Thick Client Application Testing

Secure your desktop ecosystem with SA Infotech's deep-dive Thick Client Penetration Testing. We identify local privilege escalation, binary flaws, and insecure network interactions.

Service Overview

About This Service

Thick client applications—desktop software that manages its own processing and data—often fly under the radar of modern web security audits. However, they frequently contain legacy flaws, insecure local storage, and weak communication protocols. At SA Infotech, we specialize in the complex art of thick client security. Our experts analyze how your application interacts with the local OS, how it stores credentials, and how it communicates with backend servers to ensure it cannot be used as a gateway for enterprise-wide breaches.

Our Methodology

Information Gathering & Binary Analysis

Analyzing the application's architecture, dependencies, and binary protections. We check for ASLR, DEP, and stack canaries to see if the app is resilient against common exploits.

Local Data & Registry Audit

Checking if the application stores sensitive information, such as passwords or session tokens, in the registry, local files, or SQLite databases without proper encryption.

Network Traffic Analysis

Intercepting and analyzing the traffic between the client and the server. We check for custom protocols, weak encryption, and vulnerabilities to Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks.

Dynamic Performance & Memory Debugging

Using debuggers and disassemblers to monitor the application in memory. We look for buffer overflows, use-after-free vulnerabilities, and memory leaks of sensitive data.

Privilege Escalation & Inter-Process Communication (IPC)

Testing if a low-privilege user can exploit the application to gain administrative rights on the system, focusing on insecure IPC and named pipes.

Reverse Engineering & Decompilation

De-obfuscating and reverse-engineering the application's code to understand its core logic and identify hardcoded secrets or hidden features.

Key Features & Benefits

Multi-Platform Expertise: Deep experience in testing .NET, Java, C++, and Electron-based desktop applications.
Binary Hardening Review: Detailed assessment of compile-time security features and exploitation mitigation techniques.
Secure Communication Audit: Expert analysis of TLS implementations and custom binary protocols.
Local Artifact Cleanup: We check if your application leaves behind sensitive traces in temp folders or swap files after closing.
Remediation for Developers: We provide specific technical guidance on how to implement secure coding practices for desktop environments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifies as a 'Thick Client' application?

Any application that is installed locally on a desktop or laptop (Windows, macOS, Linux) and performs local processing. This includes legacy ERP systems, VOIP clients, and modern Electron-based apps.

Do we need to provide the installers or the source code?

We primarily work with the installer/binary (Black-box). However, having access to the source code (White-box) significantly increases the depth and speed of the security audit.

How is this different from a normal virus scan?

A virus scan looks for known malicious software. A thick client pentest looks for flaws in *your* software that a malicious person or virus could *exploit* to gain control.

Can you test applications that use custom binary protocols?

Yes. Our team is highly skilled in traffic interception and protocol analysis, allowing us to decode and test security within proprietary communication channels.

Ready to Secure Your Application?

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