Thick Client Penetration Test
Thick Client Penetration Test
This package is designed for business-critical desktop applications (Windows, macOS) that process or handle sensitive customer, financial, or healthcare data. It provides the assurance that this data is protected both on the user's computer and during transit to your servers.
Our assessment provides a comprehensive 'grey-box' review. We analyse the installed application to find client-side vulnerabilities like insecure local data storage, weak encryption, and potential for reverse engineering. We then rigorously test the backend APIs to ensure that all data is securely transmitted, authenticated, and authorised, preventing breaches at the server level.
Who is this for? Organisations in finance, healthcare, or other regulated industries that rely on thick client applications and require a high degree of assurance that sensitive data is being handled securely.
Deliverable: A comprehensive report, a remediation plan, and a Certificate of Penetration Testing.
Thick Client Application Penetration Testing
Many business-critical operations run on thick client applications—desktop programs installed on a user's computer that communicate with backend servers. These applications are often trusted to handle an organisation's most sensitive data, from financial records and healthcare information to proprietary customer data.
This architecture creates a dual attack surface: vulnerabilities can exist in the client software itself, or in the server-side APIs it communicates with. Our Thick Client Penetration Test is a specialised service designed to provide comprehensive assurance by identifying critical vulnerabilities on both sides of the application.
The Dual Attack Surface: Client-Side and Server-Side Risks
Securing a thick client application requires a deep analysis of how the client and server interact, and how each can be subverted by an attacker.
Client-Side Vulnerabilities: The application binary installed on a user's machine is a primary target. Attackers will attempt to reverse-engineer the code to find hardcoded secrets like passwords or API keys, exploit insecure local data storage to steal sensitive information cached on the disk, and look for weaknesses that allow for malicious code execution.
Insecure Network Communication: All data transmitted between the client and the server must be rigorously protected. We test for a lack of encryption, weak TLS configurations, and vulnerabilities that could allow an attacker to intercept, read, or modify sensitive data while it's in transit.
Server-Side API Flaws: The backend APIs that the thick client communicates with are a high-value target. A single flaw in an API can expose the data of all users. We test for the full range of API vulnerabilities, with a focus on broken authentication and authorisation that could allow an attacker to access data they are not entitled to.
Our Methodology: A Comprehensive "Grey-Box" Approach
Our assessment is a "grey-box" test, meaning we analyse the application with the same level of knowledge as a legitimate user. This allows us to test the application in a realistic context while having the insight needed to find deep-seated flaws.
Client-Side Static & Dynamic Analysis We begin by analysing the application binary itself. We decompile the application to search for hardcoded secrets and analyse its behaviour as it runs to find issues like insecure file permissions, weak encryption, and sensitive data being written to logs or temporary files.
Intercepting & Analysing Traffic We intercept all communication between the thick client and the backend servers. This allows us to understand the API, analyse the requests for sensitive data exposure, and test for replay attacks or weaknesses in session management.
Server-Side API Penetration Testing Using the knowledge gained from the first two phases, we perform a rigorous penetration test on the backend APIs. We focus on authentication, authorisation, and data validation flaws that could lead to a complete server-side data breach.
Reporting & Actionable Guidance The process concludes with a single, comprehensive report detailing all client-side and server-side vulnerabilities. Each finding is explained with its potential business impact and accompanied by clear, actionable guidance for your developers.