Mobile Application Penetration Testing
Aims to identify vulnerabilities in mobile app environments, particularly for iOS, Android, and HarmonyOS platforms. This process includes both dynamic testing, which involves executing the application to find runtime vulnerabilities, and static testing, which analyzes the application's code and structure without execution. Additionally, the testing assesses the backend API services that support business functions. It encompasses a thorough analysis of potential weaknesses in client applications, servers (APIs), and the communication channels between the server and the client.
Mobile application testing approach
Static Analysis
This involves examining the application’s source code, binaries, and configuration files without executing the application.
Dynamic Analysis
In this approach, the application is executed in a controlled environment, and the behavior is monitored in real-time. Dynamic testing helps to identify runtime vulnerabilities, such as insecure API calls, authentication issues, and data leakage.
API Testing
Since mobile applications rely heavily on backend APIs, this approach focuses on testing the APIs for security vulnerabilities.
Reverse Engineering
This technique involves decompiling the mobile application to understand its internal workings. By analyzing the application, testers can uncover security flaws, hardcoded credentials, and sensitive data management issues.
Network Testing
This approach evaluates the security of data transmission between the mobile app and backend servers. Testers analyze the communication protocols used and check for vulnerabilities such as insecure data transmission, man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks, and improper certificate validation.
Client-Side Testing
This approach examines the client-side implementation of the mobile application. It includes testing for issues like inadequate encryption, weak authentication mechanisms, and resistance to common mobile attacks such as code injection and unauthorized access to device resources.