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Posted by: Hasan Sameer
March 11, 2022
Thick client pentesting is an amalgamation of information gathering and Securing endpoints from various cyberattacks. It scans vulnerabilities for client-side, server-side, and network-side attacks. It is not only about automated scanning. It involves a comprehensive methodology and a customized test environment.
of cyber security incidents fit in the application security in 2021
of all incidents are data breaches
of threat groups use automated tools to exploit public-facing applications
of organizations say that most attacks are due to bugs in applications
A lot of businesses have been using thick client applications for an exceptionally long time. Thick client pentesting is required to safeguard the security of organizations using these applications. It uses proprietary protocols for communication and assessment scanning.
Thick client applications adopt a hybrid infrastructure for operations. This makes them an easy target for attackers. Thick client pentesting can help you find the vulnerable points. You can then take remediation steps to ensure protection against severe threats.
There are two types of thick client applications that need pentesting:
1. Two-tier thick client application
In this type of application, there is only a computer and server. The installation is on the client-side. These applications directly communicate with the database. Desktop Games, Music players, and Text editors are the major examples of two-tier thick client applications.
2. Three-tier thick client application
In these applications, a layer of the application server is added to the communication. The client needs to access the database through the application server. A few examples of the three-tier thick client application are Firefox, Chrome, Burp Suite, and Zap Proxy.
The thick client applications are quite different than the conventional applications. You need a thorough and comprehensive approach to penetration tests. Following are the steps to take during the thick client application security testing:
Black-Box Testing
Testing the application without having any prior knowledge of its configurations. Testers test all the functionalities of the application without having access to the design/application, and backend processes.
Grey-Box Testing
In Grey-Box Testing the team has access to only infrastructure basics and working knowledge of the application before testing. This knowledge is about the data flow within the application and API documentation.
We would use proprietary software tools to identify vulnerabilities in the thick client application software. The tool also analyses the client’s network for any issues lying in the communication. In the process of automated scanning, we also test the operating system interactions within the application.
This is the detailed process of examining the configuration of the client-side of the application. Here, we work on identifying the default configuration problems. Alongside, we look for ways to bypass the application security controls. The purpose of this analysis is to make the security protocols of the platform accessible for your application.
There are a lot of clients who have experienced attacks involving remote execution. To prevent that, we need to reverse engineer the custom protocols in the network communications. Often, we use a proprietary tool to modify and control the network traffic. We do this to prevent unwanted infiltrations and eliminate the risk of attacks.
The Server-side is equally important as the client-side in thick client pentesting. Most thick clients are heavily reliant on server-side functionalities. Any vulnerabilities present in the server code might expose the central data stores for exploitation. A server analysis using automated tools is important to secure this phase.
This process involves deploying a wide range of tools on the client software itself. There are lots of test procedures to execute in this phase. Although the selection depends on the specific software and the attack vectors concerned. Processes in this phase include memory dumps, testing IPC channels, in-depth reverse engineering, and fuzzing file inputs.
The outcomes of thick client application security testing are the common vulnerabilities present in the application. The following are the key vulnerabilities you will get to see after thick client pentesting:
Comprehensiveness
We have a perfect blend of automated tools and trained professionals. This will help you get complete manual support along with automation assistance. Our comprehensive approach will give you a thorough report of all the big and small vulnerabilities in your application.
Enablement
When the assessment ends, we have a read-out call. Here, we brief you about all the key findings of the test. Also, we walk you through the chronological order in which your vulnerabilities are likely to be exploited. We can provide you with custom-made tools and scripts for your teams to use.
Flexibility
Flexibility is the most important non-technical factor in thick client pen testing services. We understand every business has its own security needs. This completely depends upon the threats they are exposed to. Our service is adaptable to suit different organization profiles. We can work efficiently with different source codes, designs, documentation, specifications, and even challenges.
Experience
The experience of performing thick client pen tests with lots of diverse organizations gives us an edge. We are not saying that others will not give you a skilled service. But there is no alternative to experience + expertise. We have the expertise to customize each test procedure according to the needs of the client.
