Thick Client Security Assessment: Securing Your Custom Applications
Not all critical applications live in a web browser. Your custom-built desktop software, internal tools, and other “thick client” applications are powerful assets, but they also represent a unique and often overlooked attack surface. Unlike web applications, these programs can store data locally, interact directly with the user’s operating system, and communicate over proprietary network protocols. A vulnerability here can lead to a complete system compromise or a major data breach. Our Thick Client Assessment provides a deep-dive analysis to uncover these hidden flaws before an adversary can exploit them.
Who Is This Service For?
This assessment is essential for:
- Software Development Teams building and maintaining custom desktop or enterprise applications.
- Product Managers responsible for the security and integrity of a software product.
- CISOs and Security Leaders who need to ensure all enterprise applications, not just web apps, are secure.
- IT Teams deploying third-party thick client applications within the corporate environment.
We Uncover the Risks Hiding in Your Applications:
Our assessment is designed to answer the critical questions about your application’s security:
- Can an unauthorized user bypass authentication or access other users’ data?
- Is sensitive information (like passwords or connection strings) stored insecurely on the user’s computer?
- Can the application’s network traffic be intercepted or manipulated?
- Could a flaw in the application allow an attacker to take control of the user’s workstation?
- Has the application been hardened against reverse engineering and tampering?
Our Methodology: A Multi-Layered Analysis
We analyze your thick client application from every angle, simulating the actions of a determined attacker. Our process is meticulous and tailored to the specific architecture of your software.
- Application Reconnaissance: We begin by mapping the application’s functionality, understanding its components, and identifying key areas of risk, such as user authentication, data handling, and communication channels.
- Client-Side Analysis: We examine the application installed on the user’s machine, searching for insecurely stored files, sensitive data in memory, and vulnerabilities in the application’s binaries that could be exploited.
- Network Traffic Interception: We analyze the communication between the client and its server, looking for unencrypted data, weak authentication, and opportunities to replay or manipulate traffic to gain unauthorized access.
- Server-Side Testing: We probe the server-side APIs and infrastructure that support the application, testing for the same types of vulnerabilities found in traditional web applications.
Your Deliverables: A Clear Path to a More Secure Application
Upon completion, you will receive a comprehensive security package that empowers your teams to act decisively:
- Executive Summary Report: A high-level overview of the most critical risks and their potential business impact, designed for leadership and product owners.
- Detailed Technical Findings Report: A complete guide for your developers, providing proof-of-concept for each vulnerability and clear, step-by-step instructions for remediation.
- Confidential Debriefing Session: A secure meeting with our expert testers to discuss the findings in detail and assist your team in prioritizing remediation efforts.
Ensure Your Applications Are Secure, Inside and Out
Request a Confidential Scoping Call
When you are ready to begin the conversation, contact us on the form below and we will be in touch, quick as a fox.