Safeguard your business with mobile app penetration testing

Mobile applications have become an essential tool for businesses of all sizes to engage with customers, streamline operations and drive growth.

However, the increasing reliance on mobile technology comes with a unique set of security challenges you can’t afford to overlook.

Mobile applications introduce new attack surfaces and vulnerabilities that differ from traditional web-based applications. Hackers and cybercriminals are constantly evolving their techniques to exploit these weaknesses, putting your business data and customer information at risk.

So, it’s crucial to understand and address these security challenges head-on to safeguard your mobile apps and protect your organisation’s reputation. Understanding the unique security challenges of mobile app development and taking proactive steps to address them can protect your business from costly data breaches and reputational damage.

This is where mobile app penetration testing comes in – a critical process that can help you identify and remediate vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them. This blog takes a closer look at mobile app penetration testing and how it can benefit your business.

Understanding mobile app penetration testing

Mobile app penetration testing is a specialised cyber security measure that focuses on identifying vulnerabilities and security weaknesses in mobile applications. Its primary objective is to uncover potential risks and provide recommendations for remediation, ultimately helping you to secure your app and protect your business.

During a mobile app penetration test, skilled security professionals simulate real-world attack scenarios to determine how well your app can withstand attempts at unauthorised access, data theft or other malicious activities. This process involves a comprehensive analysis of your app’s code, backend servers and communication protocols, as well as testing for common vulnerabilities such as insecure data storage, weak encryption and insufficient input validation.

Mobile app pentesting typically covers the following key areas:

Authentication and authorisation: Ensuring that only authorised users can access sensitive data and functionality within your app.
Data storage and transmission security: Verifying that sensitive data is encrypted and securely stored, both on the device and in transit to backend servers.
Input validation and injection testing: Checking for vulnerabilities that could allow attackers to inject malicious code or commands into your app.
Session management and timeout testing: Ensuring that user sessions are appropriately managed and terminated to prevent unauthorised access.
Reverse engineering and code analysis: Examining your app’s code for potential weaknesses that attackers could exploit.

In today’s rapidly evolving threat landscape, a one-time security assessment is no longer sufficient. It’s essential to incorporate penetration testing into your regular development and maintenance processes to maintain your mobile app’s security.

Key aspects of mobile app penetration testing

One of the most critical aspects of mobile app security is ensuring that only authorised users can access sensitive data and functionality within your app. During a penetration test, security professionals will examine your app’s authentication and authorisation mechanisms to identify any weaknesses that could allow unauthorised access. This may include testing for weak passwords, insecure session management or insufficient access controls.

Mobile apps often store and transmit sensitive data, such as user credentials, financial information or personal details. It’s essential to ensure that this data is properly encrypted and securely stored. Penetration testers will analyse your app’s data storage and transmission practices to identify any vulnerabilities that could lead to data leakage or interception.

Insufficient input validation is a common vulnerability in mobile apps that can allow attackers to inject malicious code or commands into your app’s backend servers or databases. During a penetration test, security professionals will test your app’s input fields and APIs for potential injection vulnerabilities, such as SQL injection or cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.

Proper session management is crucial for maintaining your mobile app’s security. Penetration testers will examine your app’s session handling mechanisms to ensure that user sessions are correctly authenticated, managed and terminated after a period of inactivity. This helps prevent unauthorised access through abandoned or hijacked sessions.

Additionally, penetration testers may employ reverse engineering techniques to analyse your app’s binary files and source code to identify potential weaknesses in your app’s code. This process can uncover hidden vulnerabilities or misconfigurations that attackers could exploit. Code analysis also helps to ensure that your app adheres to secure coding practices and industry standards.

It’s essential to work closely with your chosen penetration testing provider to ensure that all critical aspects of your app are adequately tested and secured. They’ll provide a comprehensive assessment of your app’s security posture and recommend targeted remediation measures to address any identified vulnerabilities.

Platform-specific security considerations

In addition to the general security aspects covered in mobile app penetration testing, it’s essential to consider the unique security features and challenges associated with the specific platform on which your app is built. The two most popular mobile platforms, iOS and Android, each have their own set of security mechanisms and best practices that should be addressed during a penetration test.

iOS app security

iOS, the operating system used by Apple’s mobile devices, is known for its strict security controls and closed ecosystem. However, this doesn’t mean that iOS apps are immune to security vulnerabilities. When testing an iOS app, some areas that penetration testers will focus on are:

Keychain services: iOS provides a secure storage system called Keychain Services, which allows apps to store sensitive data such as user credentials or encryption keys. Penetration testers will examine how your app uses Keychain Services to ensure that data is properly stored and protected.
App Transport Security (ATS): ATS is a security feature introduced in iOS 9 that enforces secure communication between your app and its backend servers. Penetration testers will verify that your app’s ATS configuration is implemented correctly and not unnecessarily disabled.

Jailbreak detection: Jailbreaking an iOS device allows users to bypass Apple’s security controls and install unauthorised apps, providing the user with more control over the device and it’s interfaces than intended. Penetration testers will assess your app’s ability to detect and respond to jailbroken devices to prevent potential security risks.

Android app security

Android, the mobile operating system developed by Google, is known for its open-source nature and flexibility. However, this openness also presents unique security challenges you must address during a penetration test. Key areas of focus for Android app security include:

Intent filtering: Android apps use messaging objects called ‘intents’ to communicate with each other and share data. Penetration testers will examine your app’s intent filtering mechanisms to ensure that sensitive data isn’t inadvertently exposed to unauthorised apps.
Broadcast receiver security: Broadcast receivers allow Android apps to listen for and respond to system-wide events. Penetration testers will assess your app’s broadcast receiver implementation to identify any potential vulnerabilities that malicious software could exploit.
Rooting detection: Rooting an Android device grants users administrative privileges, potentially exposing the device to security risks. Penetration testers will evaluate your app’s ability to detect and respond to rooted devices to mitigate potential threats.

Penetration testers can provide a more comprehensive assessment of your mobile app’s security posture by addressing these platform-specific security considerations. So, it’s crucial to ensure that your chosen penetration testing provider has the expertise and experience to thoroughly test your app on its specific platform, be it iOS or Android (or both).Furthermore, it is important to ensure that your penetration testing provider follows an established framework for testing mobile apps, such as the OWASP Mobile Application Security Testing Guide.

Best practices for secure mobile app development

While mobile app penetration testing is essential for identifying and addressing vulnerabilities, it’s equally important to incorporate security best practices throughout the app development process. Following secure coding practices and implementing robust security measures from the outset reduces the likelihood of vulnerabilities appearing in your app and minimises the risk of successful attacks.

Developing a secure mobile app starts with adhering to secure coding practices. This involves:

Validating and sanitising all user input to prevent injection attacks.
Implementing strong authentication and authorisation controls.
Using secure communication protocols (such as HTTPS) for data transmission.
Avoiding hard-coded sensitive information, such as passwords or encryption keys.
Performing regular code reviews to identify and address potential security flaws.

Build security into your app from the ground up by training your development team in secure coding practices and establishing a security-focused development culture.

Protecting sensitive data is crucial for maintaining your app users’ security and privacy. To ensure that data is securely stored and transmitted, you should:

Use robust encryption algorithms to protect data at rest and in transit.
Limit the device permissions granted to your application – it may not need access to resources, such as the camera or microphone.
Store sensitive data such as user credentials or encryption keys in secure storage mechanisms like the iOS Keychain or Android Keystore.
Avoid storing sensitive data unnecessarily and securely delete it when no longer needed.
Implement proper access controls to ensure that only authorised users or processes can access sensitive data.

Employing encryption and secure data storage practices can significantly reduce the risk of data breaches and protect your users’ privacy.

Maintaining your mobile app’s security requires ongoing effort and attention. As new vulnerabilities and threats emerge, it’s essential to regularly update and patch your app to address potential security weaknesses. Monitor for new vulnerabilities and security patches related to your app’s platform, frameworks and libraries. Regularly release app updates that include security fixes and improvements.

Communicate with your users about the importance of updating their app to the latest version. And establish a clear process for receiving and addressing security reports from users or researchers.

Prioritising security throughout the app development lifecycle is essential for protecting your business, your users and your reputation in the mobile app marketplace. Incorporating these best practices for secure mobile app development, alongside regular penetration testing, can help you build and maintain a robust and resilient mobile application.

Choosing the right mobile app penetration testing provider

Selecting the right mobile app penetration testing provider is crucial for ensuring the security and success of your mobile application. You should partner with a provider that has the expertise, experience and credibility to deliver a comprehensive and effective testing service.

One of the key factors to consider when choosing a mobile app penetration testing provider is their accreditation status. The Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers (CREST) is a globally recognised accreditation body that sets the standards for the ethical security testing industry. CREST-accredited providers, like Sentrium, have demonstrated their technical competence, adherence to rigorous methodologies and commitment to ethical conduct. Look for a provider with a team of experienced and certified penetration testers who have a deep understanding of mobile app security and the latest testing techniques. Ensure they have expertise in testing mobile apps on the specific platform (iOS or Android) that your app is built on.

Choose a provider that offers a tailored testing approach that aligns with your app’s unique features, business objectives and compliance requirements. Ensure they offer ongoing support and guidance to help you prioritise and implement the recommended remediation measures.

Investing in professional penetration testing services is a crucial step towards protecting your business, your customers and your reputation in today’s digital landscape. Carefully selecting a CREST-accredited mobile app penetration testing provider with the right expertise, experience and approach will ensure that your app is thoroughly tested and secured against potential threats.

How can Sentrium help?

In today’s competitive and ever-evolving mobile app landscape, prioritising mobile app security is no longer optional. It’s a critical necessity.

If you don’t have the in-house expertise or resources to handle mobile app security on your own, Sentrium, a trusted, CREST-accredited penetration testing provider, can make all the difference. You can benefit from our specialised skills, objective assessment and ongoing support in prioritising and implementing app security improvements.

Our expert security consultants have a deep understanding of how hackers and cyber attackers operate. We use this knowledge to help businesses mitigate risks to their IT systems, networks and digital assets, including mobile apps.

We want to help you improve your cyber security strategy to protect your technology, information and people. Get in touch today to learn more about how we can help.