Mobile Penetration Testing

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What is a mobile pentest?

Smartphones are now an integral part of everyday life. But due to their heavy daily use and the associated personal data, the security of these applications is also gaining importance. To maintain trust in mobile applications and protect user data, weaknesses should be detected as early as possible.

In a mobile pentest, attacks on a mobile application (app) are simulated. During this process, security experts (ethical hackers) use their expertise to examine the application for potential security gaps and vulnerabilities. A mobile penetration test is similar to a traditional penetration test, but it focuses on the specific vulnerabilities of mobile environments.

Experts examine various attack vectors. These include, among other things, checking for susceptibility to data theft, auditing APIs, examining classic security gaps in the client application, or detecting weaknesses in permissions management.

Verify your mobile applications through a mobile pentest and identify existing security flaws and eliminate them before they can be exploited by attackers.

  • Preempt attackers
  • Prevent manipulation or theft of sensitive data
  • Detect security gaps early
  • Increase trust in your application
  • Effectively minimize attack risks
  • Avoid reputational loss through critical vulnerabilities
Request penetration test
<activity android:nameS=".WebviewActivity">
    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="android.intent.action.VIEW" />
        <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
        <category android:name="android.intent.category.BROWSABLE" />
        <data
            android:scheme="shop"
            android:host="example"
            android:pathPrefix="/"
        />
    </intent-filter>
</activity>
Code Example 1 Example of an Android application with a public URL scheme. Publicly accessible interfaces often provide an attack surface.

When do I need a mobile pentest?

A mobile pentest ensures that mobile apps are robust enough against common vulnerabilities. You should consider a mobile penetration test in the following situations:

  • Does your mobile application process or store sensitive information?
  • Is your mobile application about to be published?
  • Have significant code or design changes been made?
  • Has your mobile application never been audited or was the last audit over a year ago?
  • Has a security incident occurred?
  • Are changes in technology or environment taking place?
  • Do you need to comply with regulations and standards?

In an era where mobile applications have become indispensable companions in our personal and professional daily lives, the security of these applications has gained unprecedented importance. A pentest is an essential step in protecting the reliability, security, and integrity of mobile applications.

Process of a pentest for mobile applications

1

After a commission, a joint kick-off meeting takes place.

  • The scope of the pentest is determined.
  • It is discussed which threats should be addressed in particular.
  • Contact persons are announced.
  • A period is agreed during which the tests may be carried out.

Following the meeting, the execution of the penetration test is prepared and a release is granted before the start of the actual tests.

2

In the main phase of the pentest, the system is analyzed and an attempt is made to violate security objectives.

  • Reconnaissance: The test object is examined in depth using passive and active methods.
  • Enumeration: Possible attack vectors are collected through discovered vulnerabilities.
  • Exploitation: Vulnerabilities are exploited in a controlled manner and new information is gained.
  • Documentation: The discovered vulnerabilities, steps for exploitation, and concrete remedial measures are described precisely.
3

Joint result discussion, in which the discovered vulnerabilities and recommendations for action are presented.

  • Presentation: The results and their implications are presented to the stakeholders.
  • Recommendations: Concrete suggestions for remediating vulnerabilities are given.
  • Discussion: Jointly consult on the next steps for security improvement and risk reduction.

With the end of the pentest and its results, the cooperation often continues in the diverse product portfolio of aramido.

Standards and Norms

A security audit is a proven instrument for risk management. For this reason, numerous standards and norms require the regular performance of a penetration test, including OWASP MASVS, PCI-DSS, ISO IEC 27001, TISAX (VDA ISA), NIST SP 800-53, and SOC 2. Regulations by BaFin also require security audits with ZAIT, VAIT, BAIT, and KAIT.

Comprehensive Audit of the Application

Even though the applications examined are a relatively new field, established standards and procedures exist that mobile pentests are based on. This is intended to ensure a thorough and standardized audit of the security situation. The following audits are typically carried out during a mobile penetration test:

  • Audits according to the OWASP Mobile Application Security Testing Guide (OWASP MASTG) to detect critical security risks
  • Audits of communication with an API and the associated attack possibilities (for example, SQL injections (SQLi) or IDOR attacks).
  • Authentication and authorization auditse
  • Audits of deep links and public activities.
  • Audit of the storage of application-related data on the smartphone.
  • Audit of injection attacks such as Cross Site Scripting (XSS)
  • Audit of the rights and role concept
  • Audit of weak cryptography (Encryption at Rest and Encryption in Transit)

Ready to secure your mobile app? Our professionals reveal vulnerabilities before hackers do. Contact us now and defend your data!

Request penetration test

aramido is your qualified partner for mobile penetration tests

  • In-depth security analysis: Our penetration test goes far beyond simple vulnerability scans. aramido pentesters carry out manual tests and creatively use attack vectors to identify even complex vulnerabilities and assess their impact on the overall system. This enables a comprehensive analysis of the security situation of your platform.
  • Innovative expertise: Our team consists of highly qualified ethical hackers with many years of experience and current knowledge of the latest threats and attack techniques.
  • Tailored approaches: We adapt our tests to the individual needs of your platform, whether it is an iOS application, Android application or several platforms in combination with an API.
  • Holistic security analysis: Our approach covers both automated scans and manual tests to detect even the most sophisticated security gaps.
  • Affordable penetration testing: We offer professional services at very good, market-standard conditions.
  • Understandable reports: Our reports are clearly structured and easy to understand. You receive not only a list of vulnerabilities, but also clear recommendations for action for remediation.
  • Reliable partnership: We are by your side not only during the test, but are your contact for all questions regarding information security.
  • Preempt attackers
  • Prevent manipulation or theft of sensitive data
  • Detect security gaps early
  • Increase trust in your application
  • Effectively minimize attack risks
  • Avoid reputational loss through critical vulnerabilities
Request penetration test

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Fields of expertise

Cross Site Scripting (XSS) Data Theft Ethical Hacker Information Security Man-In-The-Middle (MIM) MDM Mobile Security Security Audit SQL Injections Threat Modeling White Hat Hacker