Logistics penetration testing for fleet and connected-device platforms
We provide logistics penetration testing for fleet and transport platforms.
As a CTO or CISO, you lead technology or security for logistics, transport, fleet, mobility or connected-device platforms.
You might be arranging testing for an enterprise customer’s API integration, for partner APIs exposed to the internet or after an enterprise operator requests a test.
We test web applications, mobile apps and APIs. We do not audit or certify compliance with any regulation or standard.
On this page
Fleet applications and partner API checks
We test the platform side of connected devices: web dashboards, mobile apps, and the APIs your devices and partners call. Device hardware and firmware are out of scope.
In fleet management software or a fleet telematics platform, testing can cover the interfaces and checks below.
Fleet and partner interfaces
Permissions, signed requests and fleet records
- Authentication and authorisation, including partner API authentication: whether a partner API key can retrieve another partner’s shipments or an operator app account can reach another fleet’s vehicle records
- Input validation: whether a delivery reference field accepts input that changes the API’s database query
- Encryption and data integrity: whether intercepting an operator app’s delivery update exposes proof-of-delivery details or permits an undetected change to the delivery status
- Request signing: whether the API accepts a replayed shipment update request or a signed request with a changed body
- Rate limits and availability, including throttling: whether a partner can bypass a shipment lookup limit by changing request parameters
- Error handling and logging: whether a rejected delivery update exposes application details or fails to leave a log entry
- Server configuration and database security: whether a fleet dashboard exposes database connection details through a misconfigured web endpoint
- Logic flaws and chained vulnerabilities: whether combining a reassignment request with a delivery update allows an operator to mark an unassigned shipment as delivered
A single engagement can cover the mobile operator app alongside the APIs that handle its fleet and delivery requests, and we agree what to include at scoping.
Connected-device and IoT platform backends
Your connected-device platform may need a test if it receives public API calls from its devices alongside partner requests.
We test the platform side of connected devices: web dashboards, mobile apps, and the APIs your devices and partners call. Device hardware and firmware are out of scope.
Our tests cover the device backends receiving these calls. Read about checks on dashboard functions and the mobile applications operators use.
Checks on device calls to the backend
- Whether a device can submit readings to the backend under another device’s registration using its own credential
- Whether the backend rejects a device message whose HMAC was calculated with another device’s key
- Whether the public API applies its rate limit to registration requests made with one device or partner credential
When an enterprise customer connects to your API
An enterprise customer connecting shipment or fleet workflows through your platform’s API may ask for a test of the APIs and dashboards it will use.
The report is evidence you can give your auditors, supervisors and customers. What they accept is their decision.
Our reports include an executive summary, the scope of work, the test type and methods, the methodology, how risk is calculated, a summary of findings, detailed results for each finding, and a conclusion.
You can request our sample web application penetration test report through the contact form or by email.
Testing evidence for an enterprise operator
An enterprise operator’s NIS2 request
If an enterprise operator using your platform asks for a test and is covered by NIS2, here is what NIS2 says about testing:
In the EU, NIS2 Article 21(2)(f) requires the cybersecurity risk-management measures of essential and important entities to include policies and procedures to assess their effectiveness. NIS2 does not require a penetration test by name. A test is one way to provide that evidence.
We provide testing evidence. We do not audit or certify compliance with any regulation or standard.
Scoping and scheduling a fleet platform test
Map the fleet interfaces in scope
Every test starts with planning: we agree the scope, the systems to test and the rules that avoid disruption.We scope each test with you, either through our scoping questionnaire or in a scoping meeting where we ask the same questions.
At scoping, we agree whether to use black-box, grey-box or white-box testing for the fleet applications and partner APIs you have selected.
Live and staging environments for fleet applications
We test on live systems and on staging environments. Roughly 70% of our tests run on live systems and 30% on staging.Discuss dispatch and integration timings
Describe how live fleet operations and partner integrations fit around your dispatch schedules.Testing is conducted under controlled conditions with agreed rules of engagement. We schedule around your business needs.
Estimate the time for testing
Testing takes from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the project. The average testing period is 1–2 weeks.Confirm when testing can begin
When testing can start depends on our current schedule. If you need it sooner, contact us and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Report and retest
Every report lists the vulnerabilities found, rates each by risk, and gives remediation steps. A penetration test report also sets out the exploitation methods demonstrated during testing, and a priority-based action plan.
A report of 20–100+ pages documents the tested fleet applications and APIs, with each finding rated by severity.
After you fix the findings, we re-test them.
A retest covers the findings only, not the full application. It is usually quoted in the same offer as the test. The retest window is about 4 weeks, or sooner if you have fixed the findings earlier and our schedule has an opening.
Experience and method
With over 7 years of experience in testing, we have built extensive expertise in web applications and websites, e-commerce platforms, mobile applications, APIs and SaaS solutions.
Our penetration tests can follow OWASP, ISSAF, PTES or OSSTMM at your request or on our recommendation. What we follow and how much of it we cover are agreed at scoping.
Testing uses Burp Suite, manual testing and our own tools.
Our pentesters hold certificates including PNPT, eCPPTv2, CAP, CompTIA PenTest+ and CompTIA Security+, and their published research includes five CVEs.
Questions
Which fleet applications and APIs can you include in our logistics test?
A logistics platform test can cover fleet and telematics APIs, partner portals, web dashboards and mobile operator apps, including checks on partner API authentication, request signing, rate limits and data integrity.
A shipment lookup is one example: we check whether changing its reference lets a partner API key retrieve another partner’s shipment.
Do you test devices, firmware or telematics units?
We test the platform side of connected devices: web dashboards, mobile apps, and the APIs your devices and partners call. Device hardware and firmware are out of scope.
For example, we check whether the backend still accepts readings submitted with a deregistered device’s credentials.
Why test the platform when our concern is connected devices?
A platform test examines how device backends and public APIs handle requests sent by your connected devices and partners. The checks cover authentication, HMAC signature verification and rate limits.
Can you check authentication, request signing and rate limits on our partner and public APIs?
Partner and public API testing covers authentication, request signing and rate limits on the endpoints your logistics platform exposes.
For shipment status requests, that includes checking whether the API rejects a changed body on a signed request and applies its rate limit.
What will the enterprise customer integrating through our API receive in the report?
The report is evidence you can give your auditors, supervisors and customers. What they accept is their decision.
Every report lists the vulnerabilities found, rates each by risk, and gives remediation steps. A penetration test report also sets out the exploitation methods demonstrated during testing, and a priority-based action plan.
An enterprise operator using our platform asks about NIS2. Does NIS2 require a penetration test?
If NIS2 covers the enterprise operator that uses your platform, this is what NIS2 says about penetration testing:
In the EU, NIS2 Article 21(2)(f) requires the cybersecurity risk-management measures of essential and important entities to include policies and procedures to assess their effectiveness. NIS2 does not require a penetration test by name. A test is one way to provide that evidence.
Will testing disrupt our live fleet operations or partner integrations?
Testing is conducted under controlled conditions with agreed rules of engagement. We schedule around your business needs.
Flag the dispatch periods and partner shipment updates that matter when discussing the test.
What affects the price of testing our fleet platform and partner APIs?
For a fleet platform penetration test, the timeline and testing type affect the price alongside the number of systems or applications in scope and the complexity of the environment.
For more on pricing and planning a fleet platform test, read the common testing questions.
Is a vulnerability assessment of our fleet platform the same as a penetration test?
A vulnerability assessment scans your systems with Burp Suite, and an expert verifies and prioritises what the scan finds. A penetration test goes further: testers try to exploit what they find and show you the impact.
Use the service descriptions for penetration testing and vulnerability assessment to choose the approach for your fleet applications and APIs.
Related services
Discuss your testing needs
You can request our sample web application penetration test report through the contact form or by email.
Or email us at info@c-yber.com
What to include
Describe what needs testing (web app, mobile app or API), the approximate scope, why and when you need the test, and whether you want the sample report.
What to leave out
Do not send passwords, API keys, tokens or other access details, source code, details of unfixed vulnerabilities, or your customers’ personal data.