Red Shield · Offensive Security

Mobile Application Penetration Testing

Hands-on security testing of your iOS and Android applications, aligned to the OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard and Testing Guide. We probe insecure data storage, weak cryptography, platform misuse, network communications, and reverse-engineering resistance, then hand you findings your developers can act on.

What Mobile Application Penetration Testing Is

A mobile application penetration test is a structured, hands-on assessment of an iOS or Android app and its supporting services, carried out by experienced testers who think like an attacker. Rather than scanning code in isolation, we examine the application as it actually behaves on a device: how it stores data, how it protects secrets, how it talks to your back end, and how it resists tampering and reverse engineering.

Our work is aligned to the OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS) and follows the techniques of the Mobile Application Security Testing Guide (MASTG). We cover the categories that matter most on mobile: insecure local storage, weak or misused cryptography, misuse of platform features and permissions, insecure network communications, and the resilience of the app against runtime manipulation and reverse engineering.

Who Needs This

  • App publishers releasing customer-facing iOS or Android products who need assurance before or after launch.
  • Fintech and banking apps that handle payments, credentials, and account data on the device.
  • Organizations handling sensitive or regulated data on mobile, including health, government, and personal information.
  • Teams preparing for an app store submission, partner integration, or enterprise rollout that requires a security sign-off.
  • Security and product leaders who want an independent, evidence-based view of their mobile attack surface.

Our Methodology

Every engagement follows the Cyber Shields rhythm: Assess, Protect, Monitor. For a mobile application penetration test, that translates into the following steps.

  1. Scope and NDA. We agree the in-scope apps, platforms, builds, and rules of engagement in writing, under a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement, before any testing begins.
  2. Static analysis. We inspect the application package, configuration, embedded secrets, third-party libraries, and code paths to identify weaknesses before the app is ever run.
  3. Dynamic and runtime analysis. We run the app on instrumented devices, observe its behaviour, and test how it handles input, sessions, and tampering at runtime.
  4. Network interception. We capture and manipulate traffic between the app and its back end to test transport security, certificate validation, and API handling.
  5. Local storage and cryptography review. We examine what the app stores on the device and how, including keychains, databases, caches, and the strength and correctness of its cryptography.
  6. Reverse-engineering checks. We assess how easily the app can be decompiled, modified, and repackaged, and the effectiveness of any anti-tampering, root, or jailbreak detection.
  7. Reporting. We deliver a clear report with prioritized findings, reproduction steps, and platform-specific remediation guidance for your iOS and Android teams.
  8. Re-test. Once your team has remediated, we validate that the reported issues are genuinely fixed and have not introduced new weaknesses.

What You Receive

  • Executive summary written for product owners and non-technical decision makers.
  • Detailed technical findings with reproduction steps and CVSS-based severity ratings.
  • Platform-specific remediation guidance tailored to iOS and Android.
  • A re-test of remediated findings to confirm closure.
  • Readout session with your team, in Arabic and English.

Standards & References

Testing and findings are anchored to recognized mobile security frameworks so they are defensible and cross-mappable.

  • OWASP MASVS
  • OWASP MASTG
  • OWASP Mobile Top 10
  • NIST SP 800-115

Official Sources and References

The documents behind this page, linked at the publisher. Where a Saudi regulation is published in both languages, the Arabic text is the binding version.

Engagement & Investment

Every engagement is scoped individually. Pricing depends on the size and complexity of your environment, the systems or controls in scope, and the timeline you need to work to. Rather than publish figures that rarely fit a specific situation, we prepare a written proposal with a clear fee and schedule once your scope is understood.

Tell us about your organization and the deadline you are working toward, and we will return a tailored proposal within five business days, following a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which platforms do you test?

We test both iOS and Android applications. An engagement can cover one platform or both, and we tailor the test approach to each platform's specific storage, cryptography, and runtime characteristics. We confirm the platforms and builds in scope during scoping.

Do you need the source code?

No, source code is not required. We can perform a black-box test against the compiled application. That said, providing source code and design documents enables a deeper, white-box assessment and often surfaces issues faster, so we recommend it where you are able to share it under the NDA.

Do you need a jailbroken or rooted device?

For a thorough assessment we typically test on jailbroken iOS or rooted Android devices, as this allows us to inspect local storage, instrument the app at runtime, and evaluate anti-tampering controls. We also validate behaviour on standard devices so the findings reflect the real-world risk to your users.

Is a re-test included?

Yes. A re-test of the reported findings is included so we can confirm that your remediation is effective and that no new issues were introduced. We agree the re-test window in the proposal.

Will the report be available in Arabic?

Yes. The report, the executive summary, and the readout session are available in both Arabic and English at no additional cost.

Related Services

Often Engaged Alongside

Web Application Testing

Reproducible offensive testing of the web applications behind your products.

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API Penetration Testing

Test the APIs your mobile app depends on for broken authorization and data exposure.

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Vulnerability Assessment

Broad, prioritized identification of weaknesses across your environment.

Learn more

Request a Proposal for a Mobile Application Test

Tell us about your app and platforms and we will return a written proposal within five business days. NDA first, always.