The process of Mobile App Penetration Testing typically involves the following steps:
Preparation and Scoping: In this phase, the scope of the penetration test is defined in collaboration with the app’s owner or development team. The tester identifies the supported platforms (e.g., iOS, Android), the app’s functionalities, and the backend services it communicates with.
Static Analysis: The penetration tester performs a static analysis of the app’s source code to identify potential security issues, such as insecure data storage, hard-coded credentials, and improper input validation.
Dynamic Analysis: The app is installed on a controlled testing environment (emulator or physical device), and the tester interacts with the app to observe its behavior. The tester may use various tools to intercept and analyze network traffic to identify potential security vulnerabilities related to data transmission.
Authentication and Authorization Testing: The tester evaluates how the app handles user authentication and authorization. This includes testing for weak authentication mechanisms, session management flaws, and access control issues.
Data Storage Assessment: The security of sensitive data stored on the mobile device (e.g., credentials, personal information) is examined for proper encryption and protection against unauthorized access.
Input Validation Testing: The app is tested for input validation vulnerabilities to prevent attacks like SQL injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), and other injection-based attacks.
Code Tampering and Reverse Engineering: The tester attempts to analyze the app’s binary code to detect any security weaknesses, such as code tampering or reverse engineering attempts.
API and Backend Testing: If the app interacts with backend services or APIs, the tester assesses the security of these communication channels to identify potential weaknesses.
Client-Side Controls Testing: The app’s client-side controls, such as anti-tampering mechanisms and secure storage are evaluated for their effectiveness in protecting the app against unauthorized modifications.
Reporting: The results of the Mobile App Penetration Testing are documented in a detailed report. The report includes a summary of identified vulnerabilities, their severity, potential impact, and recommended remediation steps.
Mobile App Penetration Testing is essential for ensuring the security of mobile applications, as these apps often handle sensitive user data and interact with backend services. By identifying and addressing vulnerabilities proactively, organizations can safeguard their mobile apps from potential cyber threats and provide a secure user experience.
Recommendation for pricing: Depending on the scope, difficulty, time, and expertise of the mobile penetration tester required, the price for a penetration test can vary. The capabilities of Mobile Application Penetration Testers are similar to that of Web Application Penetration testers.
At Hackybara, we would recommend pricing for penetration tests based on the options below:
Novice Mobile Application Test:
Recommended price range: $200-500
Recommended time range: 1-2 weeks (not including time spent if a business requires a background check)
Intermediate Mobile Application Test:
Recommended price range: $500-2000
Recommended time range: 1-2 weeks (not including time spent if a business requires a background check)
Expert Mobile Application Test:
Recommended price range: $2000-5000
Recommended time range: 1-2 weeks (not including time spent if a business requires a background check)
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