Mobile Application Penetration Testing
Mobile security testing is essential for safeguarding devices and applications from the latest cyber threats.
Potential Threats to your Mobile Security
In a world where mobile applications are integral to everyday operations, understanding the potential risks is vital. At Preventive Intelz, we focus on uncovering hidden vulnerabilities that could threaten your sensitive information and operational integrity. Whether you develop your own apps or rely on third-party solutions, our comprehensive assessments empower you to strengthen your defenses and safeguard your mobile ecosystem.
Common Security Concerns
Insecure Data Storage
Weak Server-Side Controls
API Vulnerabilities
Improper Session Management
Broken Cryptography
Client-Side Injection Attacks
Insecure Communication Channels
Insufficient Authentication and Authorization
Security Decisions Based on Untrusted Inputs
What is Assessed during a mobile app security test?
Aptive’s mobile application testing methodology is based from the OWASP mobile security project and covers all aspects of the OWASP Mobile Top 10 for 2016 (detailed below) and incorporates experience and testing techniques used in other areas of security testing. An overview of our mobile security testing methodology is documented below.
- Improper Platform Usage
- Insecure Data Storage
- Insecure Communication
- Insecure Authentication
- Insufficient Cryptography
- Insecure Authorisation
- Client Code Quality
- Code Tampering
- Reverse Engineering
- Extraneous Functionality
Why Conduct Mobile Application Penetration Testing?
Mitigate Identified Security Risks
Mobile application security testing provides an in-depth analysis of your app, enabling the identification of potential security vulnerabilities. We offer comprehensive remediation instructions, along with expert guidance, to help you enhance the security of your mobile applications effectively.
Uncover Security Flaws That Endanger Users
Our assessments reveal mobile app security weaknesses that could expose sensitive information and jeopardize user safety. Addressing these vulnerabilities is essential to safeguarding your users and protecting your company’s reputation.
Supported Platforms
Predictive Intelz specializes in mobile app security testing across the following platforms:
- Windows Mobile
- iOS Security Testing
- Android Security Testing
Mobile Application Penetration Testing Methodology
Overview
Our mobile application penetration testing methodology is designed to systematically evaluate the security of mobile applications. By combining automated tools and manual testing techniques, we uncover vulnerabilities that could potentially compromise user data and application integrity.
Testing Process
- Pre-Engagement Activities Define the objectives and scope of the testing, including identifying critical assets and potential threats.
- Application Profiling Analyze the application architecture to understand its components, including front-end, back-end, and APIs. This phase includes documenting application workflows and data flows.
- Threat Modeling Identify and assess potential threats based on application functionality and architecture. This involves mapping out attack vectors and prioritizing risks.
- Static Analysis Conduct a thorough examination of the application’s source code (if accessible) to identify coding vulnerabilities and security misconfigurations.
- Dynamic Analysis Perform real-time testing on the running application to evaluate its behavior under various conditions. This includes intercepting network traffic to analyze data transmission security.
- Vulnerability Assessment Systematically identify security weaknesses using both automated scanning tools and manual testing techniques. This phase focuses on common vulnerabilities such as insecure data storage, improper authentication, and more.
- Exploitation Attempt to exploit identified vulnerabilities in a controlled manner to assess the potential impact. This helps in understanding the severity of the vulnerabilities.
- Post-Exploitation AnalysisEvaluate the extent of the damage that could be done if an attacker successfully exploited a vulnerability. This includes assessing data exposure and potential lateral movement within the system.
- Reporting Compile a detailed report outlining findings, including identified vulnerabilities, potential impacts, and recommended remediation steps. The report also includes a risk assessment and prioritization of issues.
- Remediation GuidanceProvide actionable recommendations for fixing identified vulnerabilities, along with assistance in implementing these security measures if needed. This methodology ensures a comprehensive assessment of your mobile application’s security posture, helping you protect sensitive data and maintain user trust.
Establishing the Test Environment
Creating the test environment is a crucial step in conducting a mobile application security assessment. This process is tailored based on the specifics outlined during the scoping phase and the data gathered in the information collection stage. The environment will replicate real-world conditions to ensure that the testing is both effective and reliable, allowing for accurate identification of potential vulnerabilities in the application.
Static Analysis Methodology for Mobile Applications
Static Analysis Techniques
Static analysis, also known as SAST (Static Application Security Testing), involves evaluating the source code, binaries, and other application data while the application is not running. When source code is unavailable (which is preferable), we may reverse engineer, decrypt, and decompile the compiled binaries whenever possible.
Even if a source code review is not included in the scope, examining the source code is crucial. This analysis aids in mapping the application and understanding its functionality, revealing important details such as backend databases, server-side components, authentication systems, APIs, and the programming languages and frameworks used.
Key Focus Areas:
- Authentication Mechanisms
- Authorization Processes
- Session Management Practices
- Data Storage Security
- Information Disclosure Risks
- Mobile Application Vulnerability Testing – This includes identifying vulnerabilities such as XSS, CSRF, SQL Injection, Command Injection, and XML Injection specific to mobile environments.
- Network Security- Assessment of weak or insecure protocols used within the mobile application.
- Transport Layer Protection -Evaluation of SSL and encryption measures to ensure data security during transmission.
Dynamic Analysis Methodology for Mobile Applications
Dynamic Analysis Techniques
Dynamic analysis, or DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing), is conducted while the mobile application is actively running, simulating real-world attack scenarios. Insights gained from the static analysis phase can be leveraged to enhance and validate findings during dynamic testing, depending on the client’s scope.
Application Types Covered:
- Native Applications
- Web Services Applications (SOAP/REST)
- Mobile Browser-Based Applications
- Hybrid Mobile Applications (combining Native and Web)
Key Components of Dynamic Testing:
- Application Mapping :Establish a baseline for the application’s behavior before and after installation, including file system usage.
- Remote Application/Server Testing :Test backend systems, hosting environments, and APIs for vulnerabilities related to authentication, authorization, session management, and transport layer security, including server-side attacks.
- Local Testing : Assess for exposed Inter-Process Communication (IPC) interfaces, including fuzzing, sniffing, and authentication bypass testing.
- Debugging : Use a debugger to analyze the application during runtime.
- Web Application Security Testing : Identify common vulnerabilities such as XSS, CSRF, SQL Injection, Command Injection, XML Injection, and evaluate Cross-Domain Policy and cookie security.
- Authentication Testing : Assess for broken authentication mechanisms.
- Authorization Assessment : Investigate weak runtime permissions on the local filesystem and potential for external configuration manipulation.
- File System Analysis : Examine local filesystem permissions to identify weaknesses and manipulation risks.
- Cryptography Testing : Evaluate cryptographic practices for vulnerabilities, including brute-force key attacks, hard-coded keys, and any other exposed secrets.
- Memory Analysis :Conduct assessments of the application’s memory for sensitive data exposure.
What is Evaluated During Mobile App Penetration Testing?
Weak Authentication Mechanisms
Inadequate Cryptographic Measures
Vulnerable Data Storage Practices
Unsecured Data Transmission
Improper Use of Platform Features
Insufficient Access Controls
Quality of Client-Side Code
Ease of Reverse Engineering
Susceptibility to Code Modifications
Unnecessary Functionalities
Third-Party Library Vulnerabilities
Insecure API Usage
Benefits of Mobile Application Security Testing
Mobile application security testing is a critical component of the software development lifecycle, aimed at identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities that could compromise sensitive data and user privacy. By implementing rigorous security assessments, organizations can proactively address potential threats, fortifying their applications against exploitation. Regular testing not only ensures compliance with regulatory frameworks but also enhances the overall security architecture, enabling a robust defense against evolving cyber threats.
Key Benefits:
– Strengthened Security Posture: Proactively identify and remediate vulnerabilities before exploitation occurs.
– Enhanced User Trust: Foster user confidence by demonstrating a commitment to robust security practices, leading to increased user adoption and retention.
– Regulatory Compliance Assurance: Ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA), mitigating the risk of legal liabilities and penalties.
– Cost-Effective Remediation: Reduce remediation costs by detecting vulnerabilities early in the development lifecycle, minimizing potential impacts.
– Optimized Code Quality: Provide insights into coding practices and architecture, leading to improved application performance and reliability.
– Defense Against Emerging Threats: Maintain a proactive stance against evolving attack vectors through continuous security assessments.
– Comprehensive Risk Evaluation: Perform holistic assessments that evaluate interactions with back-end systems and APIs for a full security overview.
– Promoted Secure Development Practices: Encourage the adoption of secure coding standards and methodologies, reducing the likelihood of introducing vulnerabilities in future releases.
Mobile Application Penetration Testing Methodology
Our mobile application penetration testing methodology is designed to systematically evaluate the security of mobile applications. By combining automated tools and manual testing techniques, we uncover vulnerabilities that could potentially compromise user data and application integrity.
Pre-Engagement Activities
Define the objectives and scope of the testing, including identifying critical assets and potential threats.
Application Profiling
Analyze the application architecture to understand its components, including front-end, back-end, and APIs. This phase includes documenting application workflows and data flows.
Threat Modeling
Identify and assess potential threats based on application functionality and architecture. This involves mapping out attack vectors and prioritizing risks.
Static Analysis
Conduct a thorough examination of the application’s source code (if accessible) to identify coding vulnerabilities and security misconfigurations.
Dynamic Analysis
Perform real-time testing on the running application to evaluate its behavior under various conditions. This includes intercepting network traffic to analyze data transmission security.
Vulnerability Assessment
Systematically identify security weaknesses using both automated scanning tools and manual testing techniques. This phase focuses on common vulnerabilities such as insecure data storage, improper authentication, and more.
Exploitation
Attempt to exploit identified vulnerabilities in a controlled manner to assess the potential impact. This helps in understanding the severity of the vulnerabilities.
Post-Exploitation Analysis
Evaluate the extent of the damage that could be done if an attacker successfully exploited a vulnerability. This includes assessing data exposure and potential lateral movement within the system.
Reporting
Compile a detailed report outlining findings, including identified vulnerabilities, potential impacts, and recommended remediation steps. The report also includes a risk assessment and prioritization of issues.
Remediation Guidance
Provide actionable recommendations for fixing identified vulnerabilities, along with assistance in implementing these security measures if needed.
This methodology ensures a comprehensive assessment of your mobile application’s security posture, helping you protect sensitive data and maintain user trust.