How Does an App Pentest Work?
See our step-by-step methodology for testing web applications, iOS and Android apps, and API's.
Application Penetration Testing
Expert-led testing for web, mobile, and API releases, backed by the Darwin Attack platform to secure your full stack before it ships.
HOW WE TEST YOUR APPLICATIONS
Continuous, authenticated testing across the SDLC (static, dynamic, and interactive) to find and verify fixes for logic, auth, and business-logic flaws as code changes.
Web Application Penetration Testing
Continuous, unauthenticated and/or authenticated testing of modern web applications to uncover exploitable flaws in logic, authentication, and business workflows as code changes.
Testing scenarios informed by the OWASP Top 10 and ASVS.
Methodology:
- Discovery of URLs / Subdomains
- Authenticated attack paths
- Logic and workflow abuse
- Dynamic & interactive testing
- Fix verification cycles
Mobile Application Penetration Testing
Ongoing security testing for iOS and Android applications that validates real-world attack scenarios across client, API, and backend interactions.
Methodology:
- Authenticated mobile sessions
- Client-side logic flaws
- API interaction testing
- Remediation validation
API Penetration Testing
Continuous testing of APIs to identify authentication, authorization, and business-logic weaknesses that attackers exploit between releases.
Methodology:
- Authenticated API access
- Authorization bypass testing
- Business logic abuse
- Continuous fix validation
Our Application Testing Methodology
From web application security testing to mobile and API testing, every engagement follows the same five phases.
Step 01
Information Gathering
01
Publicly available information
Search engine research
Testing windows confirmed
Client-provided URLs and IPs
Step 02
Discovery
02
Vulnerability and application scanning
OWASP Top 10 for LLMs
Transport security
Cache control
Step 03
Manual Testing, Validation & Exploitation
03
Config and deploy management
Identity, authentication and authorization
Session management
Business logic testing
Step 04
Reporting & Recommendations
04
Executive summary
Root cause and business risk analysis
Detailed findings with evidence
Remediation plan
Step 05
Remediation Testing
05
One round of remediation testing
Confirms each fix is closed
Which Service Do You Need?
Application testing overlaps with three other services. Here is how they differ, so you can choose the right one.
Application Penetration Testing
Choose this when you need expert testing of your web apps, mobile apps and APIs.
Your Are Here
Continuous Penetration Testing
Choose this when you ship code often and need testing that keeps pace with every release.
AI Penetration Testing
Choose this when your app includes AI features, like chatbots, LLMs or AI agents.
Cloud Penetration Testing
Choose this when the risk is in the cloud infrastructure your apps run on.
Choose your model
Engagement Options
Choose the Application penetration testing model that fits how often your AI changes.
Continuous
Continuous Application Penetration Testing
Penetration testing as a service that runs alongside your releases, so new code is tested as it ships. Learn about continuous testing →
Best for
Teams shipping code continuously.
Point-in-time
Point-in-time Application Penetration Testing
A defined-scope assessment before launch, for an audit or at a key milestone.
Best for
Compliance-driven assessments, annual audits, or pre-launch checks.
Testing Standards & Compliance
Our OWASP penetration testing follows a dedicated standard for web, mobile and API, from the first test case to the final report
How we test
The methodologies that shape every enagement
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OWASP WSTG
The OWASP testing guide for web applications, used to shape web test cases.
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OWASP MASTG
The OWASP testing guide for iOS and Android apps, used for mobile testing.
OWASP API Security Top 10
The most common API risks, used to shape API test scenarios.
The Process
How Engagements Work
Every Application penetration testing engagement follows one connected process, from planning to retest.
Scope & Rules of Engagement
We agree on the apps, APIs, user roles and environments in scope, test windows, and what's off-limits before testing starts.
Test the Environment
Experts test your web apps, mobile apps and APIs by hand, logged in as real users, supported by the Darwin platform.
Validate Attack Paths
Every finding is confirmed as exploitable, showing how auth flaws or business-logic abuse could lead to data exposure or account takeover.
Report & Prioritize
A clear report with proof for each finding, mapped to the OWASP Top 10, ranked by real-world impact.
Retest
After your team fixes an issue, we test again to confirm it's closed.
WHAT YOU GET
Results You Can Act On
Every engagement ends with more than a list of vulnerabilities. Here's exactly what lands in your hands when testing wraps.
Risk-ranked findings
Ordered by real-world exploitability and business impact, not just CVSS score
Exploit evidence, not a CVE list
Proof-of-concept steps showing how each finding was actually exploited
Prioritized remediation guidance
Clear next steps for your dev team, ordered by what to fix first
A retest to confirm the fix
We verify each issue is actually closed, not just marked resolved
Why Evolve Security?
01
CTEM Maturity Model
Evaluate CTEM maturity and strengthen resilience by assessing readiness against evolving adversary techniques and attack vectors.
02
CPT Market Leader
Offensive SOC and engineering experts drive measurable outcomes, guiding every phase from exposure discovery to remediation.
03
Award Winning Platform
Darwin Attack platform validates security controls and precisely pinpoints prioritized vulnerabilities across dynamic environments.
04
OffSec Operations Center (OSOC)
Agile bullpen of offensive testers rapidly adapts tactics, mirroring adversaries as threats and business priorities shift.
05
Trusted Methodologies
Industry-trusted methodologies including OWASP, OSSTMM, PTES, and NIST ensure disciplined, comprehensive penetration testing rigor.
06
Customized Simulations
Tailored simulations reflect an industry’s distinct threats, adversary behaviors, and mission-critical attack scenarios.
FAQ’s
Is this an automated scan, or a real manual penetration test?
It's a real manual test. Automated tools support the work, but every finding is validated by an experienced tester before it reaches you. Business-logic flaws, authentication issues and multi-step attack chains are found through manual web application penetration testing, not by scanners alone.
What's the difference between vulnerability scanning and penetration testing?
A vulnerability scan checks your application against a list of known issues, but it can't confirm whether a flaw is exploitable or find business-logic flaws. Penetration testing goes further: a tester exploits what's found, confirms the real-world impact and checks that each fix works.
Can you test web, mobile, and API in one engagement?
Yes. All three can be covered in one engagement, with one report and one point of contact. Each platform still follows its own OWASP methodology.
Do you offer mobile application penetration testing for iOS and Android?
Yes. Our mobile application penetration testing service covers iOS and Android apps, including the app itself, logged-in sessions and the APIs behind it.
Do you offer API penetration testing services?
Yes. Our API penetration testing services cover REST and GraphQL APIs, with a focus on authentication, authorization and business-logic flaws.
Do you offer penetration testing as a service?
Yes. With continuous testing, penetration testing as a service runs alongside your releases, so new code is tested as it ships. Findings are tracked in the Darwin platform from discovery to retest.
Will testing disrupt our production environment?
No. Every engagement is scoped in advance. We agree on test windows, exclusions and safeguards together, so testing runs on your terms and doesn't touch what's off-limits.
What do we receive when testing is complete, and is retesting included?
A risk-ranked findings report with exploit evidence, prioritized remediation guidance your dev team can act on, and a retest to confirm each fix closes the gap.
Continous Testing Resources
Case studies, threat intel, and insights on what continuous, human-led testing looks like in practice.
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Evolve Security Recognized in 2023 Gartner® Hype Cycle™ for Application Security Report
Evolve Security, a global leader in the domains of penetration testing and Attack Surface Management, has once again been recognized as a top vendor in the 2023 Gartner® Hype Cycle™ for Application Security.
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