mobile application penetration testing

Mobile applications and services are critical components of our daily life, both at home and at work. As a result, they are attractive targets for hostile actors looking for sensitive information. Cyberattacks increased by 38% in 2022 compared to the previous year, while the number of new mobile malware types increased by 54% in 2019. A test report indicates that 84% of applications could not determine if their source code had been tainted with malicious code, leaving them open to a wide range of assaults. Only 15.7% of programs had any type of repackaging detection in place, making them the exception rather than the rule. With these, we know how vulnerable a mobile can be to cyberattacks, and how it can impact the privacy of individuals. In this blog, we will dive into the dept of mobile application penetration testing as it secures the application with robust techniques. Keep reading and learning! What is Mobile Application Penetration Testing? Penetration testing for mobile applications is used to identify security flaws in mobile applications to defend them from attack. The Apple App Store and Google Play both have approximately 6 million mobile apps. Organizations require tested mobile security across all app components. Decades of experience, exceptional customer service, flexible scheduling, and lightning-fast return time are all prerequisites for successful mobile app pen testing. These important components enable a threat-based approach, extensive testing with numerous analysis kinds, and support in resolving and validating any issues uncovered. What are the Perks of Performing Pen Testing for Mobile Applications? Mobile app security testing is an ongoing activity that benefits both the app development company and the app user. We’ll look at the top benefits of mobile security testing here: 1. Avoid Future Assaults Running your app through a simulated assault is the greatest approach to assess its security strength. With an expert-level pen test, you can foresee potential future scenarios and prevent risks, as well as discover and fix code problems before hackers exploit them. Conducting frequent mobile pen testing will aid in the long-term safety and longevity of your app. 2. Prevent Monetary Loss A data breach may cause considerable financial harm to a company in a variety of ways. If hackers get your personal information, they may demand payment in the form of ransomware. This may be prevented if the mobile app is subject to vulnerability and penetration testing before release. As a result, investing in security is better than falling victim to hackers or attacks. 3. Increased ROI on IT investments It is critical first to protect the asset to ensure data security. Mobile app pen testing searches and addresses underlying dangers in the asset. With timely vulnerability assessments, an organization may prioritize which vulnerabilities to target first depending on the damage they might do to a system. This may also assist a company in gaining new clients and consumers. What Should You Test in a Mobile Application? Below are the things a penetration testing company checks to secure a mobile application: 1. Authorization and Authentication: Examine the techniques for authenticating users, such as password security, biometrics, and two-factor authentication (2FA). Verify that users can only access the areas of the app that they are permitted to by testing role-based access control. Investigate how sessions are maintained and secured, searching for flaws such as session fixation, hijacking, and timeout difficulties. 2. Data Protection: Examine how sensitive data is stored on the device and communicated to backend systems. Avoid, insecure data storage, such as plaintext storage or inadequate encryption. Look for input validation flaws that might lead to data injection attacks such as SQL injection or remote code execution. Examine the program to ensure that it does not mistakenly reveal sensitive information to unauthorized users via logs, error messages, or other unintended routes. 3. Communication and Networking: Use proper encryption methods (e.g., TLS/SSL) to ensure that data is delivered securely between the mobile app and the server. Examine APIs for common web vulnerabilities such as Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF), and unsecured API endpoints. Examine your network for potential network-based attacks such as DNS spoofing, network spy, and unsecured Wi-Fi connections. How Does QualySec Technologies Perform Mobile Application Penetration Testing? Pre-Assessment The testing team specifies the scope and objectives of the penetration test during the pre-assessment phase. They collaborate with the app’s owner or developer to understand the app’s goals, functions, and possible dangers. This step involves preparation and logistics, such as defining the testing environment, establishing rules of engagement, and getting any necessary approvals and credentials to execute the test. Information Gathering The testing company advocates taking a simplified method to begin the mobile app penetration testing procedure. Begin by using the supplied link to submit an inquiry, which will put you in touch with knowledgeable cybersecurity specialists. They will walk you through the process of completing a pre-assessment questionnaire, which covers both technical and non-technical elements of your desired mobile application. Testers arrange a virtual presentation meeting to explain the evaluation approach, tools, timing, and expected expenses. Following that, they set up the signing of a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) and service agreement to ensure strict data protection. Once all necessary information has been gathered, the penetration testing will begin, ensuring the security of your mobile app. Penetration Testing The testing team actively seeks to attack vulnerabilities and security flaws in the mobile app during the penetration testing process. This phase consists of a series of simulated assaults and evaluations to detect flaws. Testers can rate the app’s authentication procedures, data storage, data transport, session management, and connection with external services. Source code analysis, dynamic analysis, reverse engineering, manual testing, and automation testing are all common penetration testing methodologies a tester uses. Analysis Each finding’s severity is assessed individually, and those with higher ratings have a greater technical and commercial effect with fewer dependencies. 1. Likelihood Determination:  The assessment team rates the likelihood of exploitation for each vulnerability based on the following factors: The prospective danger source’s motive and capabilities