions, and security configurations, risks are amplified. A pentest is crucial to ensure your app is safe for users.
1. Protection of Personal and Sensitive Data
Mobile apps often collect sensitive personal data such as banking details, login credentials, and location information. If this data isn’t well protected, it can be easily accessed by hackers.
🔒 Example of a vulnerability: If the app doesn’t use end-to-end encryption, user information can be intercepted during transmission.
2. Increased Trust and Reputation
App security is a key factor in building user trust. Vulnerable apps are prone to fraud, identity theft, and data leaks, all of which can severely damage a company's reputation. Performing pentests helps identify these issues before hackers do.
🌟 Example: Apps that handle mobile payments or banking data are popular targets for phishing and transaction manipulation.
3. Compliance with Standards and Regulations
There are numerous regulations, such as GDPR and LGPD, requiring companies to protect users' sensitive data. Conducting pentests ensures that your app complies with these laws, helping avoid fines and penalties.
⚖️ Example: Storing personal data without encryption may lead to privacy violations and hefty fines, especially in the European Union (GDPR).
4. Detection of Mobile-Specific Vulnerabilities
Mobile devices have unique characteristics that require a specific approach to security testing. In addition to common app vulnerabilities, mobile devices are susceptible to threats like remote code execution and unauthorized access to system resources.
📱 Example: An app may request excessive permissions, gaining access to device information that’s not required for its functionality, such as location or contact data.
How to Conduct a Pentest on Mobile Applications (iOS / Android)
Performing a mobile app pentest requires a technical and detailed approach, considering the specific characteristics of both iOS and Android operating systems, as well as the unique features of mobile devices. Below are the essential steps for an effective pentest:
1. Authentication and Access Control Testing
The first step in pentesting a mobile app is testing its authentication mechanisms and access controls. This includes:
Credential validation: Testing password strength and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Session management: Verifying whether session tokens are properly handled and not vulnerable to session hijacking.
Privilege escalation: Ensuring regular users cannot gain unauthorized access to restricted areas.
🔑 Example: A common flaw is failing to invalidate session tokens after logout, allowing an attacker to reuse an expired session to access sensitive data.
2. Encryption and Data Storage Testing
Sensitive data must be effectively encrypted, both in transit and at rest. During a pentest, the following should be verified:
End-to-end encryption for data in transit.
Secure on-device storage for items like passwords and authentication tokens.
Secure caching: Ensuring sensitive data isn’t being stored insecurely in the cache.
🔐 Example: Poor encryption implementation can lead to interception of personal information during communication with the server.
3. API Security Testing
APIs are essential to mobile app functionality. A thorough pentest should verify the security of the app’s communication with the backend, focusing on:
Proper authentication and authorization when accessing the API.
Protection against SQL injection, XSS (Cross-Site Scripting), and other attack types.
Input validation to prevent malicious data from reaching the API.
🌐 Example: An app may fail to validate user input sent to the API, allowing an attacker to inject SQL commands.
4. Permission and System Resource Testing
Mobile devices offer a range of system permissions that apps can request. During a pentest, you should ensure the app only requests permissions essential for its operation and does not abuse them.
Permissions for location, camera, and microphone should be reviewed to prevent unnecessary access.
External storage: Verify that sensitive data is not being insecurely stored on the device.
📱 Example: If a calendar app requests access to contacts without a valid reason, it may be abusing permissions and posing a privacy risk.
Conclusion
Conducting pentests on mobile applications (iOS and Android) is crucial to ensure user data security and privacy. These tests help detect critical vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers and ensure compliance with security and privacy regulations.
By identifying flaws in authentication, encryption, APIs, and system permissions, you can ensure your mobile app is secure, trustworthy, and ready to face evolving cyber threats.
