Mobile Application Penetration Testing Services

approach

At Artifice Security, our mobile application penetration testing process is designed to expose real-world vulnerabilities across both iOS and Android platforms. We combine static and dynamic analysis to assess your app’s behavior during installation, runtime, and in offline state, whether it’s running on standard or rooted/jailbroken devices.

Our mobile security consultants use commercial devices and simulated attacker conditions to uncover both typical and complex vulnerabilities. Each test targets your app’s architecture, permissions, cryptographic practices, API interactions, storage, and communication channels to ensure your application is secure end to end.

We follow a methodical and in-depth testing model, covering key areas:

methodology

At Artifice Security, our mobile application penetration testing follows a repeatable, real-world-driven methodology developed through years of experience. Each vulnerability we report is manually validated, eliminating false positives and giving your team verifiable proofs-of-concept with every finding.

Our approach is tailored to your environment and aligned with the latest mobile app threat models and industry standards. Here’s how we do it:

01

Define the Scope for Mobile Application Penetration Testing

Before testing begins, Artifice Security will collaborate with your team to define the scope of the mobile application penetration test. This includes identifying the mobile platforms, APIs, and third-party services involved.

We will:

• Confirm the apps to be tested (iOS, Android, or both)

• Decide on testing in production or QA environments

• Identify any excluded third-party integrations

• Obtain the .apk and .ipa files for analysis

• Set testing dates and timelines

• Exchange emergency contacts for critical findings

This ensures the test is focused, efficient, and aligned with your goals.

02

Information Gathering / Reconnaissance Phase

During this phase, Artifice Security performs passive intelligence gathering using Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) to uncover public data that may expose your mobile application or organization to risk. This early-stage reconnaissance helps map your threat landscape and inform later phases of the test.

Our targeted OSINT efforts include:

• Searching for exposed documents (PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PPT) containing sensitive or customer data

• Scanning dark web and public breach databases for leaked credentials

• Reviewing developer platforms like GitHub for exposed code or secrets

• Identifying spoofed or similar domain names used for phishing attacks

This foundational step reveals potential weak points before any direct engagement begins.

03

Enumeration and Preparation Phase

During this phase, Artifice Security performs active reconnaissance and prepares the mobile testing environment. The goal is to uncover all potential attack surfaces within your mobile application and its ecosystem. The information collected here builds the foundation for the exploitation phase.

Our process includes:

• Configuring proxy tools and network environments to intercept app traffic

• Performing static analysis to review code, app structure, and embedded assets

• Conducting dynamic analysis during runtime to observe real-world behaviors

• Executing reverse engineering techniques to decompile and analyze application logic

• Using runtime instrumentation and tampering to manipulate app behavior and discover hidden flaws

This phase ensures full visibility into the inner workings of your Android or iOS application.

04

Attack and Exploitation Phase

In this critical phase, Artifice Security applies advanced manual penetration testing techniques to exploit real-world vulnerabilities discovered within your mobile application. Our testing is conducted with care to avoid any disruption to business operations, focusing instead on precision, safety, and actionable insights.

We assess the following core areas of your Android or iOS app:

• Data Storage – Analyze how the app stores sensitive data locally and identify any insecure storage practices

• Cryptographic APIs – Evaluate the use, configuration, and management of encryption routines and key handling

• Local Authentication – Test mechanisms like biometrics and PIN/password verification for bypass or abuse

• Network APIs – Inspect data in transit, including endpoint security, certificate pinning, and traffic integrity

• Platform APIs – Check for insecure use of Android/iOS APIs, improper permissions, and system integrations

• Code Quality & Build Settings – Assess debuggable builds, exposed error messages, and embedded secrets

• Anti-Reversing Defenses – Test for the presence and strength of protections like root/jailbreak detection, obfuscation, and anti-debugging

Each finding is backed by proof-of-concept and tailored remediation guidance to help your team eliminate risk efficiently.

05

Reporting Phase

At the conclusion of your mobile application penetration test, Artifice Security delivers a comprehensive report that documents every vulnerability identified—backed by manual verification and zero false positives.

The report begins with an executive summary that explains the most important findings in clear, non-technical language, helping decision-makers quickly understand the overall risk posture of your mobile app and organization. It also includes a list of positive security controls observed during the assessment to highlight what’s working well.

We then provide a vulnerability ranking methodology, showing how each issue was rated by criticality and risk based on likelihood of exploitation and business impact. This helps you confidently prioritize remediation.

Each vulnerability section includes:

• A clear description of the finding

• The affected component(s) or code locations

• Step-by-step proof-of-concept (PoC) walkthroughs

• Custom remediation guidance based on your actual app and environment

Additionally, Artifice Security includes a client-facing report and an attestation letter upon request to support compliance and communicate results with stakeholders.

06

Remediation Testing

After your initial mobile application penetration test, Artifice Security provides a full remediation testing (retest) service at no additional cost. Once your team addresses the reported vulnerabilities, we re-evaluate the application to confirm all fixes are properly implemented and no residual risks remain.

This follow-up testing helps ensure the security gaps have been fully closed and provides your organization and any compliance auditors or customers with verified proof that the issues have been resolved.

Upon completion, we deliver an updated penetration test report that:

• Clearly indicates which findings have been remediated

• Verifies the effectiveness of each fix through repeatable proof-of-concepts

• Reflects the current risk posture of your mobile application

Remediation testing is a key part of our commitment to manually performed, results-driven mobile security assessments that go beyond checklists to ensure real-world risk is eliminated.

FAQ